Connaught hotel bar named world’s best cocktail bar

London bars dominated the 10th Annual Spirited Awards at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. The ceremony was held this week.

Connaught Bar at the Connaught hotel won the award for “World’s Best Cocktail Bar,” in a category where four out of the eight nominees (including Callooh Callay, Happiness Forgets, and Hawksmoor Spitalfields) hail from England’s capital.

Much like last year’s awards, Britannia ruled other key categories—including “World’s Best Cocktail Menu” (Dandelyan), “Best New International Cocktail Bar” (Oriole), “Best International Bar Team” (American Bar at The Savoy), “Best International Cocktail Bar” (Happiness Forgets), “Best International Restaurant Bar” (Hawksmoor Spitalfields), and “Best International Hotel Bar,” which saw the Connaught Bar take home its first prize for the night.

On the domestic front, San Francisco’s Smuggler’s Cove and ABV were named “Best American Cocktail Bar” and “Best American Bar Team,” respectively. The Elephant Bar at New York’s The Nomad hotel won “Best American Hotel Bar,” while Saxon + Parole received the honor for “Best American Restaurant Bar.”

Here’s the full list of the winners.

Overall Categories

World’s Best Bar: The Connaught Bar at The Connaught hotel, London

Lifetime Achievement Award: Sasha Petraske

Best Bar Mentor: Angus Winchester

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient: Plantation Rum’s Stiggins’ Fancy Plantation Pineapple

World’s Best Cocktail Menu: Ryan Chetiyawardana’s Dandelyan, London

World’s Best Spirits Selection: Tommy’s, San Francisco

The Elephant Bar at The NoMad hotel in New York City was named best American hotel bar. 

 

American Categories

Best American Bar Team: ABV, San Francisco

American Bartender of the Year: Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Clyde Common, Portland

Best American Brand Ambassador: Colin Asare-Appiah, Bacardi

Best American Cocktail Bar: Smuggler’s Cove, San Francisco

Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar: Herbs & Rye, Las Vegas

Best American Hotel Bar: The Elephant Bar at The NoMad hotel, New York City

Best American Restaurant Bar: Saxon + Parole, New York City

Best New American Cocktail Bar: John Lermayer’s Sweet Liberty in Miami Beach, Florida

International Categories

Best International Bar Team: The American Bar at The Savoy, London

International Bartender of the Year: Hidetsugu Ueno of Bar High Five, Tokyo

Best International Brand Ambassador: Max Warner, Chivas Regal

Best International Cocktail Bar: Happiness Forgets, London

Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar: Callooh Callay, London

Best International Hotel Bar: The Connaught Bar at The Connaught hotel, London

Best International Restaurant Bar: Hawksmoor Spitalfields, London

Best New International Cocktail Bar: Oriole, London