British bars are among the best in the world in the lists of top 10 nominees announced for this year’s international Spirited Awards.
Bars in London, Edinburgh and Bath have been selected by the 110 judges from over 1,500 put forward for the awards that are run as part of the Tales of the Cocktail festival in New Orleans in July.
Dandelyan at the Mondrian London hotel is up for awards in four international categories: best bar team, best hotel bar, best menu and best bartender for Iain Griffiths. Also nominated in four categories is the American Bar at The Savoy for world’s best spirits selection, bar team, cocktail menu and hotel bar.
Other UK bars in the top 10 for best international bar team are Callooh Callay, Connaught Bar and White Lyan in London. Callooh Callay is also nominated for best international high-volume bar alongside Trailer Happiness.
The top 10 for best international hotel bar also includes London’s Chiltern Firehouse, The Zetter Townhouse and Punch Room at The London Edition.
Bramble in Edinburgh joins Bar Termini and Happiness Forgets in the top 10 for best international cocktail bar. Nominees for best new international cocktail bar include The Dark Horse (pictured) in Bath and Seven Tales, Black Rock, The Gibson, Joyeux Bordel and Oriole in London.
The UK figures strongly in the top 10 for best international restaurant bar, with City Social, Duck & Waffle, Hawksmoor Spitalfields, Oblix and Sager + Wilde.
Marcis Dzelzainis of Sager + Wilde Paradise Row in London is in the top 10 alongside Iain for international bartender of the year and Monica Berg who is based in London and Oslo.
Other UK nominees include the Nightjar in London for world’s best cocktail menu and Salvatore Calabrese’s Bound by Salvatore at The Cromwell in Las Vegas for best American hotel bar. Ago Perrone of the Connaught Bar joins the likes of Dré Masso and Angus Winchester in the top 10 for best bar mentor.
The top 10 for best international brand ambassador is a roll call of names familiar to UK bars and bartenders: rum ambassador Ian Burrell, Monkey Shoulder’s Dean Callan, Belvedere’s Ali Dedianko, Grey Goose’s Joe McCanta, Bombay gins’ Raj Nagra, Becherovka’s George Nemec, Bacardi’s Shervene Shahbazkhani, Beefeater Gin’s Tim Stones, St-Germain’s Camille Vidal and Chivas Regal’s Max Warner.
British bartenders have also been nominated for their writing, including Ryan Chetiyawardana of Dandelyan and White Lyan for Good Things to Drink with Mr Lyan and Friends and “Belfast boys” Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry who, with Ben Schaffer, produced The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual. The Dead Rabbit in New York City is also up for awards for best American cocktail bar and American bar team.
Simon Ford, Spirited Awards chairman and host, said: “These nominees are just a snapshot of the talent and creativity that is in our industry today. In order to truly capture what is going on in the global cocktail movement, our short lists would need to be doubled.
“These awards recognise the people and places that captured the imagination of the 110 judges, but please also remember these awards are celebrating the industry we all love and the resurgence of the cocktail movement.”
The overall winners will be announced at the Spirited Awards at the Sheraton New Orleans on Saturday, July 23. The event will also honour and celebrate the life of leading bartender and bar owner Sasha Petraske and remember other industry pioneers lost this year.
Ann Tuennerman, founder of Tales of the Cocktail, said: “Making the Spirited Awards top 10 is no small feat. We receive hundreds of nominations in each category so everyone on this list should be proud of this hard-earned accomplishment.
“With the quality of bars, bartenders, ambassadors, distillers and writers we have in our industry, it was not an easy task for our judges.”
Simon will announce the final four finalists for each category in Los Angeles on Monday June 20 at midday Pacific Time – 8pm in the UK. It will be broadcast via Facebook Live on the Tales of the Cocktail Facebook page. This year’s awards ceremony in July will also be streamed live.
The sponsors of this year’s awards include Bacardi USA, BarSmart, Beam Suntory, Champagne Nicholas Feuillatte, Chivas, El Dorado Rum, Fords Gin, Gazela Vinho Verde, Goose Island, House of Angostura, Luxardo, Nikka Whiskey, Parlor Lounge, Pernod Absinthe, Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Ramazzotti, Rutte, The Cromwell, United States Bartenders Guild and William Grant & Sons.
Complete list of nominees
International categories (excluding USA)
Best International Bar Team
American Bar at the Savoy (London, United Kingdom)
The Baxter Inn (Sydney, Australia)
Black Pearl (Melbourne, Australia)
Callooh Callay (London, United Kingdom)
Connaught Bar (London, United Kingdom)
Dandelyan (London, United Kingdom)
Floridita (Havana, Cuba)
Limantour (Mexico City, Mexico)
Little Red Door (Paris, France)
White Lyan (London, United Kingdom)
International Bartender of the Year
Charles Ainsbury (Sydney, Australia)
Monica Berg of HIMKOK (Oslo, Norway)
Daniele Dalla Pola (Bologna, Italy)
Marcis Dzelzainis of Sager + Wilde Paradise Row (London, United Kingdom)
Chris Lowder of Charles H. (Seoul, South Korea)
Iain Griffiths of White Lyan and Dandelyan (London, United Kingdom)
Zdenek Kastanek of 28 Hong Kong Street (Singapore)
Tess Posthumus of Door 74 (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Carina Soto Velásquez of Candelaria (Paris, France)
Hidetsugu Ueno of Bar High Five (Tokyo, Japan)
Best International Cocktail Bar
Bar High Five (Tokyo, Japan)
Bar Termini (London, United Kingdom)
Bramble Bar (Edinburgh, United Kingdom)
Bulletin Place (Sydney, Australia)
Candelaria (Paris, France)
Happiness Forgets (London, United Kingdom)
Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar (Tel Aviv, Israel)
Limantour (Mexico City, Mexico)
Le Lion Bar de Paris (Hamburg, Germany)
Tales & Spirits (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar
Baba Au Rum (Athens, Greece)
Callooh Callay (London, United Kingdom)
Central Station Boutique Bar (Beirut, Lebanon)
The Clumsies (Athens, Greece)
Eau De Vie (Melbourne, Australia)
The Lobo Plantation (Sydney, Australia)
Potato Head Beach Club (Bali, Indonesia)
Ruby (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Strøm Bar (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Trailer Happiness (London, United Kingdom)
Best International Restaurant Bar
City Social (London, United Kingdom)
Delicatessen (Moscow, Russia)
Duck & Waffle (London, United Kingdom)
Hawksmoor Spitalfields (London, United Kingdom)
Linje Ti and Tjoget (Stockholm, Sweden)
Le Mary Celeste (Paris, France)
Oblix (London, United Kingdom)
Sager + Wilde (London, United Kingdom)
Tippling Club (Singapore)
Zuma (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Best International Hotel Bar
American Bar at The Savoy (London)
Black Angel’s Bar at Hotel U Prince (Prague, Czech Republic)
Chiltern Firehouse (London, United Kingdom)
The Connaught Bar at The Connaught (London, United Kingdom)
Dandelyan at the Mondrian, London (London, United Kingdom)
Lobster Bar and Grill at the Island Shangri-La (Hong Kong)
Manhattan at the Regent Singapore (Singapore)
Punch Room at The London EDITION (London, United Kingdom)
Widder Bar at the Widder Hotel (Zurich, Switzerland)
The Zetter Townhouse at the Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell (London, United Kingdom)
Best New International Cocktail Bar
7 Tales (London, United Kingdom)
Black Rock (London, United Kingdom)
Charles H. (Seoul, South Korea)
The Dark Horse (Bath, United Kingdom)
Dead Ringer (Sydney, Australia)
The Gibson (London, United Kingdom)
Gibson Bar (Singapore)
HIMKOK (Oslo, Norway)
Joyeux Bordel (London, United Kingdom)
Oriole (London, United Kingdom)
Best International Brand Ambassador
Ian Burrell (Rum Ambassador)
Dean Callan (Monkey Shoulder)
Allison Dedianko (Belvedere)
Joe McCanta (Grey Goose)
Raj Nagra (Bombay Gins)
George Nemec (Becherovka)
Shervene Shahbazkhani (Bacardi)
Tim Stones (Beefeater Gin)
Camille Vidal (St-Germain)
Max Warner (Chivas)
Global categories (including USA)
World’s Best Cocktail Menu
American Bar at the Savoy (London, United Kingdom)
The Aviary (Chicago, United States)
Baba Au Rum (Athens, Greece)
Charles H. (Seoul, South Korea)
Dandelyan (London, United Kingdom)
Little Red Door (Paris, France)
Lost Lake (Chicago, United States)
Mace (New York, United States)
Nightjar (London, United Kingdom)
Trick Dog (San Francisco, United States)
World’s Best Spirits Selection
American Bar at the Savoy (London, United Kingdom)
Amor y Amargo (New York, United States)
The Baxter Inn (Sydney, Australia)
Daddy-O (New York, United States)
Multnomah Whiskey Library (Portland, United States)
Old Lightning (Marina Del Rey, United States)
The Office at The Aviary (Chicago, United States)
Smuggler’s Cove (San Francisco, United States)
Tommy’s (San Francisco, United States)
Whitechapel (San Francisco, United States)
Best Bar Mentor
Bridget Albert
Derek Brown
Jason Crawley
Francesco Lafranconi
Don Lee
Dré Masso
Lauren Mote
Agostino Perrone
Andy Seymour
Angus Winchester
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient
Caña Brava 7-year Reserva Añeja Rum by the 86 Co. (Panamá)
Campo de Encanto “Barkeep’s Whimsy” Pisco (Perú)
Lagavulin 8-Year Old – 200th Anniversary Edition (United Kingdom)
Midwestern Dry Gin by J. Rieger & Co. (United States)
Orphan Barrel Gifted Horse Whiskey by Diageo (United States)
Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum (Barbados)
Ragtime Rye by New York Distilling Company (United States)
Riserva Speciale ‘Rubin’ Vermouth by MARTINI & ROSSI (Italy)
Rutte Celery Dry Gin by Rutte Spirits (Netherlands)
Rutte Old Simon Genever by Rutte Spirits (Netherlands)
American Categories
Best American Bar Team
ABV (San Francisco)
Anvil Bar & Refuge (Houston)
Attaboy (New York City)
The Dead Rabbit (New York City)
Drink (Boston)
Harvard & Stone (Los Angeles)
Herbs & Rye (Las Vegas)
Holiday Cocktail Lounge (New York City)
The NoMad (New York City)
Williams & Graham (Denver)
Best American Cocktail Bar
ABV (San Francisco)
The Aviary (Chicago)
canon: whiskey and bitters emporium (Seattle)
Clover Club (Brooklyn)
The Dead Rabbit (New York City)
The NoMad (New York City)
Prizefighter (Emeryville)
The Normandie Club (Los Angeles)
Smuggler’s Cove (San Francisco)
Trick Dog (San Francisco)
American Bartender of the Year
Julio Cabrera of The Regent Cocktail Club (Miami)
Marcovaldo Dionysos of Smuggler’s Cove (San Francisco)
Chris Hannah of French 75 (New Orleans)
Bobby Heugel of Anvil Bar & Refuge (Houston)
Giuseppe González of Suffolk Arms (New York City)
John Lermayer of Sweet Liberty (Miami Beach)
Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Clyde Common (Portland)
Yael Vengroff of The Spare Room (Los Angeles)
Pamela Wiznitzer of Seamstress (New York City)
Naren Young of Dante (New York)
Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour (Phoenix)
The Esquire Tavern (San Antonio)
Flatiron Lounge (New York City)
Harvard & Stone (Los Angeles)
Herbs & Rye (Las Vegas)
Honeycut (Los Angeles)
Melrose Umbrella Co. (Los Angeles)
No. 308 (Nashville)
Pegu Club (New York City)
Polite Provisions (San Diego)
Best American Brand Ambassador
Colin Asare-appiah (Bacardi)
Tim Cooper (The 86 Co.)
Daniel de Oliveira (Leblon)
Gardner Dunn (Beam Suntory)
Anne Louise-Marquis (Marnier Lapostolle)
Bernie Lubbers (Heaven Hill Distilleries)
Ewan Morgan (Whisky at Diageo)
Robin Nance (Auchentoshan)
Chris Patino (Pernod Ricard)
Ria Soler (Chartreuse)
Best American Hotel Bar
Bound by Salvatore at The Cromwell (Las Vegas)
The Elephant Bar at The NoMad (New York City)
The Hawthorne at the Commonwealth Hotel (Boston)
Midnight Rambler at The Joule Dallas (Dallas)
Pepe le Moko at the Ace Hotel Portland (Portland)
Proof on Main at 21c Museum Hotel Louisville (Louisville)
Sable Kitchen & Bar at Hotel Palomar (Chicago)
The Spare Room at The Hollywood Roosevelt (Los Angeles)
The Upstairs Bar at the Ace Hotel Los Angeles (Los Angeles)
Vesper Bar at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas (Las Vegas)
Best American Restaurant Bar
Cane & Table (New Orleans)
Eat the Rich (Washington, DC)
The Eveleigh (Los Angeles)
Gramercy Tavern (New York City)
No. 9 Park (Boston)
nopa (San Francisco)
One Flew South (Atlanta)
Saxon + Parole (New York City)
Scopa Italian Roots (Venice)
The Rieger (Kansas City)
Best New American Cocktail Bar
Bar Goto (New York City)
Dante (New York City)
Forgery (San Francisco)
Leyenda (Brooklyn)
Old Lightning (Marina Del Rey)
Suffolk Arms (New York City)
Sweet Liberty (Miami Beach)
The Treasury (San Francisco)
The Walker Inn (Los Angeles)
Whitechapel (San Francisco)
Writing
Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book
Spritz: Italy’s Most Iconic Apertivo Cocktail, with Recipes by Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau
The Tippling Bros. A Lime and a Shaker: Discovering Mexican-Inspired Cocktails by Tad Carducci, Paul Tanguay and Alia Akkam
Good Things to Drink with Mr Lyan and Friends by Ryan Chetiyawardana
The Cocktail Chronicles: Navigating the Cocktail Renaissance with Jigger, Shaker & Glass by Paul Clarke
The Experimental Cocktail Club: Paris, London, & New York by Romée de Goriainoff, Pierre-Charles Cros, Olivier Bon, Xavier Padavoni
Ten Cocktails: The Art of Convivial Drinking by Alice Lascelles
Drinking the Devil’s Acre: A Love Letter from San Francisco and her Cocktails by Duggan McDonnell
The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual: Secret Recipes and Barroom Tales from Two Belfast Boys Who Conquered the Cocktail World by Sean Muldoon, Jack McGarry, and Ben Schaffer
The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious Drinks for Every Occasion by Julie Reiner
Best New Spirits Book
Bitterman’s Field Guide to Bitters & Amari: 500 Bitters; 50 Amari; 123 Recipes for Cocktails, Food & Homemade Bitters by Mark Bitterman
Divided Spirits – Tequila, Mezcal and the Politics of Production by Sarah Bowen
The Year of Drinking Adventurously: 52 Ways to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone by Jeff Colett
Vermouth: The Revival of the Spirit that Created America’s Cocktail Culture by Adam Ford
How the Gringos Stole Tequila: The Modern Age of Mexico’s Most Traditional Spirit by Chantal Martineau
Bourbon Curious: A Simple Tasting Guide for the Savvy Drinker by Fred Minnick
Bourbon Empire: The Past and Future of America’s Whiskey by Reid Mitenbuler
El Gran Libro del Vermut: Con Mas de Cien Maneras de Tomárselo by François Mont
The Art of American Whisky: A Visual History of the Nation’s Most Storied Spirit, Through 100 Iconic Labels by Noah Rothbaum
Best Cocktail and Spirits Writer
Jenny Adams
Wayne Curtis
Simon Difford
Dan Dunn
Camper English
Alice Lascelles
Sandrae Lawrence
Jeffrey Morgenthaler
Robert Simonson
Naren Young
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication
Australian Bartender
Bartender Magazine
Chilled Magazine
The Cocktail Lovers
Difford’s Guide
Drinks International
Gin Foundry
Liquor.com
The Spirits Business
Whisky & Fine Spirits
