Tails of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) announced the Top 10 International Nominees for the 20th annual Spirited Awards. Since its inception in 2007, the Spirited Awards has become one of the world’s highest-regarded honors in the drinks industry, celebrating outstanding individuals, establishments, products, media, and leaders who continue to inspire the global cocktail community. 

In partnership with official media partner, Food & Wine, TOTCF will honor recipients during the Tales of the Cocktail conference, which is celebrating its 24th year in New Orleans, July 19-24, 2026. The Spirited Awards celebrate excellence across the global bar and cocktail industry, honoring outstanding achievements in both domestic and international categories. The program recognizes leaders in bars, bartending, writing, and media, while also presenting top global honors, including World’s Best Cocktail Bar and World’s Best Cocktail Menu.

“The magic of cocktail culture has never just lived in what’s in the glass—it lives in the people, the stories, and the hospitality that stay with us long after the last sip,” Tiffanie Barriere, Spirited Awards U.S. Chair, said in a news release. “This year’s nominees embody the passion, creativity, and cultural influence that continue to shape how the world gathers, celebrates, and connects.”

In that spirit, the Foundation is proud to announce the Top 10 U.S. Nominees.

• U.S. Bartender of the Year presented by Brown-Forman
  • Eric Bennett — Continental Drift, Birmingham, AL
  • Linda Douglas — Donna’s, Los Angeles, CA
  • Andrea Grujic — Sip & Guzzle, New York, NY
  • Juliette Larrouy — schmuck., New York, NY
  • Libby Lingua — Highball, Phoenix, AZ
  • Daddy Long Legs — Hawksmoor, Chicago, IL
  • Shammai Mading — Superbueno, New York, NY
  • Steve Schneider — Sip & Guzzle, New York, NY
  • Takuma Watanabe — Martiny’s/ L’Americana/ Midnight Blue, New York, NY
  • J’Nai Angelle Williams — Chandelier Bar at the Four Seasons, New Orleans, LA

• Best U.S. Bar Mentor
  • Steva Casey
  • Meaghan Dorman
  • Kate Gerwin
  • Iain Griffiths
  • Amanda Gunderson & Travis Nass
  • Ignacio “Nacho” Jiménez
  • Anne Louise Marquis
  • Jeffrey Morganthaler
  • LP O’Brien
  • Christine Wiseman

• Best U.S. Brand Ambassador
  • Erik Andersson — Hendrick’s Gin
  • Joe Brooke — Fords Gin
  • Kiowa Bryan — Saint Benevolence
  • Tad Carducci — Gruppo Montenegro
  • Benny Hurwitz — Campari American Whiskies
  • Alexander “Zan” Kong — Worthy Park Estate
  • Jessi Lorraine — Old Forester
  • Mary Palac — Campari Mexican Spirits
  • Cesar Sandoval — Casa Lumbre Spirits
  • Erin Schaeferle — Mr Black Coffee Liqueur

• Best U.S. Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons
  • Bar Snack — New York, NY
  • Cobra — Columbus, OH
  • Highball — Phoenix, AZ
  • Lady Jane — Denver, CO
  • Nickel City — Austin, TX
  • Pacific Cocktail Haven — San Francisco, CA
  • Service Bar — Washington, D.C.
  • Sip & Guzzle — New York, NY
  • SUPERBUENO — New York, NY
  • Yacht Club — Denver, CO

• Best U.S. Cocktail Bar
  • Bar Snack — New York, NY
  • Best Intentions — Chicago, IL
  • Double Chicken Please — New York, NY
  • Martiny’s — New York, NY
  • Overstory — New York, NY
  • Service Bar — Washington, D.C.
  • Sip & Guzzle — New York, NY
  • SUPERBUENO — New York, NY
  • Thunderbolt — Los Angeles, CA
  • True Laurel — San Francisco, CA

• Best U.S. Hotel Bar
  • Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone — New Orleans, LA
  • Champagne Bar at the Four Seasons Surf Club — Miami, FL
  • Chandelier Bar at the Four Seasons New Orleans — New Orleans, LA
  • Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel — New York, NY
  • Midnight Rambler at The Joule — Dallas, TX
  • Raines Law Room at the William — New York, NY
  • The Manor Bar at the Rosewood Miramar Beach — Montecito, CA
  • The Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt New Orleans — New Orleans, LA
  • ViceVersa at the Elser Hotel — Miami, FL
  • White Limozeen at The Graduate — Nashville, TN

• Best U.S. Restaurant Bar
  • Amazonia — Washington, D.C.
  • Arnaud’s French 75 Bar — New Orleans, LA
  • Bar Madonna — Brooklyn, NY
  • Cobra — Columbus, OH
  • Daisies — Chicago, IL
  • Hungry Eyes — New Orleans, LA
  • Kimball House — Decatur, GA
  • Mírate — Los Angeles, CA
  • Sunny’s Steakhouse — Miami, FL
  • Viridian — Oakland, CA

• Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar
  • Daisy Margarita Bar — Los Angeles, CA
  • Dolores — Brooklyn, NY
  • Donna’s — Houston, TX
  • Eleven11 — Nashville, TN
  • Junebug — New Orleans, LA
  • Rougarou — Denver, CO
  • schmuck. — New York, NY
  • Semiprecious — Denver, CO
  • The Peach Crease Club — Denver, CO
  • Vandell — Los Angeles, CA

2026 Spirited Awards Committee

The Spirited Awards Committee comprises revered bartenders, bar owners, educators, and writers who are entrusted with evaluating nominees based on structured criteria. The experienced and diverse committee of judges brings years of expertise and knowledge of industry developments locally, nationally, and internationally. The Spirited Awards nominations are not based on popular vote, and all nominations are evaluated by their respective judging committees, ensuring each vote carries equal weight in the evaluation process.

Honorees were selected by a panel of over 250 industry experts, led by the following Chair and Co-Chairs representing distinct regions: 

International Chair & U.S. Chair:

• Tiffanie Barriere
• Ryan Chetiyawardana

Asia Pacific Co-Chairs:

• Philip Bischoff
• Alice Newport
• Shelley Tai
• Stephanie Wijono

Canada Co-Chairs:

• Kaitlyn Stewart
• Julia Wolkowski

Europe Co-Chairs:

• Camille Vidal
• Kaitlin Wilkes

Latin America & Caribbean Co-Chairs:

• Roberto Berdecia
• Claudia Cabrera

Middle East & Africa Co-Chairs:

• Richie Barrow
• Mallory Lee
• Lara Rawa

U.S. Central Co-Chairs:

• Amanda Carto
• Erika Flowers

U.S. East Co-Chairs:

• Vance Henderson
• Jaymee Mandeville

U.S. West Co-Chairs:

• Nick Amano Dolan
• Mary Allison Wright

Writing & Media Co-Chairs:

• Alia Akkam
• Erick Castro

Books Chair:

• Anna Sulan Masing

Timeless Co-Chairs:

• François Monti
• Rebecca Sturt

To learn more about the Spirited Awards Committee and awards criteria, please visit the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards page.

Spirited Awards 2026 Timeline

Top 4 Finalists along with the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award, Tales Visionary Award, International Timeless Award, and U.S. Timeless Award will be named on June 8 and 9, 2026, and Spirited Awards Winners will be celebrated on July 23, 2026 at the 20th Annual Spirited Awards Ceremony at the Fillmore New Orleans. 

Spirited Awards 2026 Partners

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation would like to thank all of its Spirited Awards sponsors: Food & Wine, Brown-Forman, Pernod Ricard, William Grant & Sons, and Australian Bitters Co.

Spirited Awards Directory 

Tales of the Cocktail is pleased to share the Spirited Awards Directory, which gives discerning imbibers a comprehensive compendium of all Spirited Awards winners and nominees from the past 20 years. This resource is updated annually, making it a go-to guide for planning the perfect drinking and dining itinerary. Access the Spirited Awards Directory to explore award-winning bars. 

24 Years of Inspiration & Tales of the Cocktail

This year, marking the 24-year anniversary, the conference returns with more seminars, events, and, of course, imbibing, all in the name of the conference’s 2026 theme, “Spark.” Chosen to represent the collective of individuals who come together to create, share, and find inspiration each year at Tales, the 2026 conference will highlight the global cocktail community that continues to inspire each other year after year. 

To facilitate celebrations, Tales of the Cocktail’s 2026 official host hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, provides a room block and special rate for attendees. The online reservation platform can be accessed via the Marriott website, here. Guests are invited to secure their reservations early as reservations are first come, first served, and the last day to book is June 22, 2026.

Read more: Tales of the Cocktail Announces Spirited Awards Winners

About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the global hospitality industry through education, advocacy, and community support. As the world’s leading spirits education platform, the Foundation provides year-round programs and initiatives that foster professional growth and drive meaningful change.For more information, visit Tales of the Cocktail Foundation.