Melbourne bar Black Pearl has taken out the title of Best International Cocktail Bar.
The award was bestowed at the Spirited Awards held in New Orleans on the weekend as part of the annual Tales of the Cocktail event.
Black Pearl was nominated for Best International Cocktail Bar along with Edinburgh’s Bramble, and Paris bars Le Syndicat and Little Red Door.
“We’re absolutely ecstatic winning an award in a category like this!” says Black Pearl’s Chris Hysted-Adams, who was in New Orleans with fellow Black Pearl bartender Nathan Beasley.
“Being amongst bars you’ve respected you’re entire career is the most humbling feeling ever. Tales (and the Spirited Awards) is really something I’ve personally dreamed of since I started in this industry 10 years ago,” he says.
With Black Pearl turning 15 years old in August, the win is a timely birthday present.
“After Black Pearl having open doors 15 years, it’s amazing to know people are having just as much fun in our bar as we are! Stay tuned for the greatest birthday party ever!” Hysted-Adams says.
Expat Aussies Naren Young and Linden Pride were also in the winners circle on the night, with their New York venue, Dante, taking out the title of Best American Restaurant Bar.
The team from London’s Dandelyan were the most successful of the evening, winning a total of three trophies on the night for Best International Bar Team, Best International Hotel Bar, and World’s Best Bar, while Germany’s Charles Schumann was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Take a look at the full list of winners at the 2017 Spirited Awards below.
2017 Spirited Award® Recipients
AMERICAN CATEGORIES
Best American Bar Team
The NoMad Bar (New York)
Best American Brand Ambassador
Misty Kalkofen (Del Maguey)
Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar
Sweet Liberty Drinks and Supply Co. (Miami, FL)
Best American Restaurant Bar
Dante (New York)
American Bartender of the Year
Jeff Bell (New York)
Best American Cocktail Bar
Columbia Room (Washington, D.C)
Best American Hotel Bar
The Hawthorne at Hotel Commonwealth (Boston)
Best New American Cocktail Bar
BlackTail (New York)
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES
Best International Bar Team
Dandelyan (London)
Best International Brand Ambassador
Camille Ralph Vidal (St. Germain)
Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar
Trailer Happiness (London)
Best International Restaurant Bar
Tippling Club (Singapore)
International Bartender of the Year
Shingo Gokan (Shanghai)
Best International Cocktail Bar
Black Pearl (Melbourne)
Best International Hotel Bar
Dandelyan at the Mondrian (London)
Best New International Cocktail Bar
Swift (London)
WRITING CATEGORIES
Best Cocktail and Spirits Publication
Hot Rum Cow
Best New Cocktail & Bartending Book
Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki by Martin and Rebecca Cate
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer
Wayne Curtis
Best New Spirits Book
Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey by Fred Minnick
GLOBAL CATEGORIES
Best Bar Mentor
David Wondrich
World’s Best Cocktail Menu
Trick Dog (San Francisco)
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient
ITALICUS – Rosolio di Bergamotto (Italy)
World’s Best Spirits Selection
canon: whiskey and bitters emporium (Seattle)
World’s Best Cocktail Bar
Dandelyan (London)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Charles Schumann