Spirited Awards names top four finalists 2023

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTFC) has named the top four finalists for the 17th annual Spirited Awards.

In partnership with Forbes, the official media partner of the Spirited Awards, the winners will be announced during the TOTCF festival in New Orleans from 23-28 July.

Charlotte Voisey, Spirited Awards overall chair, said: “For an industry that has for so long looked to the past for tutelage, I believe we are firmly in an era where today’s best bars, bartenders, writers, and distillers work with original thought and exciting new ideas, and I am grateful for the light we get to shine on our nominees in each region around the world.

“A very big thank you goes to our 24 co-chairs and 250 judges of the Spirited Awards. Your time and integrity ensures this process is the best it can be and the most representative of our dynamic industry.”

Scroll down to discover the top four finalists for each category in alphabetical order.

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International Bartender of the Year presented by The Busker

• Gina Barbachano — Hanky Panky, Mexico City, Mexico

• Giorgio Bargiani — Connaught Bar, London, UK

• Daniel Schofield — Schofield’s Bar, Manchester, UK

• Luke Whearty — Byrdi, Melbourne, Australia

Best International Bar Mentor presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Simone Caporale

• Danil Nevsky

• Agostino Perrone

• Christina Veira

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Caitlin Hill — Rémy Cointreau

• Daniyel Jones — House of Angostura

• Dave Mitton — Lot 40 / J.P. Wiser’s

• Nicola Riske — The Macallan

Best International Bar Team presented by Angostura Caribbean Rum

• Alquímico — Cartagena, Colombia

• Atwater Cocktail Club — Montreal, QC, Canada

• Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore

• Paradiso — Barcelona, Spain

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Patr​​ón Tequila

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier

• Argoat the Four Seasons — Hong Kong, China

• BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok — Bangkok, Thailand

• Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel — Vancouver, BC, Canada

• Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Analogue Initiative — Singapore

• Arca Restaurant & Bar — Tulum, Mexico

• Bar Kismet — Halifax, NS, Canada

• Danico — Paris, France

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

• Last Word — Singapore

• Line Athens — Athens, Greece

• Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar — Bangkok, Thailand

• Night Hawk — Singapore

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US Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard USA

• Caer Maiko Ferguson — DrinkWell / Daijoubu, Austin, TX

• Kapri Robinson — Allegory at the Eaton Hotel, Washington, DC

• Masahiro Urushido — Katanna Kitten, New York, NY

• Christine Wiseman — Marygold’s Brasserie / Broken Shaker, Miami, FL

Best US Bar Mentor presented BarSmarts

• Anu Apte

• Colin Asare-Appiah

• Nectaly Mendoza

• Chris Patino

Best US Brand Ambassador presented Libbey

• Kiowa Bryan — Spiribam

• Chris Cabrera — Bacardi USA

• Cameron George — Ardbeg Single Malts

• Vance Henderson — Hendrick’s Gin

Best US Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

• Happy Accidents — Albuquerque, NM

• Nickel City — Austin, TX

• Pacific Cocktail Haven — San Francisco, CA

• Yacht Club — Denver, CO

Best US Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka

• Century Grand — Phoenix, AZ

• Double Chicken Please — New York, NY

• Overstory — New York, NY

• Service Bar — Washington, DC

Best US Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose

• Allegory at the Eaton Hotel — Washington, DC

• Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel — New York, NY

• Hey Love at The Jupiter — Portland, OR

• Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott — Phoenix, AZ

Best US Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo

• Café La Trova — Miami, FL

• Cleaver Butchered Meats & Seafood — Las Vegas, NV

• Kumiko — Chicago, IL

• Palomar — Portland, OR

Best New US Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

• Chez Zou — New York, NY

• Martiny’s — New York, NY

• Milady’s — New York, NY

• Pacific Standard at the KEX Portland — Portland, OR

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Black and Brown Podcast

• Radio Imbibe

• Shōshin Art Club

• The Speakeasy Podcast

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• “The Drinks Industry Has an Ageism Problem” by Betsy Andrews, for SevenFifty Daily

• “The Great Mezcal Heist” by Emma Janzen, for Eater

• “The Secrets to the Best Dry Martini You’ll Ever Have” by David Wondrich, for The Daily Beast

• “This Is What Decolonizing a Spirit Looks Like” by Adaorah Oduah, for Punch

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No- and Low-Alcohol Cocktails with 60 Recipes by Derek Brown

• Modern Classic Cocktails by Robert Simonson

• The Bartender’s Manifesto by Toby Maloney with Emma Janzen

• The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails – Elevated and Expanded, edited by Steven Reddicliffe

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• A Sense of Place: A journey around Scotland’s whisky by Dave Broom

• Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails by Camper English

• Modern Caribbean Rum: A Contemporary Reference to the Region’s Essential Spirit by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith

• Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

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Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

• Martini & Rossi Floreale Non Alcoholic Aperitivo

• Patrón El Alto Tequila

• Saint Benevolence Aged Rum Clairin

• The Fords Gin Co. Sloe Gin

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy

• Alquímico — Cartagena, Colombia

• Double Chicken Please — New York, NY

• Handshake Speakeasy — Mexico City, Mexico

• Panda & Sons — Edinburgh, Scotland

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Baba Au Rum — Athens, Greece

• In Situ Mezcalería — Oaxaca, Mexico

• Raised by Wolves — San Diego, CA

• Swift Soho — London, UK

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons

Timeless International Award presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Timeless US Award presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Visionary Award Presented by Johnnie Walker