2008 Spirit Awards

Tales of the Cocktail is right around the corner in July and they've recently sent out their nominations for their 2008 Spirit Awards (No, this one is not about racial unity. It's "Spirit" like cocktails. Just FYI).

I'm not going to say a lot here except that I know a lot of these and I'm surprised by some of the bar choices as I know there are definitely better ones out there, but all award ceremonies tend to suck, so why fight it?

Best Drink Selection
Criteria: A venue stocking an outstanding range of spirits and liqueurs. The judges will favor discernment as well as sheer numbers of bottles stocked.

Cantina - San Francisco, USA
Death & Company - New York City, USA
Der Raum - Melbourne, Australia
Doheney - Downtown Los Angeles, USA
The Merchant Hotel - Belfast, Northern Ireland
Salvatore's Bar at Fifty - London, England
Trio Bar - Berlin, Germany
Matterhorn - Wellington, New Zealand

Best Classic Cocktail Bar Criteria: Classic bars continue to uphold best bartending practices and serve drinks in relaxed lounge-like environments. The judges are looking for bars, which uphold this tradition (but are not necessarily old) and offer superb service and consistently well-made drinks. (Hotel bars are eligible). American Bar - Connaught Hotel, London, England Bramble - Edinburgh, Scotland Death & Co. - New York City, USA Dukes Bar - Dukes Hotel, London, England Experimental Cocktail Club - Paris, France Flatiron Lounge - New York City, USA Milk and Honey- New York City, USA Bar Le Forum - Paris, France The Merchant Hotel - Belfast, Northern Ireland Montgomery Place - London, England Widder Bar - Zurich, Switzerland World's Best Cocktail Bar Criteria: This award recognizes the international influence on cocktail trends and seeks to award the world's best cocktail bar. (US bars are not excluded.) The Flat Iron Lounge - New York City, USA Le Lion - Hamburg, Germany The Lonsdale - London, England The Merchant Hotel - Belfast, Northern Ireland Milk & Honey - New York, USA Milk & Honey - London, England Paparazzi - Bratislava, Slovak Republic Salvatore at Fifty - London, England Star Bar - Ginza, Tokyo, Japan Best New Cocktail Bar Criteria: Only bars which have opened in the 18 months preceding the awards may be nominated. This award aims to reward new creativity and ideas as well as well executed drinks. Bar Milano, New York City, USA Beretta, San Francisco, USA Death & Company, New York City, USA Le Lion de Paris, Hamburg, Germany 02 Lounge, Ritz Carlton, Moscow PDT (Please Don't Tell), New York City, USA Ruby, Copenhagen, Denmark Mixologist/Bartender of the Year Criteria: The absolute best drinks mixer. The winner should be proficient at making all recognized classic drinks and also have created contemporary cocktails, which have been copied by his/her peers. John Gerstern - No.9 Park, Boston, USA Kenta Goto of Pegu Club - New York City, USA Charles Joly - The Drawing Room, Chicago, USA Duggan McDonnell - Cantina, San Francisco, USA Erik Lorincz - Purple Bar, London, England Jim Meehan - PDT, New York City, USA Ago Perrone - Montgomery Place, London, England Sam Ross - Milk & Honey New York City, USA Nick Strangeway - Hawksmoor, London, England Charles Vexenat - The Lonsdale, London, England Philip Ward - Death & Company, New York City, USA Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book Criteria: The best book published in 2007 regarding cocktails, liquor, bars, bar design or bartending in general. New editions of existing works published in 2007 may also be nominated. Imbibe by David Wondrich Mixing New Orleans, Cocktails & Legends by Jennifer Adams In The Land of Cocktails by Ti Adelaide Martin & Lally Brennan And a Bottle of Rum - A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails by Wayne Curtis. Best Cocktail Writing Criteria: Great journalism is one of the best ways to communicate to the general public the value and significance of great cocktails and related products. This award is for any non-book journalism (Magazine, Newspaper, Website, etc) which promotes bars, bartender, or cocktails in general. Debra C. Argen & Edward F. Nesta (Luxury Experience Magazine, USA) Jeff Berry (Tiki God) Paul Clarke (Imbibe Magazine & San Francisco Chronicle) Ted Haigh (Imbibe Magazine) Gary Regan (San Francisco Chronicle) David Wondrich (Imbibe! From Absinthe Cocktail to Whisky Smash) Best New Product Criteria: This is awarded to what the judges consider to be the best new cocktail ingredient (spirit, liqueur, syrup or juice) or piece of cocktail equipment (muddler, shaker etc.). To qualify products must be on general retail sale in at least three US states. Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel Aged Bitters Fever Tree Mixers Lucid Absinthe Domaine de Canton Plymouth Sloe Gin Q Tonic Qi White Tea Liqueur Rothman & Winter Orchard Apricot Liqueur Sagatiba Pura Best Cocktail Menu Criteria: The judges seek to reward innovative and thirst inducing cocktail menus. Both the design and content will be considered. 1806 Bar - Melbourne, Australia Bayswater Brasserie - Sydney, Australia Death & Company - New York City, USA Doheney - Downtown, Los Angeles, USA The Drawing Room, Chicago, USA Bar Italia - Vienna, Austria Pegu Club - New York City, USA Ruby - Copenhagen, Denmark Tailor Restaurant - New York City, USA Best Drinks Brand Representative/Brand Ambassador Criteria: An award which recognizes the importance of personality in the promotion of drinks brands. Jacques Bezendenhout - Partida Tequila, USA Julio Bermejo - Tequila, USA Jason Crawley - Maxiuum, Australia. Phil Duff - Bols, Global John Gakuru - Sagatiba, Global H. Joseph Ehrmann - Square One Organic Vodka, USA Diego Loret de Mola - Pisco Bar Sol, USA Stuart McCluskey - Miller's Gin, UK Xavier Padovani - Hendricks, Global Charlotte Voisey - William Grant, USA Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award Criteria: The impact that some people have on the general cocktail community can span over the course of many years. There are individuals who have worked long and hard to change the industry and educate the public. This award is to provide special recognition to these individuals and the wonderful efforts they have undertaken. Salvatore Calabrese - Mixologist, writer & bar owner Dale DeGroff - Mixologist & writer Peter Dorelli - Formerly of the Savoy, London Phillip Hills - Founder of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Desmond Payne - Master Distiller Beefeater Gin Brian Rea - bararchives.com, former 21 Club bartender, etc. etc Gary Regan - Mixologist & writer