Here’s Who Won the Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail

The annual Tales of the Cocktail festival just ended in New Orleans, and it made one thing quite clear: Tiki is not a trend, tiki is here to stay. So watch out, fancy cocktail bars.

Everywhere you looked at the festival, the rum was flowing and the prints were tropical. Tiki even made its mark on the Patrón Tequila Express train, which offered up tequila cocktails in pineapple-shaped mugs. At Absolut Elyx’s ornate garden/pool party, copper mermaid glasses made their debut, filled with coconutty concoctions. Even Cynar, the Italian artichoke-based amaro, gave out artichoke aloha shirts. But the place where tiki truly claimed its rightful place at the top was at the Spirited Awards.

Two of the night’s biggest awards went to tiki bars: Lost Lake in Chicago took Best American Cocktail Bar and Navy Strength in Seattle (one of our top new bars of 2017) took Best New American Cocktail Bar. The people have spoken; tiki bars are the best.

Here is the full list of winners from the Spirited Awards:

Best American Bar Team

Presented by William Grant & Sons

Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co., Miami, FL

American Bartender of the Year

Presented by Bacardi USA

Yael Vengroff, The Spare Room, Los Angeles, CA

Best American Brand Ambassador

Presented by VinePair

Anne Louise Marquis, Campari America

Best American Cocktail Bar

Presented by Pernod Ricard USA

Lost Lake, Chicago, IL

Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar

Presented by William Grant & Sons

The NoMad Bar, New York City, NY

Best American Hotel Bar

Presented by Bacardi USA

The Broken Shaker Miami at The Freehand, Miami, FL

Best American Restaurant Bar

Presented by Woodford Reserve

Clyde Common, Portland, OR

Best New American Cocktail Bar

Presented by Pierre Ferrand Cognac

Navy Strength, Seattle, WA

Best International Bar Team

Presented by The House of Angostura

The American Bar, The Savoy, London

International Bartender of the Year

Presented by Bacardi USA

Joe Schofield, Tippling Club, Singapore

Best International Brand Ambassador

Presented by G.H. Mumm

Ian Burrell, Global Rum Ambassador

Best International Cocktail Bar

Presented by Pernod Ricard USA

Happiness Forgets, London

Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar

Presented by Rutte

The Clumsies, Athens

Best International Hotel Bar

Presented by Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association

The American Bar, The Savoy, London

Best International Restaurant Bar

Presented by Mandarine Napoléon

Sager & Wilde, London

Best New International Cocktail Bar

Presented by Pierre Ferrand Cognac

Coupette, London

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication

Presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

The Daily Beast, Half Full Section

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer

Presented by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Carrie Allan, The Washington Post, Imbibe, and more

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book

Presented by Gra’it Grappa

Meehan’s Bartender Manual by Jim Meehan

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits

Presented by Cocktail Kingdom

By the Smoke and the Smell by Thad Vogler

Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series

Presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Life Behind Bars

Best Bar Mentor

Presented by BarSmarts

Andy Seymour, Liquid Productions

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient

Presented by Maverick Drinks

Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Jabali

World’s Best Cocktail Menu

Presented by Peroni

Dandelyan, London

World’s Best Spirit Selection

Presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co., Miami, FL

World’s Best Bar

Presented by Italicus

The American Bar at The Savoy, London

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award

Presented by William Grant & Sons

John Lermayer