Nominate your favourite bars and people for Tales of the Cocktail’s annual awards. By Holly Graham. 

Now in its 13th year, the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation has opened nominations for 2019’s Spirited Awards, recognising professionals, products and establishments redefining the spirits industry.

The award categories honour a broad spectrum of talent, including venues, bartenders, journalists, brand ambassadors, brands and media, meaning each and every corner of the bar industry is recognised for its contributions in America as well as internationally. For the second year running, Micaela Piccolo (spirits director at Nimbility Asia) and Zdenek Kastanek (general manager at Proof & Company) are repping Repping APAC as regional co-chairs.

Last year saw Joe Schofield (who was then at Tippling Club, Singapore) win International Bartender of the Year, with Roman Foltan (formerly of Atlas, Singapore) also receiving a nomination for the award. Asia bars that made it to the Top 4 stage in 2018 included Atlas for Best International Cocktail Bar and World’s Best Spirits Selection, as well as Manhattan (Singapore) for Best International Hotel Bar.

While most of the awards recognise American bars and bartenders, there are international gongs up for grabs, under the “Best International” categories: Bar Team; Bartender of the Year; Brand Ambassador; Cocktail Bar; High Volume Cocktail Bar; Hotel Bar; Restaurant Bar and New Cocktail Bar. There’s also a prize for the Best Cocktail and Spirits Publication, as well as Best Cocktail and Spirits Writer, in case you know of any great drink magazines…

Global categories are open to everyone and include: Best Bar Mentor; Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient; World’s Best Cocktail Menu; World’s Best Spirits Selection and the two new awards for 2019, the Philanthropy Award and International Classic Award.

To nominate your favourite venues and people, or yourself, visit the Spirited Awards website and vote before May 13, 2019. The Spirited Awards will take place on Saturday, July 20.