The Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail is the world's premiere award ceremony for the Spirits Industry. From World's Best Bartender to Best New Product to Best Cocktail Writing, the hard working men and women in our field are honored each year. The Tales From the Red Carpet video is my contribution to this illustrious event, and this is my 5th year hosting and producing it, this time with LeJit Productions from New York. Once again, I'm excited to share thoughts, tips and insights from the liquor world's luminaries as they stopped by on their way to the big moment. (See my previous Spirited Awards Red Carpet videos here)Here is a complete list of this year's winners, courtesy of Diffords Guide -who, btw, won for best publication - congrats to them - and all the winners, who are listed below in bold:
Best Cocktail Writing - Publication
Australian Bartender MagazineBar Magazine Digitaldiffordsguide.comImbibe Magazine (USA)
Best New Book (Cocktail/Bartending)
Drinks by Tony ConigliaroThe Tequila Ambassador by Tomas EstesTo Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion by Philip GreeneVodka Distilled by Tony Abou-Ganim
Best American Brand Ambassador
Elayne Duff, Diageo PortfolioJamie Gordon, Absolut VodkaNeyah White, YamazakiTodd Richman, Sidney Frank Portfolio
Best International Brand Ambassador
Claire Smith, Belvedere VodkaGiuseppe Gallo, MartiniIan Burrell, Rum AmbassadorJacob Briars, Bacardi Portfolio
American Bartender of the Year
Charles Joly, The Aviary Chicago, IllinoisEric Alperin, The Varnish Los Angeles, CaliforniaLeo Robitschek, The NoMad Hotel New York, New YorkSean Kenyon Williams & Graham Denver, Colorado
World's Best Cocktail Menu
American Bar at the Savoy London, United KingdomPouring Ribbons New York, New York, USAThe Dead Rabbit New York, New York, USAThe Nightjar London, United Kingdom
Best Cocktail Writing - Author
gaz reganIan CameronPaul ClarkeRobert Simonson
Best Bar Mentor
Bridget Albert, Chicago, IllinoisDushan Zaric, Los Angeles, CaliforniaFrancesco Lafranconi, Las Vegas, NevadaJulie Reiner, Brooklyn, New York
Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award
Salvatore Calabrese, Playboy Club London
Best American Cocktail Bar
Anvil, Houston, TexasClover Club, Brooklyn, New YorkCure, New Orleans, LouisianaThe Hawthorne, Boston, Massachusetts
World's Best Drink Selection
Canon: whiskey and bitters emporium Seattle, Washington, USAMayahuel New York, New York, USASaxon + Parole Restaurant New York, New York, USAThe Dead Rabbit New York, New York, USA
World's Best Hotel Bar
Clyde Common Portland, Oregon, USAEastern Standard Kitchen and Drinks Boston, Massachusetts, USAThe NoMad Hotel New York, New York, USAThe Zetter Townhouse London, United Kingdom
World's Best Cocktail Bar
Callooh Callay, London, United KingdomCandelaria, Paris, FranceDrink, Boston, Massachusetts, USAThe Varnish, Los Angeles, California, USA
Best Restaurant Bar
Island Creek Oyster Bar, Boston, Massachusetts, USANo. 9 Park, Boston, Massachusetts, USASaxon + Parole Restaurant, New York, New York, USAThe NoMad Hotel, New York, New York, USA
Best High Volume Cocktail Bar
Clover Club Brooklyn, New YorkHarvard and Stone Los Angeles, CaliforniaSable Kitchen and Bar Chicago, IllinoisSaxon + Parole Restaurant New York, New York
World's Best New Cocktail Bar
Experimental Cocktail Club New York, New York, USAPouring Ribbons New York, New York, USAThe Dead Rabbit New York, New York, USAThe NoMad Hotel New York, New York, USA
Best New Product
Dale DeGroff's Pimento Aromatic BittersDorothy Parker GinFord's GinPierre Ferrand Dry Curacao
International Bartender of the Year
Hidetsugu Ueno, Bar High Five Tokyo, JapanJack McGarry, The Dead Rabbit New York, New York, USASimone Caporale, Artesian Bar at the Langham London, England,UKZdenek Kastanek, 28 Hong Kong Street Singapore