All the 2022 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards Winners

Another Tales of the Cocktail is in the books. This year, the annual conference celebrated 20 years since its inception, and the city of New Orleans was buzzing with energy after Tales was forced to go virtual the past two years.

Throughout the week, Tales of the Cocktail and its partners hosted hundreds of events and activations designed specifically for drinks industry professionals, from bartenders to distillers. These included educational seminars, tasting rooms, and plenty of good parties, and just like each year since 2007, the event concluded with the Spirited Awards.

The Spirited Awards recognize bars, products, beverage professionals, media outlets, and journalists for their work in the industry, bestowing such coveted titles as World’s Best Bar, Bartender of the Year, and Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient.

With this year’s theme of “progress”—and an appreciation of the nimble and adaptive nature of the drinks community—winners made strides in moving the beverage industry forward. Award recipients were chosen by a panel of more than 200 industry experts, led by Charlotte Voisey, the Spirited Awards Overall Chair. See below for the full list of winners.

2022 Spirited Awards Winners

U.S. Categories

Best U.S. Cocktail Bar
Katana Kitten — New York

Best U.S. Bar Team
Katana Kitten — New York

Best U.S. Hotel Bar
Silver Lyan at the Riggs — Washington, D.C.

Best U.S. Restaurant Bar
Jewel of the South — New Orleans

Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar
Happy Accidents — Albuquerque, NM

U.S. Bartender of the Year
Chris Hannah — Jewel of the South, New Orleans

Best U.S. Bar Mentor
Sean Kenyon

Best U.S. Brand Ambassador
Lynn House — Heaven Hill

International Categories

Best International Bar Team
MAYBE SAMMY — Sydney

Best International Cocktail Bar
Tayēr + Elementary — London

Best International Hotel Bar
Lyaness at Sea Containers London — London

Best International Restaurant Bar
Sexy Fish — London

Best New International Cocktail Bar
A Bar with Shapes for a Name — London

International Bartender of the Year
Remy Savage — A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London

Best International Bar Mentor
Lauren Mote

Best International Brand Ambassador
Martin Hudak — Mr. Black Spirits

Global Categories

World’s Best Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Lyaness at Sea Containers London — London

World’s Best Cocktail Menu
Little Red Door — Paris

World’s Best Spirits Selection
Jack Rose Dining Saloon — Washington, D.C.

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient
Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic – Italian Orange 

Pioneer Award
Amanda Gunderson – CEO & Co-Founder, Another Round Another Rally

Timeless International Award
Harry’s New York Bar — Paris

Timeless U.S. Award
Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel — New York

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award
Julie Reiner — Co-Founder Clover Club, Leyenda, Social Hour Cocktails, & Mixtress Consulting

Writing & Media Categories

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication
VinePair 

Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series
The Cocktail Lovers 

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing
“Get Real: The bar world looks beyond feel-good measures on sustainability and climate change” by Max Falkowitz for Imbibe Magazine

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book
The Japanese Art of the Cocktail by Masahiro Urushido and Michael Anstendig

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits
The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails edited by David Wondrich with Noah Rothbaum