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 Paul and Ann R. Tuennerman hosted the Tales of the Cocktail Spirit Award 2008 where the many nominees included Gary Regan, Dale DeGroff, Kenta Goto, Jim Meehan, Philip Ward, Charlotte Voisey, and Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta.
 It was a star-studded evening presented by Pernod-Ricard USA in the Casino Theatre at Harrah's in New Orleans, Louisiana, with special guest emcees, actor Christopher McDonald, and entertainer Billy Harris, where top spirits professionals gathered for a gala event of the 2nd annual Tales of the Cocktail Spirit Awards 2008.
"The Tales of the Cocktail Spirit Awards provides recognition to those individuals and establishments that have shown an outstanding talent for advancing the craft of the cocktail. To embody the ideals with which Tales of the Cocktail was originally founded, these awards provide recognition to both national, and as well as local New Orleanians." For professionals involved in the spirits industry, the Tales of the Cocktail Spirit Awards are the equivalent of the Academy Awards for the film industry. Judged by one's peers, it is definitely an honor to be nominated for this prestigious award. In the true "spirit" of the evening, the theme for the event was a Prohibition Repeal Party, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2008. Special cocktails for the evening included the Aviation (Beefeater Gin, Maraschino Liqueur, Fresh Lemon Juice), Sea Fizz (Pernod Absinthe, Simple Syrup, Fresh Lemon Juice, Egg White), Sidecar (Martell Noblige, Cointreau, Fresh Lemon Juice), Jack Rose (Applejack, Fee Brother's Grenadine, Fresh Lime Juice), Bourbon Old-Fashioned (Wild Turkey Bourbon, Angostura Bitters, Club Soda), Presbyterian (Chivas Regal, Ginger Ale), and Champagne Cocktail (Perrier-Jouët). Onstage, the band played, and London-based mixologist Nick Strangeway created cocktails for the winners at a large bar. The Committee Chairman and Committee Members included: Simon Difford, Helmet Adam, Jacob Briars, Philip Duff, Robert Hess, Anistasia Miller, Xavier Padovani, Audrey Saunders, LeNell Smothers, David Steward, Jamie Terrell, Charlotte Voisey, and Angus Winchester. 
Paul and Ann R. Tuennerman
And the Nominees and Winners for the Tales of the Cocktail Spirit Awards 2008 are ... Best Drinks Selection This award is for a venue stocking an outstanding range of spirits and liqueurs. The judges favored discernment as well as sheer numbers of bottles stocked. Winner: Salvatore at Fifty | Nominees: | | | | Cantina | San Francisco, CA | United States | | Death & Company | New York, NY | United States | | Der Raum | Melbourne | Australia | | Doheney | Downtown Los Angeles, CA | United States | | The Merchant Hotel | Belfast | Northern Ireland | | Salvatore at Fifty | London | England | | Trio Bar | Berlin | Germany | | Matterhorn | Wellington | New Zealand | Best Classic Cocktail Bar Classic bars continue to uphold best bartending practices and serve drinks in relaxed lounge-like environments. Judges looked for bars, which uphold this tradition (but are not necessarily old) and offer superb service and consistently well-made drinks. Winner: Milk & Honey, New York City, NY, United States | Nominees: | | | | American Bar | Connaught Hotel, London | England | | Bramble | Edinburgh | Scotland | | Death & Company | New York, NY | United States | | Dukes Bar | Dukes Hotel, London | England | | Experimental Cocktail Club | Paris | France | | Flatiron Lounge | New York, NY | United States | | Milk & Honey | New York, NY | United States | | Bar Le Forum | Paris | France | | The Merchant Hotel | Belfast | Northern Ireland | | Montgomery Place | London | England | | Widder Bar | Zurich | Switzerland | World's Best Cocktail Bar The award recognizes the international influence on cocktail trends and seeks to award the world's best cocktail bar. Winner: Milk & Honey, New York City, NY, United States | Nominees: | | | | Flatiron Lounge | New York, NY | United States | | Le Lion - Bar de Paris | Hamburg | Germany | | The Lionsdale | London | England | | The Merchant Hotel | Belfast | Northern Ireland | | Milk & Honey | New York, NY | United States | | Milk & Honey | London | England | | Paparazzi | Bratislava | Slovak Republic | | Salvatore at Fifty | London | England | | Star Bar | Ginza, Tokyo | Japan |  Best NEW Cocktail Bar
Only bars that opened in the past 18 months preceding the awards were eligible for nomination. The award aims to reward new creativity and ideas as well as well executed drinks. Winner: Le Lion - Bar de Paris, Hamburg, Germany | Nominees: | | | | Bar Milano | New York, NY | United States | | Beretta | San Francisco, CA | United States | | Death & Company | New York, NY | United States | | Le Lion - Bar de Paris | Hamburg | Germany | | 02 Lounge | Ritz Carlton, Moscow | Russia | | PDT (Please Don't Tell) | New York, NY | United States | | Ruby | Copenhagen | Denmark | Mixologist/Bartender of the Year 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. Winner: Nick Strangeway, Hawksmoor, London, England | Nominees: | | | | John Gerstern | No. 9 Park, Boston, MA | United States | | Kenta Goto | Pegu Club, New York, NY | United States | | Charles Joly | The Drawing Room, Chicago, IL | United States | | Duggan McDonnell | Cantina, San Francisco, CA | United States | | Erik Lorincz | Purple Bar, London | England | | Jim Meehan | PDT (Please Don't Tell), New York, NY | United States | | Ago Perrone | Montgomery Place, London | England | | Sam Ross | Milk & Honey, New York, NY | United States | | Nick Strangeway | Hawksmoor, London | England | | Charles Vexenat | The Lonsdale, London | England | | Philip Ward | Death & Company, New York, NY | United States |  Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book
The best book published in 2007 regarding cocktails, liquor, bars, bar design, or bartending in general. New editions of existing works published in 2007 were also legible to be nominated. Winner: Imbibe By David Wondrich
| Nominees: | | | | Imbibe | By David Wondrich | | Mixing New Orleans, Cocktails & Legends | By Jennifer Adams | | In the Land of Cocktails | By Ti Adelaide Martin and Lally Brennan | | And a Bottle of Rum - A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails | By Wayne Curtis |  Best Cocktail Writing
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, bartenders, or cocktails in general.
Winner: Gary Regan (San Francisco Chronicle) | Nominees: | | | | Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta | Luxury Experience Magazine | | 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 Whiskey Smash | Best New Product This award is for 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 available for general retail sale in at least three US states. Winner: Fever Tree Mixers | Nominees: | | | 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 The judges seek to reward innovative and thirst inducing cocktail menus. Both the design and content will be considered. Winner: 1806 Bar, Melbourne, Australia | Nominees: | | | | 1806 Bar | Melbourne | Australia | | Bayswater Brasserie | Sydney | Australia | | Death & Company | New York, NY | United States | | Doheney | Downtown Los Angeles, CA | United States | | The Drawing Room | Chicago, IL | United States | | Bar Italia | Vienna | Austria | | Pegu Club | New York, NY | United States | | Ruby | Copenhagen | Denmark | | Tailor Restaurant | New York, NY | United States | Best Drinks Brand Representative/Brand Ambassador This award recognizes the importance of personality in the promotion of drinks brands. Winner: Xavier Padovani - Hendricks Gin | Nominees: | | | | Jacques Bezendenhout | Partida Tequila | United States | | Julio Bermejo | Tequila | United States | | Jason Crawley | Maximum | Australia | | Phil Duff | Bois | Global | | John Gakuru | Sagatiba | Global | | H. Joseph Ehrmann | Square One Organic Vodka | United States | | Diego Loret de Mola | Bar Sol Pisco | United States | | Stuart McCluskey | Miller's Gin | United Kingdom | | Xavier Padovani | Hendricks | Global | | Charlotte Voisey | William Grant | United States |  Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award
The impact of 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. Winner: Dale DeGroff - King Cocktail | Nominees: | | | | Salvatore Calabrese | Mixologist, Writer, Bar Owner | | Dale DeGroff | Mixologist & Writer | | Peter Dorelli | Formerly of the Savoy, London | | Philip Hills | Founder of the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society | | Desmond Payne | Master Distiller Beefeater Gin | | Brian Rea | Bararchives.com, former 21 Club Bartender, etc. | | Gary Regan | Mixologist & Writer | Luxury Experience Magazine would like to congratulate all of the nominees and the winners of the Tales of the Cocktail 2008 Spirit Awards! Read other articles on the Tales of the Cocktail and New Orleans in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs' Recipes, Liquor Cabinet, and Luxury Products: Gifts sections.  For information on the Tales of the Cocktail, please visit the website: www.TalesoftheCocktail.com. For information on New Orleans, please visit the website: www.NewOrleansCVB.com.
© October 2008. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com All rights reserved. |
