Spirited Awards® 2026 marks 20 years of excellence in the drinks industry.

Spirited Awards® 2026: Global excellence in cocktail culture reaches a defining milestone

Spirited Awards® 2026 represents the most comprehensive global recognition of excellence in the cocktail and spirits industry, setting the benchmark for innovation, leadership, and cultural impact. The 20th annual edition introduces a refined global structure, expanded regional recognition, and a more visible international judging process.

Organised by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, the awards continue to define professional standards across bartending, hospitality, media, and product development. This article explains the full 2026 timeline, categories, judging framework, and global significance, while contextualising its evolution within the modern drinks economy.

It also highlights what distinguishes this year’s awards cycle, including new regional activations and expanded global participation. Readers will gain a clear understanding of how the Spirited Awards function as both an industry benchmark and a commercial signal. This analysis also links to verified historical results to provide continuity and authority.

Key Takeaways

Spirited Awards® 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the programme.
The awards follow a structured global timeline from January to July 2026.
Regional Top 10 honourees introduce broader international representation.
Winners will be announced in New Orleans on July 23, 2026.

The Spirited Awards® 2026 framework and its global authority

The Spirited Awards®, established in 2007, has evolved into one of the most authoritative recognition systems in the global drinks industry. Administered by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, the awards recognise excellence across bars, bartenders, media, and spirits innovation, with a structured evaluation process that spans multiple continents.

By 2026, the awards have reached their 20th anniversary, marking a significant milestone not only for the programme but also for the modern cocktail renaissance itself. Over two decades, the awards have transitioned from a primarily US-focused recognition system into a fully global benchmarking platform. Today, they influence bar rankings, tourism flows, brand positioning, and investment decisions across the hospitality sector.

The awards operate within the broader framework of Tales of the Cocktail®, the world’s leading cocktail conference, held annually in New Orleans. The 2026 edition runs from July 19 to July 24, culminating in the Spirited Awards ceremony on July 23.

This positioning is not incidental. By embedding the awards within a global conference ecosystem, the Foundation ensures that recognition is directly connected to knowledge exchange, professional development, and commercial networking.

Timeline and structure: How Spirited Awards® 2026 unfolds

The 2026 awards cycle follows a precise, multi-stage timeline designed to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and global participation.

The nomination period opened on January 12 and closed on February 3, 2026. During this stage, industry professionals and the public submitted entries across multiple categories.

Following nominations, the process moves through several structured phases:

Regional Top 10 Honourees announced between March 31 and April 7
Top 10 Nominees revealed between May 19 and May 21
Top Four Finalists and major honorary awards announced on June 8 and 9
Final winners announced on July 23 at the live ceremony

One of the most notable developments for 2026 is the enhanced regional segmentation. Awards are now grouped into distinct geographic zones including Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Canada, and multiple US regions.

The regional Top 10 announcement phase has also been expanded into live events, beginning with a launch in Dubai.

This evolution reflects the globalisation of cocktail culture, where innovation is no longer concentrated in traditional hubs such as London or New York, but distributed across emerging markets including Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean.

Categories and recognition: Defining excellence in 2026

The Spirited Awards® categories are structured to reflect the full ecosystem of the drinks industry. These include:

Bar-focused awards such as World’s Best Bar and Best New Cocktail Bar
Individual awards including Bartender of the Year and Best Bar Mentor
Media and writing categories recognising journalism, books, and digital content
Product and brand-related recognitions
Special honours such as the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award and the Tales Visionary Award

A critical structural rule reinforces the prestige of top honours. Once a bar wins the World’s Best Bar award, it becomes ineligible for future bar-category awards, except for the Timeless Award.

This ensures continuous renewal within the awards ecosystem, allowing emerging venues and professionals to gain recognition while preserving the legacy of past winners.

The inclusion of media categories is particularly significant in the digital age. It reflects the growing influence of storytelling, content marketing, and digital publishing in shaping global drinking culture. Publications, bloggers, and independent journalists now play a central role in defining trends and consumer preferences.

Judging process and governance: Ensuring credibility

The credibility of the Spirited Awards® is rooted in its multi-layered judging system. Judges are selected from across the global drinks industry, including bartenders, educators, journalists, and brand leaders.

The 2026 judging process includes two primary rounds:

Round 1 judging conducted between late February and early March
Round 2 judging conducted from late March through April

This phased approach allows for both broad initial evaluation and deeper analysis of shortlisted candidates. It also reduces bias by incorporating diverse perspectives across regions and professional disciplines.

Importantly, the judging panels are structured to include both regional specialists and global experts. This ensures that local context is considered alongside international standards.

The result is a hybrid evaluation model that balances cultural specificity with universal benchmarks of excellence.

MARTELL L’OR DE JEAN MARTELL

Maison Martell presents L’Or de Jean Martell – Réserve du Château, a new collection paying homage to French art de vivre through treasures of the country’s architectural heritage over time. For every edition of L’Or de Jean Martell – Réserve du Château, a new blend, inspired by a prestigious French château, will be crafted and released in extremely limited quantities. L’Or de Jean Martell– Réserve du Château Chanteloup Edition is a blend of more than 1,400 eaux-de-vie from the finest terroirs in Cognac, enriched with a careful selection of eaux-de-vie from the chosen Château Chanteloup, and further aged in 300-year-old oak barrels. The Baccarat Crystal decanter embellished with 19-carat gold evokes a pure drop of Cognac and rests in a hand-crafted marquetry wooden cabinet.

US$4,473.26

The economic and cultural impact of the Spirited Awards®

The Spirited Awards® function as more than a recognition programme. They operate as a market signal within the global hospitality economy.

Winning or even being shortlisted can significantly increase a bar’s visibility, tourism traffic, and revenue potential. In many cases, award recognition leads to international media coverage, brand partnerships, and expansion opportunities.

For spirits brands, association with award-winning venues or bartenders enhances credibility and market positioning. For cities, the presence of recognised establishments contributes to their reputation as global cocktail destinations.

This dynamic is particularly relevant for emerging regions such as the Caribbean. Inclusion in the Latin America and Caribbean category provides a platform for regional bars and professionals to compete on equal footing with global leaders.

For stakeholders in Trinidad and Tobago and across the Caribbean, this represents both an opportunity and a strategic imperative. Recognition at the Spirited Awards can position local establishments within the global tourism and hospitality value chain.

Innovation and global expansion in 2026

The 2026 edition introduces several refinements that reflect broader industry trends.

The introduction of live regional announcement events signals a shift towards greater audience engagement and real-time participation. The Dubai launch event is a strategic move, aligning the awards with one of the fastest-growing hospitality markets in the world.

The expanded regional segmentation also reflects the decentralisation of cocktail innovation. Cities such as Mexico City, Singapore, Barcelona, and São Paulo are now recognised as major centres of creativity and technical excellence.

At the same time, the awards continue to emphasise education and mentorship through associated programmes within Tales of the Cocktail. This reinforces the Foundation’s core mission to “Educate, Advance, and Support” the global drinks community.

The integration of awards, education, and networking creates a comprehensive ecosystem that supports both individual careers and industry-wide development.

CARONI 2000 MILLENNIUM LIMITED TO 1420 MAGNUM. BOT 2015

60%, Rhum, Trinidad & Tobago / 1.5L

QUANTITY LIMITED TO 1 BOTTLE PER CUSTOMER

A blend of 12 casks, this bottling is a reminder that the distillery ceased production in 2000. Whether woody, tarry, generously fruity, heavily spiced, extremely floral or a combination of all of these characteristics, every cask has helped design and enrich the aromatic and gustatory palette of this Caroni, which is of course named “Millennium”. The perfect time to paraphrase the three musketeers: “One for all and all for one.”

€2500.00/US$2723.13

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Historical continuity and relevance

The awards have consistently adapted to changes in the industry, from the rise of craft cocktails in the early 2010s to the current focus on sustainability, diversity, and globalisation.

Last year’s results provide a clear benchmark for this evolution. Readers can review the full analysis of previous winners and trends here: Spirited Awards: Honouring excellence in the global cocktail community.

Why Spirited Awards® 2026 matters now

The 2026 edition arrives at a time of transformation within the global drinks industry.

Post-pandemic recovery has accelerated innovation, with bars experimenting with new formats, sustainability practices, and digital engagement strategies. At the same time, consumer expectations have evolved, placing greater emphasis on experience, authenticity, and storytelling.

The Spirited Awards® serve as a benchmark within this shifting landscape. They provide a structured framework for recognising excellence while also shaping industry standards.

For professionals, the awards represent a pathway to global recognition. For businesses, they offer a measurable indicator of quality and innovation. For audiences, they provide a curated guide to the world’s best cocktail experiences.

A defining year for global cocktail excellence

Spirited Awards® 2026 is not only a celebration of excellence but also a reflection of the industry’s global evolution. Its structured timeline, rigorous judging process, and expanded regional focus position it as the definitive authority in cocktail culture.

As the awards mark their 20th anniversary, they continue to influence how excellence is defined, recognised, and commercialised across the hospitality sector.

For the Caribbean and other emerging regions, the 2026 edition represents a strategic opportunity to gain international visibility and participate in a truly global conversation.

The Spirited Awards® remain the clearest indicator of where the industry stands and where it is heading next.

CARONI 100% TRINIDAD RUM OUVRAGE DE STEFFEN MAYER

The result of five years of full-time research, this extraordinary book chronicles the demise of the sugar cane industry and the story of the Caroni distillery in Trinidad from a variety of perspectives: that of the local population, of key employees, of Angostura – the last remaining distillery in Trinidad

€299.00/US$325.69

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2026 Spirited Awards® Latin America & Caribbean Regional Top 10 Honorees (in alphabetical order):

Latin America & Caribbean Establishments:

Best International Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Bar Mauro — Mexico City, Mexico
El Barón Cafe & Cocktail Bar — Cartagena, Colombia
Exímia Bar — São Paolo, Brazil
Form + Matter — Mexico City, Mexico
Kaito del Valle — Mexico City, Mexico
La Factoría — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Lady Bee — Lima, Peru
Mecenas — Mexico City, Mexico
Tlecān — Mexico City, Mexico
Tres Monos — Buenos Aires, Argentina

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard

Bar Mauro — Mexico City, Mexico
Café de Nadie — Mexico City, Mexico
El Gallo Altanero — Guadalajara, Mexico
Exímia Bar — São Paolo, Brazil
Form + Matter — Mexico City, Mexico
Handshake Speakeasy — Mexico City, Mexico
Kaito del Valle — Mexico City, Mexico
La Factoría — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tlecān — Mexico City, Mexico
Tres Monos — Buenos Aires, Argentina

Best International Hotel Bar

173° at Hotel Iberia — San Juan, Puerto Rico
BEKEB at the Hotel Live Aqua — San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Carlotta Reforma at The Ritz-Carlton — Mexico City, Mexico
King Cole Bar at the St. Regis — Mexico City, Mexico
La Botica at Las Ventanas al Paraíso — San José del Cabo, Mexico
Library by the Sea at The Kimpton Seafire Resort — Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands
Mestizo at The Santa Maria — Panama City, Panama
Náufrago at the Click Clack Hotel — Medellín, Colombia
The Dilly Club at Atlantis — Nassau, Bahamas
Zapote Bar at the Rosewood Mayakoba — Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Best International Restaurant Bar

ARCA Tulum — Tulum, Mexico
Aruba Day Drink Bar — Tijuana, Mexico
Baldío — Mexico City, Mexico
Bar Carmen — Medellín, Colombia
Jardín Tragos y Pasteles — Bogotá, Colombia
Lady Bee — Lima, Peru
Less is More — Mexico City, Mexico
Mamba Negra — Medellín, Colombia
Sabina Sabe — Oaxaca, Mexico
Vertical — Querétaro, Mexico

Best New International Cocktail Bar

Ahorita Cantina — Mexico City, Mexico
Bar Básico — Mexico City, Mexico
Bar Fandango — Guadalajara, Mexico
Chow Chow House — Mexico City, Mexico
Cui Cui — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Despacho Margarita — Mexico City, Mexico
KATZ Cocktail Bar — Mexico City, Mexico
Otro Bar — San Jose, Costa Rica
Quema Que Quema — Medellín, Colombia
Víctor Audio Bar — Buenos Aires, Argentina

caroni 23 year old 1997 single and single rum

Caroni 23 Year Old 1997 – Single & Single

(70cl, 64%)

Caroni 23 Single & Single Bottling Note

Independent whisky bottler Single & Single has got something a little different here – a rum! It’s not just any rum, mind. For its first rum bottling, Single & Single have bottled up a 23 year old expression from the closed Caroni Distillery in Trinidad. It has been bottled at a robust 64% ABV, and only 109 bottles were produced.

US$654.90

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2026 Spirited Awards Committee

The Spirited Awards® Committee comprises revered bartenders, bar owners, educators, and writers who are entrusted with evaluating nominees based on structured criteria. The experienced and diverse committee of judges brings years of expertise and knowledge of industry developments locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Spirited Awards® nominations are not based on popular votes, and all nominations are evaluated by their respective judging committees, ensuring each vote carries equal weight in the evaluation process.

Honorees were selected by a panel of over 250 industry experts, led by the following Chair and Co-Chairs representing distinct regions:

International Chair & US Chair:

Tiffanie Barriere
Ryan Chetiyawardana

Asia Pacific Co-Chairs:

Philip BPischoff
Alice Newport
Shelley Tai
Stephanie Wijono

Canada Co-Chairs:

Kaitlyn Stewart
Julia Wolkowski

Europe Co-Chairs:

Camille Vidal
Kaitlin Wilkes

Latin America & Caribbean Co-Chairs:

Roberto Berdecia
Claudia Cabrera

Middle East & Africa Co-Chairs:

Richie Barrow
Mallory Lee
Lara Rawa

US Central Co-Chairs:

Amanda Carto
Erika Flowers

US East Co-Chairs:

Vance Henderson
Jaymee Mandeville

US West Co-Chairs:

Nick Amano Dolan
Mary Allison Wright

Writing & Media Co-Chairs:

Alia Akkam
Erick Castro

Books Chair:

Anna Sulan Masing

Timeless Co-Chairs:

François Monti
Rebecca Sturt

To learn more about the Spirited Awards Committee and awards criteria, please visit the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards® page.

CARONI 23 ANS 1994 GUYANA FULL PROOF ORANGE LABEL. ONE OF 600 BOTTLES

CARONI 1992 HEAVY TRINIDAD RUM “B&W OAX” ONE OF 16236 BOTTLES

55%, Rhum, Trinidad & Tobago

QUANTITY LIMITED TO 1 BOTTLE PER CUSTOMER

Luca Gargano story about his first visit to the distillery could have make anyone feel emotional. Back then the distillery was closed since 3 years, and the old master distiller was the one showing him around. This 1992 vintage is a testimony to this very special day. Fresh and floral with notes of banana, peach and cinnamon.

€3900.00/US$4248.07

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Spirited Awards® 2026 Timeline

Top 10 Nominees will be announced starting on May 19, 2026, Top 4 Finalists along with the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award, Tales Visionary Award, International Timeless Award, and US. Timeless Award will be named on June 8 and 9, 2026, and Spirited Awards Winners will be celebrated on July 23, 2026 at the 20th Annual Spirited Awards Ceremony at the Fillmore New Orleans.

Spirited Awards® 2026 Partners

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation would like to thank all of its Spirited Awards® sponsors: Food & Wine, William Grant & Sons, Pernod Ricard, and Innovation Beverage Group.

Spirited Awards® Directory

Tales of the Cocktail is pleased to share the Spirited Awards Directory, which gives discerning imbibers a comprehensive compendium of all Spirited Awards winners and nominees from the past 20 years. This resource is updated annually, making it a go-to guide for planning the perfect drinking and dining itinerary. Access the Spirited Awards Directory to explore award-winning bars.

Plantation Trinidad 2009

(70cl, 51.8%)

Plantation Trinidad 2009 Bottling Note

A 2009 vintage rum from Trinidad, released as part of the Plantation range. This expression spent 11 years maturing in Trinidad, before making its way over to France for a final year of maturation in Maison Ferrand barrels. Intensely flavoursome, perfect for sipping neat and slowly enjoying.

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24 Years of Inspiration & Tales of the Cocktail

This year, marking the 24-year anniversary, the conference returns with more seminars, events, and, of course, imbibing, all in the name of the conference’s 2026 theme, “Spark”. Chosen to represent the collective of individuals who come together to create, share, and find inspiration each year at Tales, the 2026 conference will highlight the global cocktail community that continues to inspire each other year after year.

To facilitate celebrations, Tales of the Cocktail’s 2026 official host hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, provides a room block and special rate for attendees. The online reservation platform can be accessed via the Marriott website, here. Guests are invited to secure their reservations early as reservations are first come, first served, and the last day to book is June 22, 2026.

Please follow along for additional information on the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation website, Instagram, X, and Facebook.

About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation:

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the global hospitality industry through education, advocacy, and community support. As the world’s leading spirits education platform, the Foundation provides year-round programs and initiatives that foster professional growth and drive meaningful change.

Each July, the industry gathers in New Orleans, the beating heart of cocktail culture and hospitality, for a one-of-a-kind conference that blends education, networking, and celebration like no other. Guided by its core pillars—Educate, Advance, and Support—the Foundation’s impact extends far beyond the US, reaching professionals and communities around the world. Tales of the Cocktail will take place in New Orleans July 19-24, 2026. #totc2026

About Food & Wine:

Food & Wine, the ultimate culinary and beverage authority, celebrates the global epicurean experience through its magazine, website, social platforms, newsletters, podcasts, premium events such as the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, and accolades like its annual Best New Chef and Drinks Visionaries awards.

With rigorously tested recipes and the most trusted restaurant, drinks, culinary travel, and home coverage, the brand inspires and empowers people to discover, create, and devour the best in food and drink—every day and everywhere. Food & Wine is part of the People Inc. publishing family.

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