Employees Only Named World’s Best Cocktail Bar at the 2011 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards

The Big Apple felt right at home in The Big Easy last Saturday night, thanks to six New York-based nominees taking home awards at the Fifth Annual Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, held at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans. Leading the way for New York was Employees Only, which won the awards for World’s Best Cocktail Bar and World’s Best Drinks Selection. Also joining the New York party: Kenta Goto (Pegu Club) and Sam Ross (Milk & Honey), who tied for the American Bartender of the Year award (a first for the Spirited Awards); Eleven Madison Park for Best Restaurant Bar (also, winner of the unofficial award for Biggest Group Onstage to Accept a Spirited Award);Pegu Club’s Audrey Saunders, who was presented the Best Bar Mentor award by her own mentor, the legendary Dale DeGroff; and Punch by David Wondrich for Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book.

A few highlights and more unofficial awards from the ceremony:

Simon Ford kicked off the festivities by presenting John Lermayer the tongue-in-cheek Simon Ford Uh Oh Award, so-named for the first words that come to mind when any of the nominees arrive in your bar or city.

After this year’s Cocktail Apprentices (including LA’s own Brent Falco) were introduced, Senior Apprentice Franky Marshall (Clover Club) brought down the house with her sizzling performance.

Best Person to Sit Next to at the Spirited Awards: Dänny Ronen (Fair Trade Spirits), whose hysterical running commentary during the show makes me think someone needs to give him a headset so he can broadcast during the online streaming of next year’s awards.

Best Entrance: Camper English (Alcademics), who couldn’t find the steps to the stage and improvised with a graceful somersault/roll to accept his award for Best Cocktail Writing.

Best Impression of Alfred Hitchcock: gaz regan, who started his presentation of the Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book Award with a very droll, “Good eee-vah-ning, muthafuckers.”

During his heartfelt acceptance speech for The Savoy’s award for the World’s Best Hotel Bar, Erik Lorincz talked about how one of the first cocktail books he ever owned (before he could even speak English) was written by gaz regan, the man to whom he then handed The Bartenders’ Travelling Book. (FYI if you’re clicking through, the book’s official website starts to auto-play music.)

Congratulations to the winners and cheers to all the nominees!

For more information, visit www.TalesoftheCocktail.com.

Following is the complete list of the 2011 Spirited Awards nominees, with the winners in bold.

American Bartender of the Year

• Eric Alperin, Los Angeles, California
• Kenta Goto, New York City, New York (tie)
  
• Misty Kalkofen, Boston, Massachusetts
• Sam Ross, New York City, New York (tie)
  
• 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
• The Tasting Panel

Best Cocktail Writing – Author

• Toby Cecchini, New York City, New York
• Camper English, San Francisco, California
• 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

• Banks 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 Bar 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 Bar 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 Bar 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