How Tales Of The Cocktail Is Shaping The Future Of The Bar Industry | Forbes

Each year, the world’s top bartenders and spirits industry leaders gather in New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail, where passion, innovation, and community shape the future of mixology.

Founded in 2002, Tales of the Cocktail has grown from an annual walking tour of historic New Orleans cocktail bars into the world’s premier cocktail festival. The international bar and spirits industry is welcomed to the heart of the French Quarter for a week of seminars, tastings, networking, and special events. With hundreds of opportunities developed specifically for bartenders, distillers, cocktail enthusiasts, and other spirits professionals, Tales of the Cocktail is the industry’s annual meeting place for exchanging new ideas, products, and techniques.

Since 2007, the Spirited Awards has recognized beverage professionals, products, and establishments across every facet of the spirits and cocktail community on a global scale. This year's honorees include:

International Bartender of the Year:

Eric van Beek — Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City, Mexico

Best International Bar Mentor:

Danil Nevsky

Best International Brand Ambassador:

Dave Mitton — Lot 40 / J.P. Wiser's

Best International Bar Team:

Handshake Speakeasy — Mexico City, Mexico

Best International Cocktail Bar:

ALQUÍMICO — Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

Best International Hotel Bar:

BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok — Bangkok, Thailand

Best International Restaurant Bar:

Danico — Paris, France

Best New International Cocktail Bar:

Bar Leone — Hong Kong, China

U.S. Bartender of the Year:

Kapri Robinson — Allegory, Washington, D.C.

Best U.S. Bar Mentor:

Alex Jump

Best U.S. Brand Ambassador:

Anna Mains — Monkey Shoulder

Best U.S. Bar Team:

Jewel of the South — New Orleans, LA

Best U.S. Cocktail Bar:

Yacht Club — Denver, CO

Best U.S. Hotel Bar:

Allegory at the Eaton Hotel — Washington, D.C.

Best U.S. Restaurant Bar:

Cleaver - Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails — Las Vegas, NV

Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar:

Superbueno — New York, NY

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication:

The Cocktail Lovers

Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series:

Bartender at Large

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing:

"A New Spirit Confronts the Consequences of Colonialism," by Adaorah Oduah, for Punch

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book:

The Ice Book: Cool Cubes, Clear Spheres, and Other Chill Cocktail Crafts by Camper English

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits:

Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice: Cocktails from Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient:

YUZUCO Yuzu Super Juice

World’s Best Cocktail Menu:

Handshake Speakeasy — Mexico City, Mexico

World’s Best Spirits Selection:

Baba Au Rum — Athens, Greece

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award:

Hidetsugu Ueno

Timeless International Award:

Café Pacifico — London, UK

Timeless U.S. Award:

The Buena Vista — San Francisco, CA

Tales Visionary Award:

Colin Asare-Appiah

World’s Best Bar:

ALQUÍMICO — Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

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