Tales of the Cocktail took place this week in its traditional home of New Orleans, crowning Sydney bar Maybe Sammy with the award for Best New International Cocktail Bar.
Tales of the Cocktail is an annual week-long conference for the bar industry, now in its 13th year.
Tales Spirited Awards is one of the formal events of the conference, drawing nominees from around the world to the southern US to rub shoulders with the best of the best in bars.
The award for Best New International Cocktail Bar recognises a venue that has opened in the past year that is deemed to be already impacting cocktail culture, and generally raising the industry standard.
Maybe Sammy opened January 2019, offering a ‘Vegas-style’ space and formidable mixology talent, co-owned by Stefano Catino, Vince Lombardo and acclaimed bartender Andrea Gualdi.
The bar is an extension of the Maybe Frank restaurants, now operating in Surry Hills and Randwick.
Taking the prize for World’s Best Bar this year was Dante, in New York’s Greenwich Village. Opened in 2015, it is registered as a NYC landmark.
And helping hold up the APAC end, Singapore’s elegant Atlas claimed the major prize for both Best International Cocktail Bar, and World’s Best Spirits Selection. (image below)
FULL LIST OF 2019 WINNERS
Special awards:
World’s Best Bar: Dante (New York, NY)
Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award: Javier De Las Muelas
Philanthropy Award: Speed Rack
Timeless American Award: Napoleon House (New Orleans, LA)
Timeless International Award: El Floridita (Havana, Cuba)
Global categories:
Best Bar Mentor: Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient: Fords Gin Officers’ Reserve
World’s Best Cocktail Menu: Trick Dog (San Francisco, CA)
World’s Best Spirits Selection: Atlas Bar, Singapore
American categories:
American Bartender of the Year: Julio Cabrera (Cafe La Trova, Miami, FL)
Best American Brand Ambassador: Tim Cooper, Fords Gin
Best American Bar Team: Herbs and Rye (Las Vegas, NV)
Best American Cocktail Bar: Attaboy (New York, NY)
Best American High-Volume Cocktail Bar: Herbs and Rye (Las Vegas, NV)
Best American Hotel Bar: Compère Lapin at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery (New Orleans, LA)
Best American Restaurant Bar: Dante (New York, NY)
Best New American Cocktail Bar: Katana Kitten (New York, NY)
International categories:
International Bartender of the Year: Monica Berg (Tayēr and Elementary, London, United Kingdom)
Best International Brand Ambassador: Joe McCanta, Grey Goose
Best International Bar Team: Licorería Limantour (Mexico City, Mexico)
Best International Cocktail Bar: Atlas Bar, Singapore
Best International High-Volume Cocktail Bar: Schumann’s Bar (Munich, Germany)
Best International Hotel Bar: Manhattan at Regent Singapore, Singapore
Best International Restaurant Bar: Hawksmoor Spitalfields (London, United Kingdom)
Best New International Cocktail Bar: Maybe Sammy (Sydney, Australia)
