Bartenders from Connaught Bar in London took two of the top awards at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards last night in New Orleans (Thursday 27th July).
Giorgio Bargiani, the Mayfair Bar’s assistant director of mixology, took the title of International Bartender of the Year.
While Perrone, director of mixology at the Connaught, took Best International Bar Mentor.
Beefeater master distiller Desmond Payne meanwhile was also among the winners, taking the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons.
The annual awards saw other UK bars and bartenders recognised as finalists.
Daniel Schofield of Schofield’s bar was nominated for International Bartender of the Year, A Bar with Shapes for a Name was in the top four for Best International Cocktail Bar, Swift Soho was among the contenders for World’s Best Spirits Selection, while Panda & Sons was a finalist for World’s Best Cocktail Menu.
A three-time finalist, Class magazine was alongside UK-based titles The Cocktail Lovers and Difford’s Guide in the Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication category, with the US title Punch prevailing.
- Giorgio Bargiani — Connaught Bar, London, UK
- Agostino Perrone
- Nicola Riske — The Macallan
- ALQUÍMICO — Cartagena, Colombia
- SIPS — Barcelona, Spain
- Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore
- Analogue Initiative — Singapore
- Line Athens — Athens, Greece
- Christine Wiseman — Marygold’s Brasserie / Broken Shaker, Miami, FL
- Chris Patino
- Vance Henderson — Hendrick's Gin
- Happy Accidents — Albuquerque, NM
- Century Grand — Phoenix, AZ
- Hey Love at The Jupiter — Portland, OR
- Café La Trova — Miami, FL
- Martiny's — New York, NY
- Punch
- The Speakeasy Podcast
- "The Great Mezcal Heist" by Emma Janzen, for Eater
- The Bartender’s Manifesto by Toby Maloney with Emma Janzen
- Modern Caribbean Rum: A Contemporary Reference to the Region's Essential Spirit by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith
- Martini & Rossi Floreale Non Alcoholic Aperitivo
- Double Chicken Please — New York, NY
- Raised by Wolves — San Diego, CA
- Desmond Payne MBE
- Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel Singapore — Singapore
- Tiki-Ti — Los Angeles, CA
- Tiffanie Barriere
- SIPS – Barcelona, Spain