Tales of the Cocktail, the annual festival that brings brands, bartenders, and a whole lot of good times to New Orleans each July, has come and gone—but not before doling out some well-deserved awards. This year marked the 13th Annual Spirited Awards and was hosted at New Orleans’ iconic Orpheum Theater.
Much to the delight of those in attendance, the festivities opened with remarks from actor Bryan Cranston. He and Breaking Bad alum Aaron Paul attended Tales this year to introduce their newly-launched Dos Hombres mezcal to the global spirits community.
Award recipients were considered by a panel of more than 140 industry experts. The awards don’t just recognize the best spirits, cocktails, bars, and bartenders; they also champion the writers and brand ambassadors who explore and promote the industry.
The most prestigious award of the night went to New York’s Dante—an Italian cafe/bar led by Naren Young and known for its Negroni menu—which took home the prize for World’s Best Bar. Below is the full list of winners.
2019 Spirited Award Winners
AMERICAN CATEGORIES
American Bartender of the Year
Julio Cabrera – Cafe La Trova, Miami, FL
Best American Brand Ambassador
Tim Cooper, Fords Gin
Best American Bar Team
Herbs and Rye – Las Vegas, NV
Best American Cocktail Bar
Attaboy – New York, NY
Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar
Herbs and Rye – Las Vegas, NV
Best American Hotel Bar
Compére Lapin at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery – New Orleans, LA
Best American Restaurant Bar
Dante – New York, NY
Best New American Cocktail Bar
Katana Kitten – New York, NY
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES
International Bartender of the Year
Monica Berg – Tayer and Elementary, London, UK
Best International Brand Ambassador
Joe McCanta, Grey Goose
Best International Bar Team
Licorería Limantour – Mexico City, Mexico
Best International Cocktail Bar
Atlas Bar – Singapore
Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar
Schumann’s Bar – Munich, Germany
Best International Hotel Bar
Manhattan at Regent Singapore – Singapore
Best International Restaurant Bar
Hawksmoor Spitalfields – London, UK
Best New International Cocktail Bar
Maybe Sammy – Sydney, Australia
GLOBAL CATEGORIES
Best Bar Mentor
Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient
Fords Gin Officers’ Reserve
World’s Best Cocktail Menu
Trick Dog – San Francisco, CA
World’s Best Spirits Selection
Atlas Bar – Singapore
WRITING & MEDIA CATEGORIES
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication
SevenFifty Daily
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer
Robert Simonson, The New York Times, Imbibe Magazine, PUNCH
Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book
Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions by Alex Day, David Kaplan, and Nick Fauchald
Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits
A Drinkable Feast: A Cocktail Companion to 1920s Paris by Philip Greene
Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series
Bartender at Large
ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY AWARDS
World’s Best Bar
Dante – New York, NY
Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award
Javier De Las Muelas
Philanthropy Award
Speed Rack
Timeless American Award
Napoleon House – New Orleans, LA
Timeless International Award
El Floridita – Havana, Cuba
