Tales of the Cocktail Foundation has announced the Top Four Finalists for the 2023 Spirited Awards, which have been celebrating global excellence in the drinks industry since 2007.
Australia has generally fared well at Spirted, with Maybe Sammy picking up the Best International Bar Team award last year. This year, Byrdi’s Luke Whearty is Australia’s only hope for a gong, nominated for International Bartender of the Year.
The Spirited Awards comprise domestic (US) and international awards recognising the best people, products and establishments across all aspects of the global spirits and cocktail community.
Charlotte Voisey, Spirited Awards Overall Chair, said: “For an industry that has for so long looked to the past for tutelage, I believe we are firmly in an era where today’s best bars, bartenders, writers, and distillers work with original thought and exciting new ideas, and I am grateful for the light we get to shine on our nominees in each region around the world.
“A very big thank you goes to our 24 co-chairs and 250 judges of the Spirited Awards. Your time and integrity ensures this process is the best it can be and the most representative of our dynamic industry.”
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation has announces the Top Four finalists of each category, in addition to the recipients of the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award, Timeless US and International Awards, and the Visionary Award.
2023 Spirited Awards® Top Four Nominees (in alphabetical order):
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES
International Bartender of the Year presented by The Busker
- Gina Barbachano — Hanky Panky, Mexico City, Mexico
- Giorgio Bargiani — Connaught Bar, London, UK
- Daniel Schofield — SCHOFIELD’S BAR, Manchester, UK
- Luke Whearty — BYRDI, Melbourne, 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 — Montreal, QC, Canada
- Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore
- Paradiso — Barcelona, Spain
Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Patrón Tequila
- (Bar with Shapes for a Name) — London, UK
- ALQUÍMICO — Cartagena, Colombia
- Atwater Cocktail Club — Montreal, QC, Canada
- SIPS — Barcelona, Spain
Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier
- ARGO at the Four Seasons — Hong Kong, China
- BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok — Bangkok, Thailand
- Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel — Vancouver, BC, 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, Mexico
- Bar Kismet — Halifax, NS, 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
U.S. CATEGORIES
U.S. Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard USA
- Caer Maiko Ferguson — DrinkWell / Daijoubu, Austin, TX
- Kapri Robinson — Allegory at the Eaton Hotel, Washington, DC
- Masahiro Urushido — Katanna Kitten, New York, NY
- Christine Wiseman — Marygold’s Brasserie / Broken Shaker, Miami, FL
Best U.S. Bar Mentor presented BarSmarts
- Anu Apte
- Colin Asare-Appiah
- Nectaly Mendoza
- Chris Patino
Best U.S. Brand Ambassador presented Libbey
- Kiowa Bryan — Spiribam
- Chris Cabrera — Bacardi USA
- Cameron George — Ardbeg Single Malts
- Vance Henderson — Hendrick’s Gin
Best U.S. Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons
- Happy Accidents — Albuquerque, NM
- Nickel City — Austin, TX
- Pacific Cocktail Haven — San Francisco, CA
- Yacht Club — Denver, CO
Best U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka
- Century Grand — Phoenix, AZ
- Double Chicken Please — New York, NY
- Overstory — New York, NY
- Service Bar — Washington, DC
Best U.S. Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose
- Allegory at the Eaton Hotel — Washington, DC
- 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
Best U.S. Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo
- Café La Trova — Miami, FL
- Cleaver Butchered Meats & Seafood — Las Vegas, NV
- Kumiko — Chicago, IL
- Palomar — Portland, OR
Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy
- Chez Zou — New York, NY
- Martiny’s — New York, NY
- Milady’s — New York, NY
- Pacific Standard at the KEX Portland — Portland, OR
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
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, NY
- 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, CA
- Swift Soho — London, UK
Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons
- Desmond Payne MBE
Timeless International Award presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel Singapore — Singapore
Timeless U.S. Award presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Tiki-Ti — Los Angeles, CA
Visionary Award Presented by Johnnie Walker
- Tiffanie Barriere
The 17th annual Spirited Awards Ceremony Ceremony will be celebrated on July 27, 2023 at the Fillmore New Orleans. Tickets are now available through the TOTC website.