Team GB triumphed at last night’s international Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail, with bars and bartenders from the UK taking six of the trophies.
At a ceremony in New Orleans, the Artesian Bar at London’s Langham Hotel and its head bartender Alex Kratena picked up two awards – world’s best hotel bar and international bartender of the year for Alex himself.
The Connaught Bar at London’s Connaught Hotel was named the world’s best cocktail bar while the bar at the Zetter Townhouse Hotel in Clerkenwell, London (pictured), is taking home the award for world’s best new cocktail bar.
Callooh Callay in Shoreditch, London, beat finalists from the US and Australia to win the title of world’s best cocktail menu while Salvatore’s at Playboy – the bar set up by “The Maestro” Salvatore Calabrese at London’s Playboy Club – won the title of world’s best drinks selection.
British bartender Angus Winchester, who started his career in the UK and worked at London bars Trailer Happiness and Salvatore at Fifty, was named best international brand ambassador for his role as global brand ambassador for Tanqueray.
The awards, sponsored by Pernod Ricard USA, took place on the fourth day of Tales of the Cocktail, which takes place across New Orleans from July 25 to 29.
Other awards included best new product for Cognac Pierre Ferrand 1840 Formula, created by by Alexandre Gabriel of Cognac Ferrand with cocktail historian Dave Wondrich based on the styles of cognac around in the 19th century. It was introduced into the UK through drinks company Bibendum.
The winners are listed below along with the three other finalists in each category.
International Bartender of the Year
WINNER: Alex Kratena
Zdenek Kastanek
Sam Ross
Dushan Zaric
World’s Best Cocktail Bar
WINNER: The Connaught Bar – London, United Kingdom
69 Colebrooke Row – London, United Kingdom
Black Pearl –Melbourne, Australia
The Varnish – Los Angeles, California, USA
World’s Best Cocktail Menu
WINNER: Callooh Callay – London, United Kingdom
Black Pearl – Melbourne, Australia
Clover Club – Brooklyn, New York, USA
Mayahuel – Manhattan, New York, USA
World’s Best Drinks Selection
WINNER: Salvatore’s at The Playboy – London, United Kingdom
Artesian at The Langham – London, United Kingdom
Death & Co – Manhattan, New York, USA
Eau de Vie – Sydney, Australia
World’s Best Hotel Bar
WINNER: Artesian at The Langham – London, United Kingdom
Clive’s Classic Lounge – Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Clyde Common – Portland, Oregon, USA
The Zetter Townhouse – London, United Kingdom
World’s Best New Cocktail Bar
WINNER: The Zetter Townhouse – London, United Kingdom
Aviary – Chicago, Illinois, USA
Candelaria – Paris, France
Canon – Seattle, Washington, USA
Best International Brand Ambassador
WINNER: Angus Winchester
Jacob Briars
Ian Burrell
Claire Smith
Best Bar Mentor
WINNER: Steve Olson
Bridget Albert
Wayne Collins
Francesco Lafranconi
Best High Volume Cocktail Bar
WINNER: Eastern Standard – Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Beretta – San Francisco, California, USA
Clover Club – Brooklyn, New York, USA
La Descarga – Los Angeles, California, USA
Best Cocktail Writing – Author
WINNER: Gary Regan
Robert Simonson
Dave Wondrich
Naren Young
Best Cocktail Writing – Non Book
WINNER: Liquor.com
BarlifeUK
Shakestir.com
Time Out New York
Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book
WINNER: PDT Cocktail Book
The American Cocktail by the editors of Imbibe, USA
Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-all
Gaz Regan’s Annual Manual for Bartenders 2011
Best New Product
WINNER: Cognac Pierre Ferrand 1840 Formula
Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum
Lillet Rose
Perlini System
Best Restaurant Bar
WINNER: Slanted Door – San Francisco, California
Bar Agricole – San Francisco, California
Rivera – Los Angeles, California
Saxon + Parole – New York, New York
American Bartender of the Year
WINNER: Joaquin Simo
Eric Alperin
Charles Joly
Jeffrey Morganthaler
Best American Brand Ambassador
WINNER: Jim Ryan
Erick Castro
Elayne Duke
Jamie Gordon
Best American Cocktail Bar
WINNER: The Varnish – Los Angeles, California
Anvil Bar & Refuge – Houston, Texas
Clover Club – Brooklyn, New York
Columbia Room – Washington, District of Columbia
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Gary Regan
