Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is proud to announce the Top 10 Writing & Media, Books, Spirit & Cocktail Ingredients, and World’s Best Cocktail Menu and Spirits Selection 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 announced the Top 10 Writing & Media, Books,  Product & Ingredients Categories, and World’s Best Cocktail Menu and Spirits Selection Nominees.

• World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Australian Bitters Co. 
  • Allegory at the Eaton Hotel — Washington, D.C.
  • ARGO at the Four Seasons — Hong Kong, China
  • Bar 1661 — Dublin, Ireland
  • Bar Us — Bangkok, Thailand
  • BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok — Bangkok, Thailand
  • Danico — Paris, France
  • Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore
  • Paradiso — Barcelona, Spain
  • Sip & Guzzle — New York, NY
  • Tayēr + Elementary — London, UK
• World’s Best Spirits Selection
  • Amazonia — Washington, D.C.
  • Bar 1802 at the Hotel Montecristo — Paris, France
  • Barro Negro — Athens, Greece
  • Cat Bite Club — Singapore
  • Mírate — Los Angeles, CA
  • Origin Bar at the Shangri-La Hotel — Singapore
  • Salón de Agave — Mexico City, Mexico
  • Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood Hotel — London, UK
  • Sexy Fish London — London, UK
  • Tlecān — Mexico City, Mexico
• Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient
  • Angel’s Envy 10 Cask Strength
  • Bruichladdich The Laddie Rye 7 Year
  • Chambéryzette Strawberry Aperitif
  • Fever-Tree Pineapple Ginger Beer
  • Giffard Non-Alcoholic Spritz Liqueur
  • Hendrick’s Oasium
  • Kota Pandan Liqueur
  • Mijenta Tequila Maestra Selection No. 2
  • Saint Benevolence Mango
  • Worthy Park Skurnik Selection Cane Juice Rum
• Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication
  • CLASS Magazine
  • Coqtail – for fine drinkers
  • Difford’s Guide
  • Imbibe
  • Mezcalistas
  • Places You Are Welcome
  • The Boulevardier
  • The Spill by InsideHook
  • The Spirits Business
  • Wine Enthusiast
• Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series 
  • Amour Drink
  • Ask the Expert by Camille Vidal
  • Cocktail Time with Kevin Kos
  • Kate Likes Cocktails
  • Like•a•ble Cocktails
  • no proof
  • Not Just A bartender
  • Sketchy Bartender
  • The Curious Bartender
  • VinePair Spirit Reviews
• Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing
  • “10 Years After His Passing, Sasha Petraske Still Lives On,” by Rich Manning for VinePair
  • “How Bars Are Responding to ICE Raids,” by Emma Janzen for Punch
  • “In the Heart of Tequila Country, Everyone Knows the Chatazo,” by Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu for Punch
  • “In the Wake of the Eaton Fire Tragedy, This LA Bar Is a Beacon of Hope,” by Esther Tseng for Bon Appetit
  • “Indian cuisine is inspiring a new wave of innovative cocktails,” by M. Carrie Allan for The Washington Post
  • “Talking politics has bartenders on edge in Trump’s Washington DC,” by Adam Reiner for The Guardian
  • “Thinking Differently: Neurodivergent Bartenders Thrive Behind the Stick,” by Rich Manning for VinePair
  • “This Cult Gin Stars in NYC’s Best Martini, but You’ve Probably Never Heard Of It,” by Robert Simonson for VinePair
  • “Travis Tober: The Dive Bar King of Texas,” by Noah Rothbaum for Bartender Magazine
  • “Why Aren’t There More Cocktail Books by Black Bartenders?,” by Yolanda Evans for InsideHook
• Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book
  • APERITIVO by Italia Squisita
  • HYPER drinks by Angelos Bafas
  • Make Myna Double: Cocktails for Bird Lovers by Katie Stryjewski
  • Soju Party: How to Drink (and Eat!) Like a Korean by Irene Yoo
  • SOURS: A History of the World’s Most Storied Cocktail Style by Philip Greene
  • Spirited Women: Makers, Shakers, and Trailblazers in the World of Cocktails by Sammi Katz and Olivia McGiff
  • TEQUILA, MEZCAL & MORE Discover, Sip & Mix the Best Agave Spirits by Anna Bruce
  • The Madrusan Cocktail Companion by Michael Madrusan and Zara Madrusan
  • Three Cheers: Cocktails Three Ways by Kaitlyn Stewart
  • Tiny Cocktails: The Art of Miniature Mixology: A Cocktail Recipe Book by Tyler Zielinski
• Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits
  • A Boozy History of Atlanta by Caroline Eubanks
  • Cocktails of Hemingway’s Havana by Juliet Brown
  • Tequila: A Tasting Course by Millie Milliken
  • The Comic Book History of the Cocktail by David Wondrich and illustrated by Dean Kotz
  • The Curious Bartender’s Agave Safari: Discovering and Appreciating Mexico’s Tequilas, Mezcals & More by Tristan Stephenson
  • The New Rules of Dining Out An Insider’s Guide to Enjoying Restaurants by Adam Reiner
  • The Ramos Gin Fizz by John Shelton Reed
  • The Rum Never Sets: 300 Years of Royal Navy & London Dock Rum by Matt Pietrek and Alexandre Gabriel
  • The Whiskey Bible: A Complete Guide to the World’s Greatest Spirit by Noah Rothbaum
  • Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond by Cha McCoy with Layla Schlack

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: Tails of the Cocktail Announces International Spirited Awards Nominees

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.