Five cities represent Asia on the top 10s for this year’s Spirited Awards. By Holly Graham
Tales of the Cocktail has announced its Top 10 nominees for this year’s Spirited Awards list, and Singapore, Bangkok, Seoul, Shanghai and Hong Kong are flying the flag for Asia. Two panels of over 100 industry experts will determine the winners from the list of nominees, which will be announced on July 21, during Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans which runs from July 17-22.
Tippling Club and Atlas, both in Singapore, have scored three nominations each, both with places on the Bartender of The Year list held by Atlas’ Roman Foltan and Tippling Club’s Joe Schofield. Tippling Club bagged Best International Restaurant Bar last year but this year Sober Company (Shanghai) is the only nominee from Asia on that category and owner Shingo Gokan was the winner of 2017’s International Bartender of the Year award.
Double rankings include Operation Dagger (Singapore), featuring on the Best International Cocktail Bar list and the bar’s owner Luke Whearty is up for the International Bartender of the Year prize. Manhattan (Singapore) is in the running for the Best International Bar Team award as well as Best International Hotel Bar and rounding out the Singapore domination is Native with a nomination for Best International Cocktail Bar.
Charles H stands in the running for Seoul with nominations for Best International Hotel Bar and World’s Best Cocktail Menu, whilst the ex-Charles H head bartender Chris Lowder (Proof & Company, China) is in the running for the Best Bar Mentor award. Hong Kong stalwart Lobster Bar at the Island Shangri-La is up for the Best International Hotel Bar prize whilst the formidable newcomer The Old Man is in with a chance to scoop the Best New International Cocktail Bar award. Another city stalwart is Bangkok’s Bamboo Bar at the Mandarin Oriental in the running for the Best International Hotel Bar award.
Below is a list of all of the Asian bars and personalities on 2018’s Spirited Awards Top 10 lists:
International Bartender of the Year
Roman Foltan, Atlas (Singapore )
Joe Schofield, Tippling Club (Singapore)
Luke Whearty, Operation Dagger (Singapore)
Best International Bar Team
Manhattan Bar (Singapore)
Tippling Club (Singapore)
Best International Cocktail Bar
Atlas (Singapore)
Native (Singapore)
Operation Dagger (Singapore)
Speak Low (Shanghai)
Best International Hotel Bar
Bamboo Bar at the Mandarin Oriental (Bangkok)
Charles H at the Four Seasons (Seoul)
Lobster Bar at the Island Shangri-La (Hong Kong)
Manhattan Bar at the Regent (Singapore)
Best International Restaurant Bar
Sober Company (Shanghai)
Best New International Cocktail Bar
The Old Man (Hong Kong)
Best Bar Mentor
Christopher Lowder (Proof & Company, China)
World’s Best Cocktail Menu
Charles H at the Four Seasons (Seoul)
Tippling Club (Singapore)
World’s Best Spirits Selection
Atlas (Singapore)
To see this year’s full Top 10 list, click here.
