Tales of the Cocktail 2011 Spirited Award Nominees

Tales of the Cocktail, the spirits industry's major annual gathering, has announced this year's nominees for its Spirited Awards. The winners will be announced July 23 at this year's Tales of the Cocktail gathering in New Orleans. In the running for Best American Cocktail Bar are New York's Clover Club and Employees Only, Boston bar Drink and The Varnish in Los Angeles.

For 2011 the judging committees added three new categories: Best High Volume Cocktail Bar for places with 100 seats or more; Best Restaurant Bar and a new division of Best Cocktail Writing awards between Non-Book Publication and Author. Here's the full list of nominees, listed in alphabetical order by last name.

American Bartender of the Year

· Eric Alperin, Los Angeles, California
· Kenta Goto, New York City, New York
· Misty Kalkofen, Boston, Massachusetts
· Sam Ross, New York City, New York
· Joaquin Simo, New York City, New York

Best American Brand Ambassador

· Colin Asare-Appiah, U'luvka Vodka
· Jacques Bezuidenhout, Partida Tequila
· Jamie Gordon, Absolut Vodka
· Jim Ryan, Hendrick's Gin

Best American Cocktail Bar

· Clover Club, New York City, New York
· Drink, Boston, Massachusetts
· Employees Only, New York City, New York
· The Varnish, Los Angeles, California

Best Bar Mentor

· Wayne Collins, London, England
· Steve Olson, New York City, New York
· Audrey Saunders, New York City, New York
· Dushan Zaric, New York City, New York

Best High Volume Cocktail Bar

· Eastern Standard, Boston, Massachusetts
· Flatiron Lounge, New York City, New York
· Florida Room, Miami, Florida
· Rickhouse, San Francisco, California

Best Cocktail Writing - Non Book

· BarlifeUK.com
· Imbibe USA
· Liquor.com
· Tasting Panel Magazine

Best Cocktail Writing - Author

· Toby Cecchini, New York City, New York
· Camper English, San Francisco, Francisco
· Darcy O'Neil, London, Ontario
· Naren Young, New York City, New York

Best International Brand Ambassador

· Ian Burrell
· Claire Smith, Belvedere Vodka
· Dan Warner, Beefeater Gin
· Angus Winchester, Tanqueray Gin

Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book

· Fix the Pumps by Darcy O'Neill
· Left Coast Libations by Ted Munat & Michael Lazar*
· Punch by David Wondrich
· Speakeasy by Dushan Zaric and Jay Kosmas

Best New Product

· Bank's Rum
· Cocchi Americano**
· Smith & Cross Rum
· Tequila Calle 23

Best Restaurant Bar

· The Drawing Room, Chicago, Illinois
· Eleven Madison Park, New York City, New York
· Hawksmoor Seven Dials, London, England
· Hix, London, England

International Bartender of the Year

· Erik Lorincz, London, England
· Dre Masso, London, England
· Sam Ross, New York City, New York
· Dushan Zaric, New York City, New York

World’s Best Cocktail Bar

· 69 Colebrooke Row, London, England
· Dry Martini, Barcelona, Spain
· Employees Only, New York City, New York
· High Five, Tokyo, Japan

World’s Best Cocktail Menu

· Artesian at The Langham, London, England
· Eau de Vie, Sydney, Australia
· Mayahuel, New York City, New York
· Sanctuaria, St. Louis, Missouri

World’s Best Drinks Selection

· Artesian at The Langham, London, England
· Cure, New Orleans, Louisiana
· Eau de Vie, Sydney, Australia
· Employees Only, New York City, New York

World’s Best Hotel Bar

· Artesian at The Langham, London, England
· Clive's Classic Lounge at Chateau Victoria Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia
· Clyde Common at The Ace Hotel, Portland, Oregon
· The Savoy, London, England

World’s Best New Cocktail Bar

· 1534, New York City, New York
· Dram, New York City, New York
· Eau de Vie, Sydney, Australia
· Painkiller, New York City, New York

*Left Coast Libations is the hard back version
**Cocchi Americano is new to the US Market

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