On Sunday we attended the inaugural Spirit Awards ceremony (I refuse to say "first annual", even though that is how they billed it. I hate first annual) in the theatre at the Harrah's Casino. I actually thought it was pretty fabulous, considering that you could grab a plate of food from the brunch buffet and of course a cocktail on the way to your table. Needless to say I have never attended a "real" awards show before.

It was also the type of awards show where you want to steal the centerpieces (bottles of liqour provided by the sponsors.) Ted Allen of Queer Eye fame was the host of the ceremony, which as you will see was a rather brief one (Since it was the last day of a five-day cocktail festival, it is probably wise that they kept it brief.)

The Tales of the Cocktail Spirit Award Categories are:

Best Drinks Selection
Winner: Zig Zag Cafe, Seattle

Best Classic Cocktail Bar
Criteria: Classic bars continue to uphold best bartending practices and serve
drinks in relaxed lounge-like environments. The judges are looking for bars which
uphold this tradition (but are not necessarily old) and offer superb service and
consistently well made drinks. (Hotel bars are eligible)
Winner: Zig Zag Cafe, Seattle
Sight unseen, I have to say that my instinct tells me that these guys deserve all the props that they got. The fact that they rolled up on stage in shorts to accept their awards especially endears them to me, who is chronically casual. We had the opportunity to sit with Casey and Murray at the Absinthe House later that evening and they were so down-to-earth it was infectious. First of all they were drinking beer. Second they were the only people I talked to all week who seemed to emphasize service as much as technique. Murray was also up for mixologist of the year, but that award went to the honorable Audrey Saunders.

World’s Best Cocktail Bar
Criteria: This award recognizes the international influence on cocktail trends and
seeks to award the world’s best cocktail bar. (US bars are not excluded.)
Winner: Pegu Club, NY NY

Best New Cocktail Bar
Criteria: Only bars which have opened in the 12 months preceding the awards
may be nominated. This award aims to reward new creativity and ideas as well
as well executed drinks.
Winner: Bourbon & Branch, San Francisco

Mixologist/Bartender of the Year
Criteria: The absolute best drinks mixer. The winner should be proficient at making
all recognized classic drinks and also have created contemporary cocktails
which have been copied by his/her peers.
Winner: Audrery Saunders, Pegu Club, NYC

Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book
Criteria: The best book published in 2006 regarding cocktails, liquor, bars, bar
design or bartending in general. New editions of existing works published in 2006
may also be nominated.
Winner: "The Art of the Bar: Cocktails Inspired by the Classics," by Jeff Hollinger and Rob Schwartz of Absinthe
This was one of the awards that we missed because we got there late, but I can attest to the book being a great one

Best New Product
Criteria: This is awarded to what the judges consider to be the best new cocktail
ingredient (spirit, liqueur, syrup or juice) or piece of cocktail equipment (muddler,
shaker etc.). To qualify products must be on general retail sale in at least three
US states.
Winner: St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
God this stuff is good. It seemed to be one of the big buzzes of the conference. And of course it is unavailable in Texas, and I depleted the stash of airplane minis that I managed to get from the seminar as soon as we got home. The consensus among many with whom I talked about this product is that it is capable of becoming a classic.

Best Cocktail Menu
Criteria: The judges seek to reward innovative and thirst inducing cocktail
menus. Both the design and content will be considered. Four copies of
nominated menu must be mailed with completed entry form.
Winner: Papparazzi, Bratislava, Slovakia
This rocked-out Euro guy Stanislav gave the shortest sweetest acceptance speech ever: "Thank you...thank you."

Best Drinks Brand Representative/Brand Ambassador
Criteria: An award which recognizes the importance of personality in the
promotion of drinks brands.
Winner: Simon Ford, Plymouth Gin