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Tales of the Cocktail Announces Spirited Awards Winners

Last night, the years best bars, bartenders, writers and cocktail experts from around the world were
recognized at the 9th Annual Spirited Awards as part of Tales of the Cocktail 2015.
NEW ORLEANS, LA July 19, 2015 - Following the largest nomination pool in the history of the
show and a rigorous judging process by some of the most respected members of the cocktail industry,
Tales of the Cocktail is proud to announce the winners for each category of the 9th Annual Spirited
Awards. All winners were announced live last evening at the Sheraton Hotel New Orleans. In
addition to this years judged award winners, Jonathan Downey and Steve Mannan were also honored
for their professional achievements.
2014 was an exceptionally fertile year for drink books and drink writing in general, with extremely
difficult choices to make in each of the four writing categories, said David Wondrich Writing
Committee Chairman. As far as the judges are concerned, each of the finalists is a true winner and
would have dominated the field in an average year. It was humbling to have to choose among them.
For the past nine years, the Spirited Awards have recognized the years best bars, bartenders, writers
and experts, becoming the cocktail industrys most prestigious and coveted award program. Winners
were voted on by a panel of more than 100 industry experts, led by Simon Ford (Chairman), Jackson
Cannon (U.S. Judging Committee Chairman), Jacob Briars (International Judging Committee
Chairman), and David Wondrich (Writing Committee Chairman). Voting was a weeklong process that
required extensive knowledge in each category. The votes were verified by the Super Committee and
tallied to determine the Top 10, Top Four and ultimately this years winners.
I couldn't be more proud of the effort of the American judges of this years Spirited Awards, said
Jackson Cannon, American Judging Committee Chairman. Their thoughtful, determined approach has
parsed the incredibly worthy field down to those most deserving of the highest honors this year. A toast
to the winners, they truly are the best of the best!
This year, the sponsoring partners of the 9th Annual Spirited Awards were Bacardi USA, BarSmarts,
Beefeater Gin, Bleu Dry Bar, Caa Brava, Chivas, Cognac Ferrand, Courvoisier, House of Angostura,
Luxardo, Mountain Valley Spring Water, Nicolas Feuillatte, The Perfect Pure of Napa Valley, Rums of
Puerto Rico, Mezcal El Silencio and William Grant & Sons.
The Second 'Golden Age of the Cocktail' continues to spread around the globe, as bartenders, bar
owners and ambassadors continue to set ever higher standards internationally. It's wonderful to see
traditional strongholds like London and Melbourne sharing nominations with the resurgent bar scene in

Paris, and to see the rise of great bars in places like Singapore and Dubai being recognized too, said
Jacob Briars, International Judging Committee Chairman. I'm grateful to our 50 International
Committee judges for their hard work and dedication in distilling thousands of nominees down to our
finalists and award winners, who represent the very best in the global industry. There has never been a
better time to be a cocktail lover around the globe.
For more information about the Spirited Awards , to view past winners or to learn more about all the
weeks spirited events, visit SpiritedAwards.TalesoftheCocktail.com or call 504-948-0511.

2015 Spirited Awards Winners

American Categories
Best American Bar Team
Employees Only (New York)

American Bartender of the Year

Ivy Mix (New York)

Best American Brand Ambassador

Brooke Arthur (House Spirits)

Best American Cocktail Bar

Williams & Graham (Denver)

Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar

Employees Only (New York)

Best American Hotel Bar

The Broken Shaker (Miami Beach)

Best American Restaurant Bar

Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks (Boston)

Best New American Cocktail Bar

ABV (San Francisco)

International Categories
Best International Bar Team
28 Hong Kong Street (Singapore)

International Bartender of the Year

Ryan Chetiyawardana (London)

Best International Brand Ambassador

Claire Smith-Warner (Belvedere Vodka)

Best International Cocktail Bar

Artesian (London)

Best International High Volume Cocktail

Bar
The Black Pearl & The Attic (Melbourne)
Best International Restaurant Bar
Blind Pig at Social Eating House (London)

Best International Hotel Bar

Beaufort Bar, The Savoy (London)
Best New International Cocktail Bar
Dandelyan (London)

Writing Categories
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication
PUNCH

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer

Dave Broom

Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book

Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the
Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold

Best New Spirits Book

Whisky: The Manual by Dave Broom

Overall Categories
Best Bar Mentor
Jim Meehan (Portland)

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient

Amaro di Angostura

Worlds Best Cocktail Menu

Dead Rabbit (New York)

Worlds Best Spirits Selection

Canon (Seattle)

Worlds Best Bar

Dead Rabbit (New York)

Special Recognitions
Lifetime Achievement Award
Jonathan Downey

Sam Guarino Citation

Steve Mannan

About Tales of the Cocktail

The Spirits Are Calling. Will you answer? Theyre calling you to New Orleans for five days of
seminars, tastings, product launches, competitions, networking events and so much more at the world's
premier professional cocktail event. By just being a part of this spirited gathering youll help your
fellow cocktail professionals around the world. Funds from Tales of the Cocktail are invested back
into the industry through scholarships, tuition reimbursements, training programs and financial aid. So
join us as the international spirits community answers the call, returning for another spirited round of
Tales of the Cocktail.
About the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society
The New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society (NOCCPS) is a non-profit organization
committed to preserving the unique cocktail culture in New Orleans and around the world through
education and outreach. Every year the NOCCPS produces a number of events including Tales of the
Cocktail, Tales of the Cocktail on Tour, and Tales of the Toddy with proceeds being invested back
into the international spirits community through educational programs, scholarships, training programs
and financial aid.
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CONTACT:Michelle Dunnick; 504-948-0511; Michelle@TalesoftheCocktail.com
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