Here Are Your 2013 Tales Of The Cocktail Spirited Awards Finalists

Love cocktails so much that you're dying to attend a five-day convention discussing everything that relates to them in the dead of New Orleans' face-meltingly muggy summer? Then you're in luck. Tales of the Cocktail returns for its 11th year this July 17-21. We were on hand last year and barely made it out alive. We found ourselves at One Eyed Jacks at 3 in the morning, when Los Angeles bar owner Cedd Moses handed us a bottle of Irish whiskey and, well, a flight was almost missed.

The annual conference-slash-party-slash-awards for the spirits industry is also a drinkfest that's open to the public. Sure, it's crawling with bartenders, alcohol brand ambassadors, cocktail consultants, distillers and booze bloggers, but don't let that fool you. Above all, it's a good old-fashioned food and drink bonanza, with extra focus on the drink.

There's still time to make plans and attend. In the meantime, below is a complete list of the nominees for the annual Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, which are sort of like the James Beard Awards of the cocktail world and recognizes the top bars, bartenders, media and the brands that makes everything go 'round.

American Bartender of the Year

Charles Joly – The Aviary – Chicago, Illinois

Eric Alperin – The Varnish – Los Angeles, California

Leo Robitschek – The NoMad Hotel – New York, New York

Sean Kenyon – Williams & Graham – Denver, Colorado

Best American Cocktail Bar

Anvil Bar & Refuge – Houston, Texas

Clover Club – Brooklyn, New York

Cure – New Orleans, Louisiana

The Hawthorne – Boston, Massachusetts

Best Bar Mentor

Bridget Albert – Chicago, Illinois

Dushan Zaric – Los Angeles, California

Francesco Lafranconi – Las Vegas, Nevada

Julie Reiner – Brooklyn, New York

Best Cocktail Writing – Author

Gary Regan

Ian Cameron

Paul Clarke

Robert Simonson

Best Cocktail Writing – Publication

Australian Bartender Magazine

Bar Magazine Digital

DiffordsGuide.com

Imbibe Magazine

Best High Volume Cocktail Bar

Clover Club – Brooklyn, New York

Harvard & Stone – Los Angeles, California

Sable Kitchen & Bar – Chicago, Illinois

Saxon + Parole Restaurant – New York, New York

Best New Book (Cocktail/Bartending)

Drinks by Tony Conigliaro

The Tequila Ambassador by Tomas Estes

To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion by Philip Greene

Vodka Distilled by Tony Abou-Ganim

Best New Product

Dale DeGroff's Pimento Aromatic Bitters

Dorothy Parker Gin

Fords Gin

Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao

Best Restaurant Bar

Island Creek Oyster Bar – Boston, Massachusetts, USA

No. 9 Park – Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Saxon + Parole Restaurant – New York, New York, USA

The NoMad Hotel – New York, New York, USA

International Bartender of the Year

Hidetsugu Ueno – Bar High Five – Tokyo, Japan

Jack McGarry – The Dead Rabbit – New York, New York, USA

Simone Caporale – Artesian Bar at The Langham – London, England, UK

Zdenek Kastanek – 28 Hong Kong Street – Singapore

World's Best Cocktail Bar

Callooh Callay – London, United Kingdom

Candelaria – Paris, France

Drink – Boston, Massachusetts, USA

The Varnish – Los Angeles, California, USA

World's Best Cocktail Menu

American Bar at the Savoy – London, United Kingdom

Pouring Ribbons – New York, New York, USA

The Dead Rabbit – New York, New York, USA

The Nightjar – London, United Kingdom

World's Best Drink Selection

Canon: whiskey and bitters emporium – Seattle, Washington, USA

Mayahuel – New York, New York, USA

Saxon + Parole Restaurant – New York, New York, USA

The Dead Rabbit – New York, New York, USA

World's Best Hotel Bar

Clyde Common Portland, Oregon, USA

Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks – Boston, Massachusetts, USA

The NoMad Hotel – New York, New York, USA

The Zetter Townhouse London, United Kingdom

World's Best New Cocktail Bar

Experimental Cocktail Club – New York, New York, USA

Pouring Ribbons – New York, New York, USA

The Dead Rabbit – New York, New York, USA

The NoMad Hotel – New York, New York, USA

Best American Brand Ambassador

Elayne Duff – Diageo Portfolio

Jamie Gordon – Absolut Vodka

Neyah White – Yamazaki

Todd Richman – Sidney Frank Portfolio

Best International Brand Ambassador

Claire Smith – Belvedere Vodka

Giuseppe Gallo – Martini

Ian Burrell – Rum Ambassador

Jacob Briars – Bacardi Portfolio