Chicago's Kumiko was named the world's best bar at the 2025 awards

New York's Sip & Guzzle won the Best News Cocktail Bar, while Hong Kong's Barleone was named the Best International Cocktail Bar at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.

Kumiko, an innovative dining bar offering Japanese flavours in Chicago's West Loop, was named the best bar in the world at the 19th Spirit Awards held in New Orleans. Co-founded by acclaimed bartender Julia Momose and local restaurateurs Kara and Noah Sandoval, Kumiko almost immediately began garnering praise for minimalist food and drinks, including the 2019 Michelin star of Maria Russell, the original child who was awarded a Michelin star.

Born and raised in Japan, Momose, 36, was fascinated by Japanese rituals from a young age, eating and drinking, and was inspired by watching her mother entertain her at home. While attending Cornell University, she worked in restaurants and bars, eventually settling in Baltimore and continuing her hospitality education. From there she moved to Chicago where she became the “barchef” of the Aviary, a groundbreaking cocktail lounge founded by Grant Achatz.

After developing the bar menu at Green River, Chicago restaurants and bars, Danny's partnership with Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group and Dead Rabbit's Jack McGurry has come to be the time for Momose to create his own. A chance encounter with Sandovals led the trio to open Kumiko in December 2018.

Inspired by Japanese minimalism, Kumiko is a delicate style of woodworking that does not require nails or adhesives. Momose has developed a cocktail menu for the restaurant, including a selection of “spiritless” drinks. (She hates the word “mocktail.”) In 2022, Kumiko won an exceptional cocktail award from Michelin.

Before a standing ovation at the Fillmore Theatre in New Orleans, Momose embraced the final award for the evening, talking emotionally about visiting New York City in her 20s. “I remember trying to find a house when I was there, and then I found an angel share,” she said. Momose left the raucous crowd – previously, the Jewels who handed our awards and Cheech and Cheech and Cheech and Cheech were featured in one last advice.

The best new US cocktail bar to keep up with Japan's influence went to Sip & Guzzle, the popular New York post of the famous Tokyo Bar, created in 2017 by Shingo Gokan, the international bartender of the year at the Spirited Awards in West Village.

San Francisco Trick Dog was recognized as the best cocktail bar in the United States, fulfilling his promise at the 2017 Spirited Awards, winning the best US cocktail menu. Also, on the domestic front, Washington, DC's all-talk continued its winning way. Last year's Best US Hotel Bar and Bartender of the Year (for Capri Johnson), the Allegory's outstanding winner at the Eaton Hotel won the Best US Bar Team.

The US Bartender of the Year was left in the country's capital with service bar Christine Kim taking back his honor. After an inspiring speech she assures the crowd that she “will find your way, your voice, your space, your people,” Kim distilled universal wisdom: “Don't be a dick.”

Last year's Best New International Cocktail Bar, Hong Kong's Barleone, was selected as Best International Bar for shunning sophomore jinx. The Baleone team could offer advice on the demon cut in Madrid. It was recognized as the best new international cocktail bar. London's Side Hustle was named Best International Hotel Bar this year, while Mobius Milano in Milan won Best International Restaurant Bar.

Mentorship has long been an important part of the hospitality industry, and the energetic awards honor two mentors each year. Iain McPherson, who founded Panda & Sons in Edinburgh, Scotland 12 years ago, was named Best International Bar Mentor. Evidence of McPherson's coaching was recognized early in the evening when the Pandas and Suns won the Best International Bar Team. The bar also won the award for the best cocktail menu in the world.

The best US bar mentor was awarded to Colin Asare-Appiah, the recipient of last year's Tales Visionary Award and the 2016 Spirited Award recipient of the 2016 American Brand Ambassador. Author of Black Mix Selence: A comprehensive guide to Black Mixology, Asarepia spent more than 30 years in the industry and helped train the next generation of bartenders across the US and Africa as part of the Ajab Cocktail and Spirits Festival.

This year's Helen Davidson Lifetime Achievement Award began his career as a London bartender in the 1990s, and reformed his career as “Global Lamb Ambassador” about 20 years ago. The highly charismatic Barrel has represented many different rum brands over the years, including Equiano, whom he co-founded in 2020, and is well-known in the industry for his self-descriptive “educational” presentation style. Burrell, 50, reminded the audience that he still has years of lingering in accepting his award.

The most exciting moment of the ceremony came from Tales Visionary Awner Winner Lynnette Marrero, a veteran New York bartender named best barmen at the 2019 Spirited Awards. In addition to co-founding Speedrack, an international bartender competition for women, Marello is the mixologist behind Delora, Jennifer Lopez's bottled drink cocktails. “What gives me the most joy is my life and my life is an opportunity to serve people,” she said. “It's time for us all to be teachers and mentors. If you're somewhere, there's always someone who needs to come with you, so grab their hands and walk.”

Finally, the lively award always raises the glass into the legendary watering hole. Barcock in Madrid received the Timeless International Award. Founded in 1921, Barcock could be similar to an English club. Founder Emilio Saracho and headbartender Perico Chicote travelled from Spain to London to find authentic furniture, but caters to local artists, writers, politicians and of course the generosity of the city.

And the bar at Keenes Steakhouse in midtown Manhattan was awarded the Timeless US Award. Keynes, dating back to 1885, began its long life as a theatre hangout, considering its location at Herald Square in New York. In addition to offering traditional English mutton chops, Keynes is renowned for its extraordinary collection of clay pipes. 90,000 Pipe once belonged to Keene's regulars, from Bay Bruce and Teddy Roosevelt to JP Morgan and Albert Einstein. Like all the great restaurant bars, Keynes arrives early for dinner and is worth a drink under the careful eyes of “Missine's,” a naked portrait hanging from the bar for decades. In 2019, billionaire Tillman Fertita added Keene to his laundry hospitality empire after purchasing the iconic steakhouse for $30 million.

Check out the full list of winners of the 2025 Spirited Awards.

Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards 2025

International

International Bartender of the Year: Lorenzo Antinori (Barleone, Hong Kong)

Best International Barmenter: Iain McPherson

Best International Brand Ambassador: Doremaso (Altostequila and Nusa Kanyaram)

Best International Bar Team: Panda & Sons (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Best New International Cocktail Bar: Devil's Cut (Madrid, Spain)

Best International Hotel Bar: Side Hustle (The Nomad Hotel London, London, UK)

Best International Restaurant Bar: Mobius Milano (Milan, Italy)

Best International Cocktail Bar: Baleone (Hong Kong, China)

US

US Bartender of the Year: Christine Kim (Service Bar, Washington, DC)

Best US Barmenter: Colin Asare-Appiah

Best Brand Ambassador in the US: Natasha Sofia (Migenta Tequila)

Best US Bar Team: All Story of the Eaton Hotel (Washington DC)

Best News Cocktail Bar: Sip & Guzzle (New York, New York)

Best US Hotel Bar: Little Ritual (Residence Inn/Paulownia by Marriott, Phoenix, Arizona))

Best US Restaurant Bars: Kumiko (Chicago, Illinois)

Best US Cocktail Bar: Trick Dog (San Francisco, CA)

Writing and Media

Best Cocktails & Spirits Publications: Complete Pouring

Best Broadcasts, Podcasts, or Online Video Series: Radio Invibe

Best Cocktails and Spirit Writing: “In war-torn Ukraine, Nightlife offers an escape escape by Adam Robb for wine lovers.”

Best New Cocktails or Bartender Book: Bartender Pantry: Jim Meehan and Bad Sasso's Drinking Handbook for Universal Bars with Emma Janzen

Best New Books on Drink Culture, History and Spirits: Cocktail Parlor: How Women Bring Nicola's Cocktails Home

global

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award: Ian Burrell

Timeless International Award: Barcock (Madrid, Spain)

Timeless US Award: Keenes Steakhouse (New York, New York)

Tales Visionary Award: Lynette Marrero

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredients: Planteray Cut & Dried Coconut Rum

The best cocktail menu in the world: Panda & Sons (Edinburgh, Scotland)

The World's Best Spirit Selection: Eleven Madison Park (New York, New York)

The best bar in the world: Kumiko (Chicago, Illinois)

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