FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tales of the Cocktail ® Announces Judges for The 9 th Annual Spirited Awards ®

This year, 109 spirits experts have been selected to vote on more awards in more than 30 categories that will recognize the best of the cocktail industry.

NEW ORLEANS - March 31, 2015 - In 2007, Tales of the Cocktail® created the Spirited Awards® to provide much needed recognition of the best bars and bar talent from the United States and around the world. Tales of the Cocktail® is proud to announce this year’s U.S., International and Writing Judging Committees that will select the next round of Spirited Awards® recipients. This collection of the most experienced and knowledgeable industry experts will vote in their respective committees for the distinctive award categories. The winners will be announced on Saturday, July 19 at this year’s ceremony being held at the Sheraton Hotel New Orleans.

“Choosing the absolute best of our industry is not an easy task,” said Simon Ford, 2015 Spirited Awards® Chairman. “I am eternally indebted to this experienced and talented group of judges for being so generous with their time and talents in selecting this year’s Spirited Awards winners.”

Given the diversity of the spirits industry, both geographically and stylistically, a panel of 109 judges was assembled to represent practically every region of the world and every facet of the business. Simon Ford has assembled committee chairmen to oversee each judging committee, ensuring the judging process is executed fairly and consistently across all award categories. The International committee, overseen by Jacob Briars will consist of 50 qualified judges from around the world. Jackson Cannon will lead the United States judging committee comprised of 50 judges knowledgeable about the bar culture in the U.S. and the industry as a whole. The Writing Committee, made up of nine leaders in the cocktail and spirits writing industry, will be led by David Wondrich, an esteemed cocktail writer and historian.

While this judging panel will select the winners, nominations for each award category are open to the general public at TalesoftheCocktail.com starting April 1, 2015 and ending on April 30 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). Voting by the judging committees will begin on Monday, May 18, 2015 and end Monday May 25 at 11:59 PM.

The 2015 Judging Committees

International:Jacob Briars, New York (Chairman)Helmut Adam, GermanyJenny Adams, Manila

Sven Almenning, AustraliaBen Belmans, BeneluxStephan Berg, Germany

Jared Brown, LondonIan Burrell, GlobalSalvatore Calabrese, LondonDean Callan, GlobalThierry Daniel, FranceSimon Difford, LondonPeter Dorelli, LondonPhilip Duff, GlobalEric Fossard, FranceJohn Gakuru, AustraliaGiuseppe Gallo, GlobalTony Harion, BrazilDenzel Heath, South AfricaChris Hopkins, SE AfricaRichard Irwin, AfricaTim Judge, GlobalZdenek Kastanek, SingaporeAlan Kavanagh, IrelandAlex Kratena, London

Max LaRocca, ItalySandrae Lawrence, LondonErik Lorinzc, LondonMichael Menegos, GreeceJoerg Meyer, GermanyJoseph Mortera, MexicoLauren Mote, CanadaBek Narzi, RussiaGeorge Nemec, EuropeXavier Padovani, EuropeAlberto Pires, PortugalJared Plummer, AustraliaMarc Plumridge, LondonAlex Ross, AustraliaKurt Schlecter, AfricaCristine Sismondo, CanadaJustin Smyth, GlobalHidetsuego Ueno, Japan

Tim Stones, GlobalMichael Vachon, LondonCamille Vidal, GlobalFrankie Walker, New Zealand

Claire Warner, LondonMax Warner, GlobalTheo Watt, China

USA:Jackson Canon, Boston (Chairman)Bridget Albert, ChicagoBrooke Arthur, San FranciscoJacques Bezuidenhout, San FranciscoDerek Brown, Washington DCErick Castro, San DiegoPaul Clarke, SeattleAlex Day, Los AngelesDale DeGroff, New YorkElayne Duff, New YorkBrian Ellison, MadisonCamper English, San FranciscoRyan Fitzpatrick, San FranciscoDoug Frost, Kansas CityTrevor Frye, Washington DCChad George, DenverJohn Gertsen, San FranciscoKate Gerwin, North DakotaChris Hannah, New OrleansJosh Harris, San FranciscoBobby Heugel, Houston

Charles Joly, ChicagoMisty Kalkofen, BostonSean Kenyon, DenverNeil Kopplin, PortlandJohn Lermayer, MiamiRyan Magarian, PortlandRyan Maybee, Kansas CityJim Meehan, PortlandJeffrey Morganthaler, PortlandSteve Olsen, New YorkChris Patino, New YorkDave Pickerell, VermontJulie Reiner, New YorkGary Regan, New YorkTodd Richman, MiamiNoah Rothbaum, New YorkJim Ryan, New YorkMike Ryan, ChicagoJon Santer, EmeryvilleAndy Seymour, New YorkDavid Suro-Pinera, Philadelphia

Charlotte Voisey, New YorkJoshua Wagner, MiamiLiza Weisstuch, BostonCourtney Wilson, DenverJimmy Yeager, Aspen

Rocky Yeh, SeattleNaren Young, New YorkDushan Zaric, Los Angeles

Writing:Dave Wondrich, New York (Chairman)Fernando Castellon, Lyon Beppi Crosariol, TorontoWayne Curtis, New OrleansRobert Hess, Seattle

Alice Lascelles, LondonPat Nourse, SydneyGarrett Oliver, New YorkGary Regan, New York

For more information about the 9th Annual Spirited Awards or to get your tickets to the awards ceremony visit TalesoftheCocktail.com or email Michelle Dunnick atMichelle@TalesoftheCocktail.com.

About Tales of the Cocktail®

The Spirits Are Calling. Will you answer? They’re calling you to New Orleans for five days of seminars, tastings, product launches, competitions, networking events and so much more at the world's premier professional cocktail event. By just being a part of this spirited gathering you’ll help your fellow cocktail professionals around the world. Funds from Tales of the Cocktail® are invested back into the industry through scholarships, tuition reimbursements, training programs and financial aid. So join us as the international spirits community answers the call, returning for another spirited round of Tales of the Cocktail®.

About the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation SocietyThe New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society (NOCCPS) is a non-profit organization committed to preserving the unique cocktail culture in New Orleans and around the world. Every year the NOCCPS produces a number of events including Tales of the Cocktail®, Tales of the Cocktail® on Tour, and Tales of the Toddy® with proceeds being invested back into the international spirits community through scholarships, training programs and financial aid.

SOCIAL MEDIA:WEBSITE: http://www.TalesoftheCocktail.comFACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/talesofthecocktail.comTWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/totcYOUTUBE: http://www.youbtube.com/user/TOTCNOLA

CONTACT:Michelle Dunnick; 504-948-0511; Michelle@TalesoftheCocktail.com.

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