Each year at Tales of the Cocktail the event dishes out awards for the best bars, bartenders and alcohol professionals on the planet. The event announced the 2017 winners (pictured atop) last week during its 11th Annual Spirited Awards.
Each winners was announced in front of a crowd of their peers at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans, hosted by comedian and actor Michael Ian Black. In addition to the judged winners, Tales also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award to Charles Schumann.
Winners were voted on by two panels of more than 100 industry experts, led by Charlotte Voisey (chairperson), Jacob Briars (international judging committee chairman), Paul Clarke (writing committee chairman) and Brooke Arthur, Bridget Albert and Derek Brown (U.S. judging committee chairs).
The World’s Best Bar award compiles gross votes for both American and international finalists in the categories of Best High Volume Cocktail Bar, Best Hotel Bar, Best Restaurant Bar, Best Cocktail Bar or World’s Best Cocktail Menu.
The 2017 Winners:
AMERICAN CATEGORIES
Best American Bar Team
Presented by William Grant & Sons
The NoMad Bar (New York)
Best American Brand Ambassador
Presented by NOCCPS
Misty Kalkofen (Del Maguey)
Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar
Presented by William Grant & Sons
Sweet Liberty Drinks and Supply Co. (Miami, FL)
Best American Restaurant Bar
Presented by Suze
Dante (New York)
American Bartender of the Year
Presented by Bacardi
Jeff Bell (New York)
Best American Cocktail Bar
Presented by Lillet
Columbia Room (Washington, D.C)
Best American Hotel Bar
Presented by Elijah Craig
The Hawthorne at Hotel Commonwealth (Boston)
Best New American Cocktail Bar
Presented by Luxardo
BlackTail (New York)
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES
Best International Bar Team
Presented by Angostura
Dandelyan (London)
Best International Brand Ambassador
Presented by Rutte
Camille Ralph Vidal (St. Germain)
Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar
Presented by 1724 Tonic Water
Trailer Happiness (London)
Best International Restaurant Bar
Presented by Suze
Tippling Club (Singapore)
International Bartender of the Year
Presented by Bacardi
Shingo Gokan (Shanghai)
Best International Cocktail Bar
Presented by Chivas
Black Pearl (Melbourne)
Best International Hotel Bar
Presented by Bound Bar
Dandelyan at the Mondrian (London)
Best New International Cocktail Bar
Presented by Pierre Ferrand
Swift (London)
WRITING CATEGORIES
Best Cocktail and Spirits Publication
Presented by Gin Mare
Hot Rum Cow
Best New Cocktail & Bartending Book
Presented by Nikka Whisky
Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki by Martin and Rebecca Cate
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer
Presented by Beam Suntory
Wayne Curtis
Best New Spirits Book
Presented by Pierre Ferrand
Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey by Fred Minnick
GLOBAL CATEGORIES
Best Bar Mentor
Presented by BarSmarts
David Wondrich
World’s Best Cocktail Menu
Presented by Beam Suntory
Trick Dog (San Francisco)
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient
Presented by Bound Bar
ITALICUS – Rosolio di Bergamotto (Italy)
World’s Best Spirits Selection
Presented by Montecristo Cigar Bar
canon: whiskey and bitters emporium (Seattle)
World’s Best Cocktail Bar
Presented by Elijah Craig
Dandelyan (London)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Presented by William Grant & Sons
Charles Schumann
