The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) has named Barcelona-based Sips as the World’s Best Bar at the 17th annual Spirited Awards.
Comprised of domestic and international industry accolades, writing and media awards, the winners of each International, US, and Global category were announced at the Spirited Awards ceremony hosted in New Orleans last night (July 27).
The evening’s award recipients were considered by a panel of more than 250 industry experts, led by Charlotte Voisey, the Spirited Awards overall chair.
“Congratulations to all of the Spirited Awards 2023 winners,” said Voisey. “I am delighted to see even more patches of magic and corners of excellence shining brightly at the Spirited Awards this year. Thank you to everyone involved in pulling together such a meaningful celebration.”
Recognised through the 2023 conference theme, ‘Vitalize’, those who are said to ‘encapsulate the hospitality community’s vibrancy and adaptability’, as well as its ‘unmatched kinetic energy that brings so much life to our shared experience’, were chosen as the winners.
In the global award categories, the award for World’s Best Bar went to Barcelona-based Sips, owned by acclaimed bartender Simone Caporale and and Marc Alvarez.
Sips, which opened in Barcelona in 2021, also took home the Best International Cocktail Bar accolade.
The bar, otherwise known as Sips Drinkery House, is internationally renowned for its creative take on immediately recognisable classics and Sips signatures.
At the end of 2022, Caporale and Alvarez opened Essencia, the bar-within-a-bar concept at the back of Sips. The space is said to encapsulate the pair’s reimagining of the modern cocktail experience.
The World’s Best Cocktail Menu award went to New York’s Double Chicken Please, while the Best New Spirit of Cocktail Ingredient title went to Martini & Rossi Floreale non-alcoholic aperitivo.
In the regional categories, the Best Cocktail Bar in the US was named as Century Grand in Phoenix, Arizona, while Singapore’s Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel was named the Best International Hotel Bar.
Two members of the team at the Connaught Bar in London were recognised in the awards: Giorgio Bargiani was awarded the title of International Bartender of the Year, while his colleague Agostino Perrone was named the Best International Bar Mentor.
Meanwhile the Best International Bar Team title went to Columbia’s Alquímico, and the Best US Bar Team went to Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Happy Accidents.
