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June 21, 2022by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Tales Announces Top Four Awards Finalists

Tales Announces Top Four Spirited Awards Finalists

by David Klemt

It’s official: The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation announces the top four finalists in each of the 2022 Spirited Awards categories.

I don’t envy the judges who have to narrow down the top ten nominees to the top four finalists. Equally as daunting: deciding on the winner of each award in each category.

We’ll know who’s taking home each Spirited Award in just over a month. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 28 at the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans. For those attending the 20th anniversary Tales of the Cocktail, the Ritz-Carlton is this year’s headquarters hotel.

Purchase Spirited Awards tickets here, and check out the digital playbill here.

See you at Tales, y’all! Cheers.

US Categories

US Bartender of the Year presented by Del Maguey

Josh Davis (16th Street Bar, Chicago, IL)
Chris Hannah (Jewel of the South, New Orleans, LA)
Masahiro “Masa” Urushido (Katana Kitten, New York, NY)
Christine Wiseman (BarLab Hospitality Group, Miami, FL)

Best US Bar Mentor presented by BarSmarts

Meaghan Dorman
Sean Kenyon
Nectaly Mendoza
Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Best US Brand Ambassador presented by Libbey Glass

Chris Cabrera (Bacardí USA)
Tad Carducci (Gruppo Montenegro)
Vance Henderson (Hendrick’s Gin)
Lynn House (Heaven Hill)

Best US Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Half Step (Austin, TX)
Jewel of the South (New Orleans, LA)
Katana Kitten (New York, NY)
The Roosevelt Room (Austin, TX)

Best US Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka

Bar Goto (New York, NY)
Katana Kitten (New York, NY)
The Roosevelt Room (Austin, TX)
Thunderbolt (Los Angeles, CA)

Best US Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose

Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel (New York, NY)
Hey Love at The Jupiter (Portland, OR)
Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott (Phoenix, AZ)
Silver Lyan at the Riggs Washington DC (Washington, DC)

Best US Restaurant Bar presented by Maison Ferrand

Café La Trova (Miami, FL)
Cleaver: Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails (Las Vegas, NV)
Jewel of the South (New Orleans, LA)
Kumiko (Chicago, IL)

Best New US Cocktail Bar presented by Aviation Gin

Double Chicken Please (New York, NY)
Happy Accidents (Albuquerque, NM)
Temple Bar (New York, NY)
Yacht Club (Denver, CO)

International Categories

International Bartender of the Year presented by Patrón

Lorenzo Antinori (ARGO / Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts, Hong Kong, China)
Keith Motsi (Charles H. Seoul at the Four Seasons Hotel, Seoul, South Korea)
Rémy Savage (🔶🟥🔵 A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London, UK)
Matt Whiley (RE, Sydney, Australia)

Best International Bar Mentor presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

Monica Berg
Renato “Tato” Giovannoni
Lauren Mote
Agostino Perrone

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

Martin Hudák (Mr. Black Spirits)
Daniyel Jones (House of Angostura)
Ricardo Nava (Bacardí Latin America)
Nicola Riske (The Macallan)

Best International Bar Team presented by House of Angostura

ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)
MAYBE SAMMY (Sydney, Australia)
The Clumsies (Athens, Greece)
Two Schmucks (Barcelona, Spain)

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Tequila Fortaleza

MAYBE SAMMY (Sydney, Australia)
Satan’s Whiskers (London, UK)
Tayēr + Elementary (London, UK)
Two Schmucks (Barcelona, Spain)

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier

Charles H. Seoul at the Four Seasons Hotel (Seoul, South Korea)
Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons Hotel (Mexico City, Mexico)
Lyaness at Sea Containers London (London, UK)
The American Bar at The Stafford London (London, UK)

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Danico (Paris, France)
Le Mary Celeste (Paris, France)
Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)
Sexy Fish (London, UK)

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Stranger & Sons

🔶🟥🔵 A Bar with Shapes for a Name (London, UK)
ARGO (Hong Kong, China)
Schofield’s Bar (Manchester, UK)
SIPS (Barcelona, Spain)

Global Categories

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Abasolo Ancestral Corn Whisky
Citadelle Gin Jardin d’été
Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic – Italian Orange
Nixta Licor de Elote

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Little Red Door (Paris, France)
Lyaness at Sea Containers London (London, UK)
Swift Soho (London, UK)
Tayēr + Elementary (London, UK)

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Beam Suntory

In-Situ Mezcaleria (Oaxaca City, Mexico)
Jack Rose Dining Saloon (Washington, DC)
Sexy Fish (London, UK)
Swift Soho (London, UK)

Writing and Media Categories

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Diageo Bar Academy

CLASS magazine
Discard the Zine
VinePair
Whisky Magazine

Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Radio Imbibe
Shōshin Art Club
The Cocktail Lovers Podcast
The Speakeasy Podcast

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Diageo Bar Academy

“Get Real: The bar world looks beyond feel-good measures on sustainability and climate change” by Max Falkowitz, for Imbibe Magazine
“Has the Coronavirus Pandemic Destroyed American Bar Culture?” by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, for Daily Beast
“Meet the Eco-Packaging Innovations Transforming the Drinks Industry” by Betsy Andrews, for SevenFifty Daily
“The Greatest Drinking Contest in History” by David Wondrich, for Daily Beast

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

Death & Co: Welcome Home by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, and David Kaplan
The Cocktail Seminars by Brian D. Hoefling
The Japanese Art of the Cocktail by Masahiro Urushido and Michael Anstendig
The Way of the Cocktail: Japanese Traditions, Techniques, and Recipes by Julia Momosé with Emma Janzen

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey by Clay Risen
Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization by Edward Slingerland
Girly Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol by Mallory O’Meara
The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails edited by David Wondrich with Noah Rothbaum

Image: Tim Hüfner on Unsplash

June 17, 2022by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Viral Post Highlights Real Leadership

What a Viral Reddit Post Reveals About Leadership in Hospitality

by David Klemt

A text exchange between a restaurant manager and delivery driver posted to Reddit went viral last month.

Refreshingly, it didn’t make the rounds on news sites for the wrong reasons. Rather, the text conversation is a succinct example of emotional intelligence, empathy, and leadership.

Those interested in reading the text exchange in its entirety can follow this link. However, I’ll sum it up here.

Posted to the subreddit Kitchen Confidential, the conversation begins with the manager checking in on the driver, asking, “You doing OK?”

The driver says they’re “doing better but” is still dealing with a lot. After the manager asks if they should cover their shift that night, the driver reveals they may need to quit the job.

Instead of blowing up at the driver, trying to talk them out of their decision, or cutting the exchange short, they say, “It’s alright [sic].”

Going further, the manager says, “You’re [sic] happiness is more important.” They add that the business hopes the driver will return to the job when they’re ready.

Shall I Cover You Tonight?

Now, I tend to believe that most members of restaurant, bar, and hotel leadership teams are empathetic. I also lean toward believing that most are competent problem solvers.

However, we’ve all come across people who don’t belong in a leadership role. In some cases, a person’s lack of leadership qualifications doesn’t manifest until they’ve been in the role for some time.

My business partner Doug Radkey and I have had conversations about leaders who don’t seem to lead. At best, they’re examples of what not to do. At worst, they’re chasing away a business owner’s staff and guests.

Most recently, these conversations have centered around managers insisting that staff solve scheduling problems themselves.

Before I proceed, I acknowledge fully that we’re facing an unprecedented labor shortage. That’s no excuse for poor leadership.

What, exactly, is the leadership team doing that they can’t manage the schedule? Further, with today’s modern scheduling platforms, why is filling available roles difficult for leaders? Several scheduling apps make it a painless, automated process.

The manager in this Reddit text exchange doesn’t demand the driver find someone to cover their shift. Instead, they behave like a manager and handle it themselves.

Don’t Ever Discount Yourself

If you’re active on LinkedIn and have a sizeable hospitality-centric network, you’ve likely seen posts about how the industry needs to be more people-focused. Not in terms of guests—that’s obvious.

Rather, the consensus is that we’re not going to solve the labor problem if we don’t treat staff as well as we treat guests. Some of these posts may be a bit saccharine, but they’re not incorrect.

Let’s review the texts from this manager:

“You doing OK?”
Your “happiness is more important.”
“We love having you here.”
“You’re an awesome person.”
“Don’t ever discount yourself.”

When’s the last time you and other members of the leadership team asked a staff member if they’re okay? And if you’ve asked recently, did you get an honest answer? Did you want an honest answer?

A restaurant or bar team that doesn’t trust leadership isn’t going to bother providing an honest answer to that question—they feel like the leaders don’t care about them.

Looking at the rest of the texts above, do you and your leaders take the time to recognize and thank staff? Even the shyest team member wants recognition for a job well done.

Those in leadership roles need to develop their skills constantly. Contrary to some in those positions, leaders aren’t there simply to lord their authority over others and dish out punishments.

So, before your next team meeting, gather the leaders. Find out if every member of the team is checking on staff, valuing their health and wellness, and tackling the mundane tasks that are inherent to their roles.

The maxim is true: People don’t quit jobs, they quit people. If your leadership team isn’t leading with empathy, you can expect your labor issues to compound. No amount of excuses will turn that around.

This article by KRG Hospitality director of business development David Klemt was first published by Bar Business and can be read in its entirety by following this link.

Image: Brett Jordan on Unsplash

June 15, 2022by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Top 10 2022 Spirited Award Finalists

Top 10 2022 Spirited Award Finalists

by David Klemt

With just six weeks to go until the 20th anniversary of Tales of the Cocktail, the foundation announces their Spirited Award finalists.

Unsurprisingly, a number of the nominees can also be found on the North America’s 50 Best Bars list.

However, the Spirited Awards honor more than bars. The awards span four categories: US, International, Global, and Writing & Media.

Along with bar nominees, you’ll find mentors, bar teams, brand ambassadors, spirits, cocktail ingredients, books, articles, podcasts, videos, and publications in the list below.

Congratulations to the Spirited Awards’ top ten nominees! We’ll see you in New Orleans.

Cheers!

US Categories

US Bartender of the Year presented by Del Maguey

Josh Davis (16th Street Bar, Chicago, IL)
Chris Elford (Trade Winds Tavern, Navy Strength, Rob Roy, Here Today Brewing, Seattle, WA)
Chris Hannah (Jewel of the South, New Orleans, LA)
Caer Maiko Ferguson (DrinkWell, Austin, TX)
Chris McMillian (Revel Bar & Cafe, New Orleans, LA)
Shauna O’Neil (Sweet Liberty, Miami, FL)
Kapri Robinson (Allegory, Washington, DC)
Christian Suzuki-Orellana (Wildhawk, San Francisco, CA)
Masahiro “Masa” Urushido (Katana Kitten, New York, NY)
Christine Wiseman (BarLab Hospitality Group, Miami, FL)

Best US Bar Mentor presented by BarSmarts

Colin Asare-Appiah
Julio Cabrera
Kevin Diedrich
Meaghan Dorman
Alba Huerta
Alex Jump
Sean Kenyon
ms franky marshall
Nectaly Mendoza
Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Best US Brand Ambassador presented by Libbey Glass

Kiowa Bryan (Spiribam)
Chris Cabrera (Bacardí USA)
Tad Carducci (Gruppo Montenegro)
Cameron George (Ardbeg)
Vance Henderson (Hendrick’s Gin)
Lynn House (Heaven Hill)
Jenna Murray (The Glenlivet)
Natasha Sofia Velez (Davos Brands)
Ryan Wainwright (Bombay Sapphire)
Daniel Warrilow (Campari America)

Best US Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Attaboy (New York, NY)
Cleaver: Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails (Las Vegas, NV)
Half Step (Austin, TX)
Jaguar Sun (Miami, FL)
Jewel of the South (New Orleans, LA)
Katana Kitten (New York, NY)
The Long Island Bar (Brooklyn, NY)
The Roosevelt Room (Austin, TX)
The Snug (Sacramento, CA)
Thunderbolt (Los Angeles, CA)

Best US Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka

Bar Goto (New York, NY)
Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 (New Orleans, LA)
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour (Phoenix, AZ)
DrinkWell (Austin, TX)
Julep (Houston, TX)
Katana Kitten (New York, NY)
Occidental (Denver, CO)
Pearl Diver (Nashville, TN)
The Roosevelt Room (Austin, TX)
Thunderbolt (Los Angeles, CA)

Best US Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose

Bar Marilou at Maison de la Luz (New Orleans, LA)
Champagne Bar at The Surf Club Miami (Miami, FL)
Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel (New York, NY)
Hey Love at The Jupiter (Portland, OR)
King Cole Bar at The St. Regis New York (New York, NY)
Libertine Social at the Mandalay Bay (Las Vegas, NV)
Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott (Phoenix, AZ)
Midnight Rambler at the Joule (Dallas, TX)
Mountaineering Club at the Graduate Seattle Hotel (Seattle, WA)
Silver Lyan at the Riggs Washington DC (Washington, DC)

Best US Restaurant Bar presented by Maison Ferrand

Café La Trova (Miami, FL
Cleaver: Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails (Las Vegas, NV)
Crown Shy (New York, NY)
Gramercy Tavern (New York, NY)
Jewel of the South (New Orleans, LA)
Kimball House (Decatur, GA)
Kumiko (Chicago, IL)
L’Oursin (Seattle, WA)
Republique (Los Angeles, CA)
Spoon and Stable (Minneapolis, MN)

Best New US Cocktail Bar presented by Aviation Gin

Double Chicken Please (New York, NY)
Happy Accidents (Albuquerque, NM)
Kona’s Street Market (San Francisco, CA)
Law Bird (Columbus, OH)
Overstory (New York, NY)
Palmetto (Oakland, CA)
Temple Bar (New York, NY)
Tiki Tatsu-Ya (Austin, TX)
Trade Winds Tavern (Seattle, WA)
Yacht Club (Denver, CO)

International Categories

International Bartender of the Year presented by Patrón

Moe Aljaff (Two Schmucks, Barcelona, Spain)
Lorenzo Antinori (ARGO / Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts, Hong Kong, China)
Giorgio Bargiani (The Connaught Bar, London, UK)
Kate Boushel (Atwater Cocktail Club / Milky Way Cocktail Bar, Montréal, Québec, Canada)
James Grant (Little HK, Edmonton, Canada)
Keith Motsi (Charles H. Seoul at the Four Seasons Hotel, Seoul, South Korea)
Rémy Savage (🔶🟥🔵 A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London, UK)
Daniel Schofield (SCHOFIELD’S BAR, Manchester, UK)
Ezra Star (Mostly Harmless, Hong Kong, China)
Luke Whearty (BYRDI, Melbourne, Australia)
Matt Whiley (RE, Sydney, Australia)

Best International Bar Mentor presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

Monica Berg
Arijit Bose
Simone Caporale
Renato “Tato” Giovannoni
Tim Etherington Judge
Trevor Kallies
Dre Masso
Lauren Mote
Danil Nevsky
Agostino Perrone
Christina Veira
Camille Vidal

*Includes 12 nominees due to a tie

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

Jenna Ba (Diageo)
Claudia Cabrera (Fratelli Branca)
Irene Díaz (Ron Diplomático)
Martin Hudák (Mr. Black Spirits)
Daniyel Jones (House of Angostura)
Ally Martin (Hendrick’s Gin)
Dave Mitton (Lot No. 40 / JP Wiser’s)
Ricardo Nava (Bacardí Latin America)
Tim Phillips-Johansson (Johnnie Walker)
Nicola Riske (The Macallan)

Best International Bar Team presented by House of Angostura

ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)
Atwater Cocktail Club (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel (Singapore)
La Factoría (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
MAYBE SAMMY (Sydney, Australia)
Salmon Guru (Madrid, Spain)
Tayēr + Elementary (London, UK)
The Clumsies (Athens, Greece)
Tres Monos (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Two Schmucks (Barcelona, Spain)

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Tequila Fortaleza

ALQUIMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)
Atwater Cocktail Club (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen & Cape Brandy Bar (Cape Town, South Africa)
COA (Hong Kong, China)
Florería Atlántico (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
MAYBE SAMMY (Sydney, Australia)
Paradiso (Barcelona, Spain)
Salmon Guru (Madrid, Spain)
Satan’s Whiskers (London, UK)
Tayēr + Elementary (London, UK)
Three Sheets (London, UK)
Two Schmucks (Barcelona, Spain)

*Includes 12 nominees due to a tie

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier

Bar Trigona at the Four Seasons Hotel (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel (Vancouver, BC, Canada)
Bulgari Bar at The Bvlgari Resort (Dubai, UAE)
Charles H. Seoul at the Four Seasons Hotel (Seoul, South Korea)
Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons Hotel (Mexico City, Mexico)
Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel (Singapore)
Lyaness at Sea Containers London (London, UK)
MO BAR at the Mandarin Oriental (Singapore)
Origin Bar at The Shangri-La Hotel (Singapore)
The American Bar at The Stafford London (London, UK)
The Donovan Bar at the Brown’s Hotel (London, UK)

*Includes 11 nominees due to a tie

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Bar Kismet (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
Caffe Fernet (Singapore)
Danico (Paris, France)
Le Mary Celeste (Paris, France)
Locale Firenze (Florence, Italy)
LPM Restaurant & Bar (Dubai, UAE)
Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)
Sexy Fish (London, UK)
The Continental Deli (Newtown, Australia)
Tjoget (Stockholm, Sweden)
Zuma Dubai — Dubai, UAE)

*Includes 11 nominees due to a tie

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Stranger & Sons

🔶🟥🔵 A Bar with Shapes for a Name (London, UK)
Amaro Bar (London, UK)
ARGO (Hong Kong, China)
Dead End Paradise (Beirut, Lebanon)
DEAN & NANCY (Sydney, Australia)
RE (Sydney, Australia)
Schofield’s Bar (Manchester, UK)
Side Hustle at the NoMad (London, UK)
SIPS (Barcelona, Spain)
Wax On (Berlin, Germany)

Global Categories

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Abasolo Ancestral Corn Whisky
ANGOSTURA® cocoa bitters
Citadelle Gin Jardin d’été
Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Vida de Muertos
Equiano Light Rum
Fever-Tree Sparkling Lime & Yuzu
Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit
Hendrick’s Lunar Gin
Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic – Italian Orange
Nixta Licor de Elote
Lost Irish
Ojo de Tigre Mezcal Artesanal
SAVOIA Americano

*Includes 13 nominees due to a tie

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy

ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena de Indias, Colombia)
Dante NYC (New York, NY)
Himkok (Oslo, Norway)
Little Red Door (Paris, France)
Lyaness at Sea Containers London (London, UK)
Mace Bar (New York, NY)
Paradiso (Barcelona, Spain)
Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood London (London, UK)
Swift Soho (London, UK)
Tayēr + Elementary (London, UK)

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Beam Suntory

ATLA (New York, NY)
Brandy Library (New York, NY)
In-Situ Mezcaleria (Oaxaca City, Mexico)
Jack Rose Dining Saloon (Washington, DC)
Origin Bar at The Shangri-La Hotel (Singapore)
Rumba (Seattle, WA)
Sexy Fish (London, UK)
Swift Soho (London, UK)
The Bamboo Room at Three Dots and a Dash (Chicago, IL)
The Doctor’s Office (Seattle, WA)

Writing and Media Categories

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Diageo Bar Academy

CLASS magazine
Difford’s Guide
Discard the Zine
DRiNK Magazine Asia
Drinks International
Liquor.com
The Cocktail Lovers magazine
The Spirits Business
VinePair
Whisky Magazine

Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Diageo Bar Academy

A Life In Whisky: The Dennis Malcolm Story (A documentary by Whisky Magazine)
Behind the Bar with Cara Devine
El Club de los Cantineros (Documentary)
Freepour™
Happy Hour History
Hospitality Forward Podcast by Hanna Lee Communications
Radio Imbibe
Shōshin Art Club
The Cocktail Lovers Podcast
The Speakeasy Podcast

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Diageo Bar Academy

“Get Real: The bar world looks beyond feel-good measures on sustainability and climate change” by Max Falkowitz, for Imbibe Magazine
“Getting high from a new supply: a revolutionary flavour extraction method for cocktails is being pioneered in South Africa” by Leah van Deventer, for TheWorlds50Best.com
“Has the Coronavirus Pandemic Destroyed American Bar Culture?” by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, for Daily Beast
“Making it Through: How a Bar’s Regulars Helped During a Pandemic,” by Rebecca Cate as told to Paul Clarke, Imbibe
“Marc Farrell Wants to Change the Way You Think About Rum” by Yolanda Evans, for Food & Wine
“Meet the Eco-Packaging Innovations Transforming the Drinks Industry” by Betsy Andrews, for SevenFifty Daily
“Mexican Terroir” by Liza Weisstuch, for Whisky Magazine
“The Greatest Drinking Contest in History” by David Wondrich, for Daily Beast
“The Hard Reset – Creating a New Hospitality Culture” by Anna Sebastian, for CLASS
“Turns Out Rye Whiskey Isn’t an American Creation After All” by Lew Bryson, for Daily Beast

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

Claridge’s The Cocktail Book by Denis Broci and Nathan McCarley-O’Neill
COCKTAIL DIVE BAR: Real Drinks, Fake History, and Questionable Advice from New Orleans’s Twelve Mile Limit by T. Cole Newton
Death & Co: Welcome Home by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, and David Kaplan
Difford’s Guide to Cocktails Sixteenth Edition by Simon Difford
Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails by Robert Simonson
The Cocktail Seminars by Brian D. Hoefling
The Japanese Art of the Cocktail by Masahiro Urushido and Michael Anstendig
The Way of the Cocktail: Japanese Traditions, Techniques, and Recipes by Julia Momosé with Emma Janzen
Tokyo Cocktails by Nicholas Coldicott
Zero Proof: 90 Non-Alcoholic Recipes for Mindful Drinking by Elva Ramirez

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Diageo Bar Academy

A Good Drink: In Pursuit of Sustainable Spirits by Shanna Farrell
Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey by Clay Risen
Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization by Edward Slingerland
Girly Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol by Mallory O’Meara
L’Ora dell’Americano by Mauro Mahjoub & Lucio Tucci
Something & Tonic by Nick Kokonas
The Big Book of Amaro by Matteo Zed
The New Kindred Spirits by F. Paul Pacult
The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails edited by David Wondrich with Noah Rothbaum
The Spirit of Rye by Carlo DeVito

Image: Jia Jia Shum on Unsplash

Tales of the Cocktail Red Coat apprentices

May 25, 2022by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

2022 Cocktail Apprentice Program Class

TOTC Announces 2022 Cocktail Apprentice Program Class

by David Klemt

The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation has announced the 32 members of this year’s Cocktail Apprentice Program, also known as CAP.

For 2022, the CAP apprentices come from seven countries, Washington, D.C., fourteen American states, and Puerto Rico. First launched in 2008, CAP has played host to over 400 apprentices.

These bar professionals are thrown into the organized chaos that is Tales of the Cocktail each year. Well, to be fair, the event likely only feels like chaos to Tales attendees. This gathering of hospitality pros is a precision machine behind the scenes.

Of course, CAP apprentices and veterans are one of the keys to Tales’ success. These bar pros work together to prepare cocktails for for Tales seminars. They also make the many tastings possible. CAP Red and Grey Coats also batch the Dame Hall of Fame and Spirited Awards drinks.

As you’ll see while reviewing the lists below, CAP Red Coats work at some of the world’s premier bars, restaurants, hotels, distilleries, portfolios and brands, and hospitality groups. Moreover, they gain an incredible amount of experience and mentorship from industry veteran Grey, Black, and White Coats.

Valuable Experience

This is, of course, great news for attendees. Many will recognize the names and venues below. And, hey, these apprentices keep the good times flowing at Tales.

But there’s another reason this news is important.

Operators should encourage their bar team stars to apply to be TOTC CAP apprentices each year. The program is open to bartenders, barbacks, and bar managers.

Considering who they’ll meet, work with, and learn from, operators can think of CAP as an investment in their bar team.

In addition to returning to work with a wealth of knowledge and new industry contacts, they’ll be eligible to apply for the Cocktail Apprentice Scholarship Program. Since 2022 CAP Red Coats can apply when applications open next year, it’s reasonable to assume that 2023 Red Coats will be eligible to apply in 2024 for the TOTCF Cocktail Apprentice Scholarship Program.

So, operators who are serious about furthering their bar team’s careers and helping to mentor them should help them apply for the 2023 Cocktail Apprentice Program.

2022 Red Coats

Below are this year’s 32 CAP Red Coat apprentices. You’ll also find their place of work.

Patience Adjei, Twist Night Club and Level Up Lounge (Accra, Ghana, West Africa)
Gerald Akins, Hamlet and Ghost (Saratoga Springs, NY)
Israel Baròn, Casa Prunes (Mexico City, Mexico)
Tammy Bouma, Bluebird Cocktail Room (Baltimore, MD)
Dylan Brentwood, Bar Kismet (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
Napier Bulanan, Viridian (Oakland, CA)
Yosue Cordero Badillo, Fairmont El San Juan Hotel (Carolina, Puerto Rico)
Chelsea DeMark, Thompson Hotel Savannah (Savannah, GA)
Milton Deya, Melinda’s Alley (Phoenix, AZ)
Linda Douglas, Curly Bartender (Los Angeles, CA)
Kai Duarte, Pacifico on the Beach and Down The Hatch (Wailuku, HI)
Cody Dunavan, Breakthru Beverage Virginia (Richmond, VA)
Glenn Eldridge, ROKA (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Tim Frandsen, Jane Jane (Washington, D.C.)
John Fry, Rumba / Inside Passage (Seattle, WA)
Delena Humble-Fischer, Golden Pineapple Craft Lounge (Tempe, AZ)
Princess Johnson, Allegory (Washington, D.C.)
Maria Kim, Southside Parlor (Seoul, South Korea)
Sungjoo Koo, Midnight Rambler (Dallas, TX)
Rylen Komeiji, Here Kitty Kitty / Zouk Group (Las Vegas, NV)
Lars Lunstrum, The Black Cypress (Pullman, WA)
Jacob Mentel, Polite Provisions (San Diego, CA)
Brian “Vito” Morales, Saso Bistro (Pasadena, CA)
Julian Bella Robins, Pursuing MS in Hospitality Management at FIU (Tel Aviv, Israel)
Jomar Santos, The Peacock Lounge Savannah (Savannah, GA)
Jeremiah Simmons, Seven Three Distillery (New Orleans, LA)
Colin Simpson, The Aviary (Chicago, IL)
Taylor Sweeney, Bar Shiru (Oakland, CA)
Vivi Szalavari, Uptown Cafe (Bloomington, IN)
Irlanda Vargas, Bacal (Mexico City, Mexico)
Noor Wafai, The Eddy & Durk’s Bar-B-Q (Providence, RI)
Tim Weigel, Vegas Vickie’s (Las Vegas, NV)

2022 Grey Coats

Identifiable by their grey chef coats, Grey Coats are CAP leaders.

Hagay I. Abramovitz, Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar (Tel Aviv, Israel)
Justine Bock, Gin & Juice (Bristol, UK)
Patrick Braga, Happy Accidents (Albuquerque, NM)
Fifi Bruce, Barrel Brothers (Berlin, Germany)
Richie Delahoyde, Lyre’s Non Alcoholic Spirits (Dublin, Ireland)
Amy Dunki, Barr Hill and Caledonia Spirits (Los Angeles, CA)
Arianna Hone, High West Saloon, Post Office Place (Park City, UT)
Renson Malesi, House of Sage Cocktails (Nairobi, Kenya)
Nicholas McCaslin, The Ritz-Carlton Nomad (New York City, NY)
Allie Phifer, Cayo Coco Rum Bar and Restaurante (Birmingham, AL)
Jessi Pollak, Spoon and Stable (Minneapolis, MN)
Eric Scott, Thyme X Table (Bay Village, OH)
Britt Simons, The Eddy (Providence, RI)
Joey Smith, Chez Zou (New York City, NY)
Sarah Syman, The Dandy Crown (Chicago, IL)
Nigal Vann, The Berkshire Room (Chicago, IL)

2022 Black Coats

CAP assistant managers can be identified by their black chef coats.

Cam Brown, Self-employed (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
Kaleena Goldsworthy-Warnock, The Bitter Bottle and Proof Bar and Incubator (Chattanooga, TN)
Alex Lerman, Pearl Street Hospitality (Denver, CO)
Samm McCulloch, Red Wall Distillery (Sedona, AZ)

2022 White Coats

The industry veterans are CAP managers and wear white chef coats.

Alexis Belton-Tinoco, Johnnie Walker/Proof Media Mix (Chicago, IL)
Cris Dehlavi, Diageo Hospitality Partnership (Columbus, OH)
John Deragon, Resy (Brooklyn, NY)
Trevor Kallies, Freehouse Collective (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
Juyoung Kang, Zouk Group at Resorts World Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV)

Whenever you come across a Red, Grey, Black or White Coat at Tales, be sure to thank them for all their work. Well, if they don’t have their hands incredibly full. In that case, please get out of their way—they’ve got our drinks!

Image: M.S. Meeuwesen on Unsplash

March 21, 2022by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Share These Vermouth Facts with Guests

Share These Vermouth Facts with Guests

by David Klemt

Today is World Vermouth Day, so here are some interesting facts you and your bar team can share to engage with guests.

Before we dive in, a few vermouth basics.

First, contrary to what some believe, vermouth isn’t a spirit. Rather, vermouth is a fortified wine.

In most cases, vermouth producers boost—or fortify—alcohol content with a neutral grape spirit.

Centuries of History

Vermouth can trace its history back to at least the 16th century. However, it’s possible it goes as far back as 12th century China.

Like so many products behind the bar, the exact origins are in dispute. Some say vermouth is a Chinese creation, some say its home is Greece, crediting Hippocrates with its creation. Still others attribute its invention to Germany.

Regardless, many believe that vermouth is one of the oldest types of beverage alcohol.

Doctor’s Orders

As is the case with plenty of intoxicants, this fortified wine has roots in medicine.

From the 16th century until about midway through the 18th century, Italian vermouth was recommended by doctors to settle upset stomachs.

This makes sense given its makeup: Vermouth is a wine combined with a spirit, infused by roots, herbs, and spices. The array of botanicals found in vermouth can certainly aid in digestion.

In fact, offering vermouth on your menu as an aperitif or digestif is a smart move.

Booze Relatives

You, your bar team, and guests may find this connection interesting. Vermouth and absinthe are family members.

According to some alcohol historians, “vermouth” is a French pronunciation of the German word “wermut.” Wermut translates from German to English as “wormwood.”

Centuries ago, German and Hungarian fortified wines contained wormwood.

An argument can be made that amaro is also a relative of vermouth. While not a requirement, amaro can contain wine. If an amaro has that component, it can technically be a vermouth.

Modern Vermouth

Toward the end of the 18th century, Antonio Benedetto Carpano created what’s now considered modern vermouth.

As the story goes, Carpano was studying to be an herbalist. In 1786, in Turin, Italy, he blended a white muscatel with herbs and spices. Modern vermouth was born.

Owing to modernization and commercialization, some paint vermouth with two broad brushes.

There are those who refer to all red vermouths as Italian vermouths. They then categorize all white vermouths as French. This is, in part, due to the French overwhelmingly producing dry, white vermouths.

Even More Modern

Well, maybe not exactly more modern. Perhaps it would be more accurate to refer to a particular style as “more recently recognized.”

During Prohibition, American producers made vermouth. According to my research, these were not looked upon favorably. In fact, they were considered cheap and poorly made.

That’s not the style I’m talking about here. Starting in the 1990s, and initially attributed to Californian producers, American vermouth production came out swinging with Western Dry.

In general, this style of vermouth leans heavier on the wine and uses different botanicals.

Not Just a Clever Shirt

You have probably seen bartenders or other hospitality professionals wearing this Mover & Shaker shirt:

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In case it doesn’t load for you, it says, “If you’re reading this put vermouth in the fridge.” That’s not a joke—keep it in the refrigerator.

Perhaps due the misconception that vermouth is a spirit, some people treat it as such. In other words, they just leave their vermouths out.

Being a fortified wine, vermouth can go bad in just a few months once open. So, this World Vermouth Day, if you haven’t already, put vermouth in the fridge.

Image: Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash