MEDIA ALERT Ann Tuennerman: 504-948-0511; Ann@TalesoftheCocktail.

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Tales of the Cocktail Calls for 2012 Spirited Awards Nomination

Held annually during Tales of the Cocktail, the Spirited Awards recognizes the years best bars, bartenders, cocktail experts, writers and more. NEW ORLEANS February 6, 2012 Since 2007, Tales of the Cocktail, the worlds premier cocktail festival, has recognized those members of the cocktail industry that have taken the craft and business to new heights with its annual Spirited Awards, sponsored by Pernod Ricard USA. This year, the awards show returns to honor another round of bartenders, bars, cocktail experts, writers and more on July 28, 2012 as part of the Tales of the Cocktail 10th anniversary celebration. Nominations for 16 categories are now being accepted online at TalesoftheCocktail.com. The International Spirited Awards truly are the culmination of the weeks activities at Tales of the Cocktail, said Paul Tuennerman, Co-founder of Tales of the Cocktail. I can think of nothing more rewarding than being recognized by ones own peers, for excellence. This years American and International judging committees are chaired by Simon Ford and comprised of 42 of the worlds most respected minds on mixology. Winners will once again take home the coveted Riedel Crystal awards. In addition to the awards being given out, Beverage Media Group, Inc. will recognize 10 Up & Coming Mixologists, selected from participants of the Tales of the Cocktail Apprentice Program Presented by Cointreau. These rising stars in the cocktail world will also appear on the cover of the September 2012 issue of Beverage Media and its member publications. The Spirited Awards are just one part of what will be a historic 10th Anniversary Tales of the Cocktail. The five-day festival celebration, being held July 25-29, 2012 in New Orleans, will feature its largest schedule of events yet with a spirited mix of seminars, tasting rooms, parties, competitions, luncheons, dinners and more. Tickets for the Spirited Awards and all the other events will be available online at TalesoftheCocktail.com beginning in March 2012.

The 2012 Spirited Awards is comprised of the following members into two Judging Committees: Committee Chairman: Simon Ford, Chairman USA Judging Committee: Tony Abou-Ganim Bridget Albert David Alan Henry Besant Jacques Bezuidenhout Dale DeGroff Camper English Simon Ford Robert Hess Misty Kalkofen Allen Katz Ted Kilgore Jay Kosmas Francesco Lafranconi Justin Lew Lindsay Nader Steve Olson Wyatt Peabody Danny Ronen Sam Ross Borys Saciuk Audrey Saunders Ann Tuennerman Charlotte Voisey Josh Wagner Rocky Yeh International Judging Committee: Sven Almenning Stephan Berg Jacob Briars Wayne Collins Tony Conigliaro Philip Duff Erik Lorincz John Gakuru Jim Meehan George Nemec Kurt Schlechter Shawn Soole Angus Winchester Dan Warner Dave Wondrich Naren Young Dushan Zaric

Award Categories and Criteria (In no particular order) American Bartender of the Year From Jerry Thomas onwards, American bartenders have been amongst the most influential on drink styles and cocktail culture. This award seeks to recognize the most influential American bartender today. The winner should be proficient at making all recognized classic drinks and have created contemporary cocktails that have been copied by peers. Nominees must be actively working behind the bar. 2011 Winners: Kenta Goto & Sam Ross International Bartender of the Year The absolute best drink mixer in the world. The winner must have received international recognition of their work with their own recipes crossing borders to appear on cocktail menus in numerous countries. American bartenders are eligible for this award. 2011 Winner: Erik Lorincz, London Best American Brand Ambassador An award that recognizes the importance of personality in the promotion of drink brands. A winner will be chosen based on his/her creative use of brand communication to engage the trade and his/her ability to execute compelling education and seminars. This person must be working as an Ambassador full time in the United States. Nominees must NOT be working behind the bar. 2011 Winner: Jacques Bezuidenhout, Partida Tequila Best International Brand Ambassador An award that recognizes the importance of personality in the promotion of drink brands. A winner will be chosen based on his/her creative use of brand communication to engage the trade and his/her ability to execute compelling education and seminars. This person should work in an International capacity or in a country other than the USA. Nominees must NOT be working behind the bar. 2011 Winner: Dan Warner, Beefeater Gin Best Bar Mentor Not everyone who is having an impact on the quality of the cocktails we drink is working behind the bar. There are many people who are creating bar programs, training the next generation of great bartenders and playing an active role in designing the bars we all love to drink in. This award recognizes those individuals who, in their professional life, play a crucial role in raising the quality of bars, bartenders, and cocktails without currently working as a bartender. Nominees must NOT be working behind the bar.

2011 Winner: Audrey Saunders, New York Best American Cocktail Bar This award recognizes the influence on cocktail trends within the United States and seeks to award the countrys best cocktail bar. Menu, bar teams, atmosphere and cocktail quality are all considered. 2011 Winner: Drink, Boston Worlds Best Cocktail Bar Only truly world-class bars will be considered for this illustrious title. Some bars attain worldwide recognition and this award recognizes the very best of the best. 2011 Winner: Employees Only, New York Worlds Best New Cocktail Bar Only bars, which opened after March 31, 2011, may be nominated. This award aims to reward new creativity and ideas as well as well executed drinks. 2011 Winner: Eau de Vie, Sydney Best High Volume Cocktail Bar Awarded to the bar that consistently delivers top quality cocktails at bars with 100 seats or more. This award celebrates those bars that efficiently delivers cocktail culture to the masses. Cocktails, lists, bartending and service are all considered. 2011 Winner: Rickhouse, San Francisco Worlds Best Hotel Bar The classic American Bar played an important role in the history and development of cocktail culture. The judges are looking for hotel bars that uphold this tradition (but are not necessarily old) and offer five-star service and consistently well-made drinks. 2011 Winner: The Savoy, London Best Restaurant Bar This award is for the restaurant bar that is dedicated to creating a great cocktail experience for their dining guests. Considerations will go to the approach they have to aperitif and digestive drinks, how well they work with the kitchen to pair cocktails with food, as well as general bartending and mixing excellence. 2011 Winner: Eleven Madison Park, New York Worlds Best Cocktail Menu

The judges seek to reward innovative and thirst-inducing cocktail menus. Both the design and content will be considered. Nomination requires inclusion of PDF or JPEG copy of the menu being nominated. 2011 Winner: Artesian at The Langham, London Worlds Best Drink Selection This award goes to a venue stocking an outstanding range of spirits and liqueurs. The judges will favor discernment as well as sheer number of bottles stocked. 2011 Winner: Employees Only, New York Best Cocktail Writing (sub-categories: non-book author and non-book publication) Great journalism is one of the best ways to communicate to the general public the value and significance of great cocktails and related products. This award is for any non-book writing (magazine, newspaper, website, etc.) that promotes bars, bartenders or cocktails in general. This award is split into two sub-categories: non-book author and non-book publication. 2011 Winners: Camper English (author), Imbibe (publication) Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book The best book published in 2011 regarding cocktails, liquor, bars, bar design or bartending in general. New editions of existing works may also be nominated. 2011 Winner: Punch by David Wondrich Best New Product This is awarded to what the judges consider to be the best new cocktail ingredient (spirit, liqueur, syrup or juice) or piece of cocktail equipment (muddler, shaker, etc.). To qualify, products must be on general retail sale in at least three US states as of March 31, 2011. 2011 Winner: Banks 5 Island Rum Any person or establishment that won an award at last years Spirited Awards is not eligible for nomination in the category for which it won. Also, no person or establishment can win an award more than twice in the same category. About Tales of the Cocktail Tales of the Cocktail is the worlds premier cocktail festival, bringing together the most respected minds on mixology for five days of cocktails, cuisine and culture. Held annually in New Orleans, this international event has something for cocktail professionals and enthusiasts alike with a spirited schedule of seminars, dinners, competitions and tasting rooms where brands showcase their latest products. Tales of the Cocktail returns in 2012 for a historic milestone its 10th Anniversary of rocking the cocktail world. Join the celebration July 25-29, 2012 and see how Tales of the Cocktail only gets better with age.

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 culture of cocktails and cuisine in New Orleans and beyond. Since its founding in 2006 the NOCCPS has supported members of the hospitality industry through programs like the new Apprentice Aid Fund, providing financial assistance to former apprentices in times of medical need, the Cocktail Apprentice Scholarship Program and the Flo Woodward Memorial Scholarship as well as the production of events like Tales of the Cocktail. For more information about the Spirited Awards or about this summers festivities, visit TalesoftheCocktail.com. Ticket will be on sale March 2012. ###