Following the largest nomination pool in the history of the show and a rigorous judging process by the most respected minds in the cocktail industry, the Top Four finalists have been selected for the 7th Annual Spirited Awards. The Top Four are invited to attend the Spirited Awards on July 20at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans.

"The Nomination and Selection Process for the Spirited Awards is an arduous task, by a committee of the Nominees' peers. It is certainly an honor to be recognized as one of the Top Four, in your respective Category,” says Paul G. Tuennerman, co-founder of Tales of the Cocktail.

Through its annual Spirited Awards, Tales of the Cocktail recognizes those that continue to represent the cocktail industry in exciting new spotlights. To embody the ideals in which Tales of the Cocktail was originally founded, these awards were developed to recognize both national and international honorees across eighteen categories. Each award recipient will receive an exclusive Riedel Crystal trophy.

Tales of the Cocktail is proud to announce that our sponsors include Bacardi USA, BarSmarts, Becherovka, Beverage Media Group, Fontainebleau Miami Beach,Imbibe Magazine, Olmeca Altos, Tanqueray Gin, and William Grant & Sons.

“Now that the final fours have been announced, please offer encouragement and support to the people that have made it, since having their peers consider their work worthy of an award a great recognition.” says Simon Ford, committee chairman of the 2013 Spirited Awards Judging Committee.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at TalesoftheCocktail.com for $72.50 for individual tickets or $725.00 per table with 10 seats. The Spirited Awards are just one part of the Tales of the Cocktail.

American Bartender of the Year

1. Charles Joly The Aviary Chicago
2. Eric Alperin The Varnish Los Angeles
3. Leo Robitschek The NoMad Hotel New York
4. Sean Kenyon Williams & Graham Denver

Best American Brand Ambassador

1. Elayne Duff, Diageo Portfolio
2. Jamie Gordon, Absolut Vodka
3. Neyah White, Yamazaki
4. Todd Richman, Sidney Frank Portfolio

Best American Cocktail Bar

1. Anvil, Houston
2. Clover Club, Brooklyn, New York
3. Cure, New Orleans
4. The Hawthorne, Boston

Best Bar Mentor

1. Bridget Albert, Chicago
2. Dushan Zaric, Los Angeles
3. Francesco Lafranconi, Las Vegas
4. Julie Reiner, Brooklyn, New York

Best Cocktail Writing – Author

1. Gary Regan
2. Ian Cameron
3. Paul Clarke
4. Robert Simonson

Best Cocktail Writing – Publication

1. Australian Bartender Magazine
2. Bar Magazine Digital
3. DiffordsGuide.com
4. Imbibe Magazine

Best High Volume Cocktail Bar

1. Clover Club, Brooklyn, New York
2. Harvard and Stone, Los Angeles
3. Sable Kitchen and Bar, Chicago
4. Saxon + Parole Restaurant, New York

Best International Brand Ambassador

1. Claire Smith, Belvedere Vodka
2. Giuseppe Gallo, Martini
3. Ian Burrell, Rum Ambassador
4. Jacob Briars, Bacardi Portfolio

Best New Book (Cocktail/Bartending)

1. Drinks by Tony Conigliaro
2. The Tequila Ambassador by Tomas Estes
3. To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion by Philip Greene
4. Vodka Distilled by Tony Abou-Ganim

Best New Product

1. Dale DeGroff’s Pimento Aromatic Bitters
2. Dorothy Parker Gin
3. Fords Gin
4. Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao

Best Restaurant Bar

1. Island Creek Oyster Bar, Boston
2. No. 9 Park, Boston
3. Saxon + Parole Restaurant, New York
4. The NoMad Hotel, New York

International Bartender of the Year

1. Hidetsugu Ueno, Bar High Five Tokyo, Japan
2. Jack McGarry, The Dead Rabbit, New York
3. Simone Caporale, Artesian Bar at the Langham, London
4. Zdenek Kastanek, 28 Hong Kong Street, Singapore

World’s Best Cocktail Bar

1. Callooh Callay, London
2. Candelaria, Paris
3. Drink, Boston
4. The Varnish, Los Angeles

World’s Best Cocktail Menu

1. American Bar at the Savoy, London
2. Pouring Ribbons, New York
3. The Dead Rabbit, New York
4. The Nightjar, London

World’s Best Drink Selection

1. canon: whiskey and bitters emporium, Seattle
2. Mayahuel, New York
3. Saxon + Parole Restaurant, New York
4. The Dead Rabbit, New York

World’s Best Hotel Bar

1. Clyde Common, Portland, Oregon
2. Eastern Standard Kitchen and Drinks, Boston
3. The NoMad Hotel, New York
4. The Zetter Townhouse, London

World’s Best New Cocktail Bar

1. Experimental Cocktail Club, New York
2. Pouring Ribbons, New York
3. The Dead Rabbit, New York
4. The NoMad Hotel, New York