Tales Reveals Top 4 2023 Spirited Awards Finalists
by David Klemt
We’re one month away from the 17th annual Spirited Awards ceremony and the top four nominees in each category have been revealed.
Over the course of the past few months, the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation have been hard at work to narrow the field. They first announced this year’s honorees. Not long ago, they announced the top ten nominees.
Now, we know the top four nominees in the running for each of the Spirited Awards. You can check them out below, with each award organized into one of four main categories: US, International, Global, and Writing & Media.
Congrats to the finalists! We’ll know the winners in just a month.
Cheers!
US Categories
US Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard USA
- Caer Maiko Ferguson, DrinkWell / Daijoubu (Austin, Texas)
- Kapri Robinson, Allegory at the Eaton Hotel (Washington, DC)
- Masahiro Urushido, Katana Kitten (New York, New York)
- Christine Wiseman, Marygold’s Brasserie / Broken Shaker (Miami, Florida)
Best US Bar Mentor presented BarSmarts
- Anu Apte
- Colin Asare-Appiah
- Nectaly Mendoza
- Chris Patino
Best US Brand Ambassador presented Libbey
- Kiowa Bryan (Spiribam)
- Chris Cabrera (Bacardi USA)
- Cameron George (Ardbeg Single Malts)
- Vance Henderson (Hendrick’s Gin)
Best US Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons
- Happy Accidents (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
- Nickel City (Austin, Texas)
- Pacific Cocktail Haven (San Francisco, California)
- Yacht Club (Denver, Colorado)
Best US Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka
- Century Grand (Phoenix, Arizona)
- Double Chicken Please (New York, New York)
- Overstory (New York, New York)
- Service Bar (Washington, DC)
Best US Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose
- Allegory at the Eaton Hotel (Washington, DC)
- Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel (New York, New York)
- Hey Love at The Jupiter (Portland, Oregon)
- Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott (Phoenix, Arizona)
Best US Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo
- Café La Trova (Miami, Florida)
- Cleaver Butchered Meats & Seafood (Las Vegas, Nevada)
- Kumiko (Chicago, Illinois)
- Palomar (Portland, Oregon)
Best New US Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy
- Chez Zou (New York, New York)
- Martiny’s (New York, New York)
- Milady’s (New York, New York)
- Pacific Standard at the KEX Portland (Portland, Oregon)
International Categories
International Bartender of the Year presented by The Busker
- Gina Barbachano, Hanky Panky (Mexico City, Mexico)
- Giorgio Bargiani, Connaught Bar (London, England, United Kingdom)
- Daniel Schofield, SCHOFIELD’S BAR (Manchester, England, United Kingdom)
- Luke Whearty, BYRDI (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
Best International Bar Mentor presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Simone Caporale
- Danil Nevsky
- Agostino Perrone
- Christina Veira
Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Caitlin Hill (Rémy Cointreau)
- Daniyel Jones (House of Angostura)
- Dave Mitton (Lot 40 / J.P. Wiser’s)
- Nicola Riske (The Macallan)
Best International Bar Team presented by Angostura Caribbean Rum
- ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)
- Atwater Cocktail Club (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
- Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel (Singapore)
- Paradiso (Barcelona, Spain)
Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Patrón Tequila
- 🔶🟥🔵 (London, UK)
- ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)
- Atwater Cocktail Club (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
- SIPS (Barcelona, Spain)
Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier
- ARGO at the Four Seasons (Hong Kong)
- BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand)
- Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
- Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel (Singapore)
Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Analogue Initiative (Singapore)
- ARCA Restaurant & Bar (Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico)
- Bar Kismet (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
- Danico (Paris, France)
Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy
- Last Word (Singapore)
- Line Athens (Athens, Greece)
- Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar (Bangkok, Thailand)
- Night Hawk (Singapore)
Global Categories
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic
- Martini & Rossi Floreale Non Alcoholic Aperitivo
- PATRÓN El Alto Tequila
- Saint Benevolence Aged Rum Clairin
- The Fords Gin Co. Sloe Gin
World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy
- ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)
- Double Chicken Please (New York, New York)
- Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City, Mexico)
- Panda & Sons (Edinburgh, Scotland)
World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Baba Au Rum (Athens, Greece)
- In Situ Mezcalería (Oaxaca, Mexico)
- Raised by Wolves (San Diego, California)
- Swift Soho (London, England, United Kingdom)
Writing & Media Categories
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- CLASS Magazine
- Difford’s Guide
- Punch
- The Cocktail Lovers Magazine
Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Black and Brown Podcast
- Radio Imbibe
- Shōshin Art Club
- The Speakeasy Podcast
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- “The Drinks Industry Has an Ageism Problem” by Betsy Andrews, for SevenFifty Daily
- “The Great Mezcal Heist” by Emma Janzen, for Eater
- “The Secrets to the Best Dry Martini You’ll Ever Have” by David Wondrich, for The Daily Beast
- “This Is What Decolonizing a Spirit Looks Like” by Adaorah Oduah, for Punch
Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No- and Low-Alcohol Cocktails with 60 Recipes by Derek Brown
- Modern Classic Cocktails by Robert Simonson
- The Bartender’s Manifesto by Toby Maloney with Emma Janzen
- The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails – Elevated and Expanded, edited by Steven Reddicliffe
Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- A SENSE OF PLACE: A Journey Around Scotland’s Whisky by Dave Broom
- Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails by Camper English
- Modern Caribbean Rum: A Contemporary Reference to the Region’s Essential Spirit by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith
- Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
Image: cottonbro studio on Pexels
