The nominees for the Spirited Awards 2024

The best bars, bartenders, brand ambassadors and spirits writers will likely be honored this July on the Tales of the Cocktail festival in New Orleans.

^{From Michael SolomonForbes Employee}

EExpect the champagne to flow on the earth’s best bars tonight because the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation declares the nominees for the Spirited Awards 2024.

The Spirited Awards were launched in 2007 and are considered one in all the best awards within the hotel industry. They are a part of the annual Stories of the cocktail Festival held in New Orleans in July that honors one of the best bars, bartenders, brand ambassadors and spirits journalists from around the globe. Awards are judged by a panel of hospitality professionals – renowned bartenders, bar owners, and journalists and authors. (Full disclosure: Forbes is the official media partner of the Spirited Awards.)

While this yr’s nominees include many familiar staples – including Double Chicken Please in New York (also nominated last yr as Best Cocktail Bar within the U.S.), Happy Accidents in Albuquerque, New Mexico (which won Best Bar Team within the U.S. in 2023) and Alquímico in Cartagena, Colombia (which won Best International Bar Team in 2023) – there are also some revolutionary newcomers amongst this yr’s top 4 nominees, including Cobra in Columbus, Ohio and Cat Bite Club in Singapore.

In the US, New York continues to dominate with five nominations this yr. Then there’s Masa Urushido of Katana Kitten, who was nominated for US Bartender of the Year for the fifth yr in a row. Washington, DC, is close behind with 4 nominations. Internationally, Singapore confirms its rise as the highest cocktail city with five nominations, tying London this yr. Mexico can also be on the rise, with bars in Mexico City and Tulum nominated for the Spirited Award.

“While the nomination process and number of judges have not changed,” says Eileen Wayner, CEO of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF), which organizes the festival and awards ceremony, “we attribute this increase to the recognition of the talent coming out of the bars themselves and the impact they have in their home towns. Another important factor is that people are traveling again – and looking for exceptional cocktail experiences.”

For those that want an atlas of the nominees, Tales of the Cocktail has created an interactive map of the world’s best bars in 2022. “This year we added 146 bars to our directory,” says Wayner, “which suggests there are 146 recent Bars will likely be honored for the primary time on the Spirited Awards.”

While most nominees could have to attend until July 25 to seek out out in the event that they’ve actually won a Spirited Award, there are a minimum of two bars (London’s Cafe Pacifico and San Francisco’s Buena Vista Cafe) and one bartender, Hidetsugu Ueno, who can raise a glass in celebration tonight. Ueno, the 2016 International Bartender of the Year, will likely be honored with the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award because the owner of Ginza-style bar High Five in Tokyo.

Winner of the distinguished Timeless International Award, Cafe Pacifico has brought tequila and authentic Mexican cuisine to the UK, while Buena Vista Cafe is honoured with the Timeless Award for the United States. The bar is thought for bringing Irish coffee to America, serving 2,000 Irish coffees a day and serving more Irish whiskey annually than another bar on the earth.

Nominees for the Spirited Awards 2024

UNITED STATES

Best cocktail bar within the USA

Double Chicken, Please (New York, NY)

Happy Accidents (Albuquerque, NM)

Overstory (New York, NY)

Yacht Club (Denver, CO)

Best hotel bar within the USA

Allegory on the Eaton Hotel (Washington, DC)

Small rituals on the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott (Phoenix, AZ)

Pacific Standard at KEX Portland (Portland, OR)

The Sazerac Bar on the Roosevelt New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)

Best Restaurant Bar within the USA

Cleaver: Meat, seafood and classic cocktails (Las Vegas, NV)

Jaguar Sun (Miami, FL)

Kumiko (Chicago, IL)

Palomar (Portland, Oregon)

Best recent US cocktail bar

Cobra (Columbus, Ohio)

Medium Cool Cocktail Lounge (Miami Beach, FL)

Paradise Lost (New York, NY)

Superbueno (New York, NY)

US Bartender of the Year

McLain Hedges (Yacht Club, Denver, CO)

Christine Kim (Service Bar, Washington, DC)

Kapri Robinson (Allegory, Washington, DC)

Masa Urushido (Katana Kitten, New York, NY)

Best US Bar Team

Century Grand (Phoenix, Arizona)

Jewel of the South (New Orleans, LA)

Pacific Cocktail Haven (San Francisco, California)

Service Bar (Washington, DC)

Best US Lawyer Mentor

Anu Apte

Jason Asher

Kate Gerwin

Alex Spring

Best US Brand Ambassador

Tad Carducci (Montenegro Group)

Benny Hurwitz (Campari American Whiskies)

Anna Mains (Monkey Shoulder)

Natasha Sofia (Mijenta Tequila)

INTERNATIONAL

Best international cocktail bar

🔶🟥🔵 (London, United Kingdom)

Alchemical (Cartagena des Indias, Colombia)

Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City, Mexico)

Satan’s Whiskers (London, UK)

Best international hotel bar

ARGO on the Four Seasons (Hong Kong)

BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand)

Charles H. on the Four Seasons Hotel (Seoul, South Korea)

Part-time job at NoMad Hotel London (London, UK)

Best international restaurant bar

ARCA Tulum (Tulum, Mexico)

Bar Kismet (Halifax, NS, Canada)

Burnt Ends Bar (Singapore)

Danico (Paris, France)

Best recent international cocktail bar

Bar Leone (Hong Kong)

Bar Nouveau (Paris, France)

Bar Us (Bangkok, Thailand)

Cat Bite Club (Singapore)

International Bartender of the Year

Lorenzo Antinori (Bar Leone, Hong Kong)

Kate Boushel (Atwater Cocktail Club, Milky Way Cocktail Bar, Bon Délire, Montreal, Canada)

Eric van Beek (Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City, Mexico)

Luke Whearty (Byrdi, Melbourne, Australia)

Best international bar team

Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City, Mexico)

Hanky ​​Panky (Mexico City, Mexico)

Jigger & Pony at Amara Hotel (Singapore)

Panda & Sons (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Best International Lawyer Mentor

Ryan Chetiyawardana

Iain McPherson

Danil Nevsky

Christina Veira

Best International Brand Ambassador

Claudia Cabrera (Branca Brothers)

Jesse Estes (Tequila Ocho)

Caitlin Hill (Rémy Cointreau)

Dave Mitton (Lot 40 / JP Wiser’s)

WRITING & MEDIA

Best Cocktail and Spirits Publication

Class magazine

SevenFifty every day

The cocktail lovers

The liquor store

Best show, podcast or online video series

Bartender on the loose

Like•a•ble Cocktails by Kaitlyn Stewart

Perspectives of the Campari Academy

Radio Imbibe

Best Cocktail and Spirits Fonts

“A new mind confronts the consequences of colonialism,” by Adaorah Oduah, for Punch

“Confronting rum’s problematic past allows producers to face the spirit’s future,” by Christine Sismondo, for Imbibe

“Indigenous women working in the mezcal industry are ready to receive recognition for their work,” by Shayna Conde, for Wine Enthusiast

“Meet the people who keep queer bars safe,” by Rax Will, for Punch

Best recent cocktail or bartending book

Slow Drinks: A Field Guide to Foraging and Fermenting Seasonal Lemonades, Botanical Cocktails, Homemade Wines, and More by Danny Childs

The Book of Cocktail Ratios: The Surprising Simplicity of Classic Cocktails by Michael Ruhlman

The Ice Book: Cool cubes, clear balls and other cool cocktail crafts by Camper English

Tropical Standard: Cocktail techniques and reinvented recipes by Garret Richard and Ben Schaffer

Best recent book about drinks culture, history or spirits

How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Enjoying Life by Mandy Naglich

Ice cream: From mixed drinks to ice rinks – the cool story of a sought-after raw material by Amy Brady

Juke joints, jazz clubs and juices: cocktails from two centuries of African-American cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin

The Maison Premiere Almanac – cocktails, oysters, absinthe and other vital nutrients for the sensualist, aesthete and flaneur: A cocktail recipe book by Joshua Boissy, Krystof Zizka, Jordan Mackay, William Eilliott

GLOBAL

Best recent spirit or cocktail ingredient

Don Fulano Tequila 20 Anniversary Sherry Cask Añejo

J. Rieger & Co. Monogram Whisky 2023 Kansas City Whisky (Solera Reserve)

Worthy Park 109

Yuzuco Yuzu Super Juice

The world’s best cocktail menu

Allegory on the Eaton Hotel (Washington, DC)

Alchemical (Cartagena des Indias, Colombia)

Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City, Mexico)

Jigger & Pony at Amara Hotel (Singapore)

Selection of one of the best spirits on the earth

Baba Au Rum (Athens, Greece)

Eleven Madison Park (New York, NY)

Multnomah Whisk{e}y Library (Portland, Oregon)

Origin Bar at Shangri-La Hotel (Singapore)

Timeless US award

The Buena Vista Café (San Francisco, California)

Timeless international award

Café Pacifico (London, UK)

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award

Hidetsugu Ueno

Tales Visionary Award

Colin Asare-Appiah

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