26 July 2024
A Brandy Crusta from Jewel of the South, which took home best U.S. bar team. | Denny Culbert/Jewel of the South
New Orleans has a winner among them
After nearly a week of parties, seminars, tasting, and panels, world-renowned spirits conference Tales of the Cocktail ended its 2024 gathering last night by crowning the best bars and bartenders in the world at the Filmore Theater in New Orleans. Excitingly, one New Orleans bar that’s been getting a lot of attention the last few years took home a top honor: Jewel of the South, a 2024 James Beard Award winner for Oustanding Bar, won Best U.S. Bar Team.
Below is this year’s list of the best bars and bartenders in the U.S. and internationally, as voted on by a mix of veteran bartenders, bar owners, historians, and writers. For a full list of international Spirited Award winners, media winners — including Punch — and a list of judges, see Tales of the Cocktail’s website.
Josh Brasted/ ales of the Cocktail
The team from Jewel of the South, which won best U.S. Bar Team.
U.S. Categories
Best U.S. Cocktail Bar: Yacht Club — Denver, CO
U.S. Bartender of the Year: Kapri Robinson — Allegory, Washington, D.C.
Best U.S. Restaurant Bar: Cleaver – Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails — Las Vegas, NV
Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar: Superbueno — New York, NY
Best U.S. Hotel Bar: Allegory at the Eaton Hotel — Washington, D.C.
Best U.S. Bar Team: Jewel of the South — New Orleans, LA
Best U.S. Bar Mentor Alex Jump
Best U.S. Brand Ambassador: Anna Mains — Monkey Shoulder
Global Categories
Josh Brasted/Tales of the Cocktail
Alquímico, out of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, wins World’s Best Bar.
World’s Best Bar: Alquímico — Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
World’s Best Spirits Selection: Baba Au Rum — Athens, Greece
World’s Best Cocktail Menu: Handshake Speakeasy — Mexico City, Mexico
International Bartender of the Year: Eric van Beek — Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City, Mexico
Best International Bar Team: Handshake Speakeasy — Mexico City, Mexico
Best International Hotel Bar: BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok — Bangkok, Thailand
Best International Restaurant Bar: Danico — Paris, France
Best New International Cocktail Bar: Bar Leone — Hong Kong, China
Timeless International Award:Café Pacifico — London, UK
Timeless U.S. Award: The Buena Vista — San Francisco, CA
Tales Visionary Award: Colin Asare-Appiah
Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award: Hidetsugu Ueno