Tales of the Cocktail® Announces Top 10 Finalists for the 2012 Spirited Awards®
By Francine Cohen
Hundreds were nominated,but only a handful were chosen. A handful of the best and the brightest folks who embody the spirit of the spirits industry.
While each and every one of those nominated is a winner for the tireless work they do day after day to promote their chosen field (and this writer is particularly proud to contribute to first time nominated publication www.shakestir.com), only 10 could be nominated in each category which was judged by an international judging committee comprised of the most respected minds in the cocktail industry.
These judges recognized the contributions of many, and are honored to shine a spotlight on the ones who stand out from the crowd. “The Spirited Awards® ceremony is the night when the cocktail industry can step out from behind the bar to receive the recognition it deserves,” said Ann Tuennerman, Founder of Tales of the Cocktail® (www.talesofthecocktail.com).
Through its annual Spirited Awards®, Tales of the Cocktail® recognizes the bartenders, bars, writers and cocktail experts that continue to push the cocktail industry into new, exciting directions. To embody the ideals with which Tales of the Cocktail® was originally founded, these awards were developed to recognize both national and international honorees across 17 categories. Each award recipient will receive an exclusive Riedel Crystal trophy.
Pernod Ricard USA will once again sponsor this year’s Spirited Awards®, the fifth consecutive year the company has participated in the event. Also, as part of the evening’s festivities, Beverage Media Group, Inc. will recognize 10 Up & Coming Mixologists, selected from participants of the Tales of the Cocktail® Apprentice Program.
Please see below for a complete list of nominee according to category.
American Bartender of the Year
• Eric Alperin
• Jamie Boudreau
• Derek Brown
• Markovaldo Dyonisis
• Charles Joly
• Vincenzo Marianella
• Ivy Mix
• Jeffrey Morganthaler
• Joaquin Simo
• Naren Young
Best American Brand Ambassador
• Erick Castro
• Elayne Duke
• Jamie Gordon
• Guillaume Lamy
• Gaston Martinez
• Jackie Patterson
• Todd Richman
• Jim Ryan
• Nick Van Tiel
• Neyah White
Best American Cocktail Bar
• Anvil Bar & Refuge – Houston, Texas
• Bourbon & Branch – San Francisco, California
• The Drawing Room – Chicago, Illinois
• Dutch Kills – Long Island, New York
• Clover Club – Brooklyn, New York
• Columbia Room – Washington, District of Columbia
• Harvard & Stone – Los Angeles, California
• La Descarga – Los Angeles, California
• Mayahuel – Manhattan, New York
• The Varnish – Los Angeles, California
Best Bar Mentor
• Bridget Albert
• Sven Almenning
• Julio Bermejo
• Wayne Collins
• Francesco Lafranconi
• Chris McMillan
• Steve Olson
• Julie Reiner
• Thad Vogler
• Dushan Zaric
Best High Volume Cocktail Bar
• Beretta – San Francisco, California
• Clover Club – New York, New York
• Craft & Commerce – San Diego, California
• Eastern Standard – Boston, Massachusetts
• Flatiron Lounge – New York, New York
• La Descarga – Los Angeles, California
• Macao Trading Co. – New York, New York
• Sable Kitchen & Bar – Chicago, Illinois
• Seven Grand – Los Angeles, California
• The Tippler – New York, New York
Best Cocktail Writing – Author
• Jenny Adams
• Jarden Brown & Anastatia Miller
• Paul Clarke
• Wayne Curtis
• Dan Dunn
• Gary Regan
• Robert Simonson
• Jason Wilson
• Dave Wondrich
• Naren Young
Best Cocktail Writing – Non Book
• Barchick.com
• Barlife UK
• Find. Eat. Drink.
• Food Republic
• Liquor.com
• Mutineer Magazine
• Saveur
• Shakestir.com*
• Tasting Panel
• Time Out NY
Best International Brand Ambassador
• Colin Asare Appiah
• Jacob Briars
• Ian Burrell
• Tal Nadari
• Matt Pomeroy
• Jamie Terrell
• Manuel Terron
• Claire Smith
• Angus Winchester
• Brian Van Flandern
Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book
• The American Cocktail by the Editors of Imbibe
• Beta Cocktails
• Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All
• Gaz Regan’s Annual Manual for Bartenders 2011
• Home Bar Basics
• Living Loaded: Tales of Sex, Salvation and the Pursuit of the Never Ending Happy Hour
• The Mixellany Guide to Vermouth & Other Apertifs
• PDT Cocktail Book
Best New Product
• Bombay Sapphire East
• Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum
• Cocktail Kingdom’s Blue Blazer Mugs
• Cognac Pierre Ferrand 1840 Formula
• Fee Brother’s Gin Barrel Aged Orange Bitters
• Lillet Rose
• Perlini System
• Redemption Rye
• Steve Schneider’s Standard Issue Ice Mallet
• Tomr’s Tonic Syrup
Best Restaurant Bar
• Bar Agricole – San Francisco, California
• The Beagle – New York, New York
• Beaker & Flask – Portland, Oregon
• Heaven’s Dog – San Francisco, California
• Lani Kai – New York, New York
• No. 9 Park – Boston, Massachusetts
• Rivera – Los Angeles, California
• Sable – Chicago, Illinois
• Saxon + Parole – New York, New York
• Slanted Door – San Francisco, California
International Bartender of the Year
• Massimo Greco
• Misty Kalkofen
• Zdenek Kastanek
• Alex Kratena
• Max Larocca
• Sam Ross
• Michael Madrusan
• Shawn Soole
• Phil Ward
• Dushan Zaric
World’s Best Cocktail Bar
• 69 Colebrook Row – London, United Kingdom
• Black Pearl –Melbourne, Australia
• Callooh Callay – London, United Kingdom
• Clover Club – New York, New York
• The Connaught Bar – London, United Kingdom
• Drink – Boston, Massachusetts
• Eau de Vie – Sydney, Australia
• Mayahuel – Manhattan, New York
• Nightjar – London, United Kingdom
• The Varnish – Los Angeles, California
World’s Best Cocktail Menu
• Aviary – Chicago, Illinois
• Bar le Forvm –Paris, France
• Black Pearl – Melbourne, Australia
• Callooh Callay – London, United Kingdom
• Clover Club – New York, New York
• Mayahuel – Manhattan, New York
• Raines Law Room – Manhattan, New York
• The Roosevelt – Sydney, Australia
• Sable – Chicago, Illinois
• Whistling Shop – London, United Kingdom
World’s Best Drinks Selection
• Artesian at The Langham – London, United Kingdom
• Canon – Seattle, Washington
• Capri Lounge – Cologne, Germany
• Daddy-O – New York, New York
• Death & Co. – Manhattan, New York
• Eau de Vie – Sydney, Australia
• Sable – Chicago, Illinois
• Salvatore’s at The Playboy – London, United Kingdom
• Sanctuaria – St. Louis, Missouri
• Widder Bar – Zurich, Switzerland
World’s Best Hotel Bar
• Artesian at The Langham – London, United Kingdom
• Clive’s Classic Lounge – Victoria, British Columbia
• Clyde Common – Portland, Oregon
• The Connaught – London, United Kingdom
• Lantern’s Keep at The Iroquois Hotel – New York, New York
• Roomer’s Bar – Frankfurt, Germany
• Sable Kitchen and Bar at Hotel Palomar – Chicago, Illinois
• The Spare Room at The Roosevelt – Los Angeles, California
• Vesper Bar at The Cosmopolitan – Las Vegas, Nevada
• The Zetter Townhouse – London, United Kingdom
World’s Best New Cocktail Bar
• Aviary – Chicago, Illinois
• Candelaria – Paris, France
• Canon – Seattle, Washington
• The Everleigh – Melbourne, Australia
• Happiness Forgets – London, United Kingdom
• Harvard & Stone – Los Angeles, California
• Maison Premiere – Brooklyn, New York
• Mother’s Ruin – New York, New York
• Whistling Shop – London, United Kingdom
• The Zetter Townhouse – London, United Kingdom
Tickets to the Spirited Awards® ceremony can now be purchased online at TalesoftheCocktail.com for $65.00 for individuals or $650.00 per table of 10 seats. The Spirited Awards® are just one part of the historic 10th Anniversary Tales of the Cocktail® being held in New Orleans July 25-29, 2012. Visit the Tales of the Cocktail® website to learn more about the week’s spirited schedule of events.