Latest news with #SpiritedAwards
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Cheech And Chong THC Seltzers Highlighted At Tales Of The Cocktail
Cannabis culture icons Cheech & Chong will present awards at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans ... More later this month while highlighting their High & Dry hemp THC seltzers. In what is being described as 'a groundbreaking cultural first for both the cannabis and spirits industries,' New Orleans' Tales of the Cocktail has named High & Dry THC-infused seltzers from iconic comedy duo Cheech & Chong as the first cannabis beverage sponsor for the Spirited Awards. The nonprofit organization Tales of the Cocktail Foundation works to empower the global hospitality industry through education, advocacy and community support. At its annual conference held in New Orleans each July, the group brings the hospitality industry together for an event 'that blends education, networking, and celebration like no other,' according to organizers. Cheech & Chong's High & Dry seltzers come in a variety of flavors and feature 5mg of THC per can. The conference also honors leaders from the global cocktail industry with its coveted Spirited Awards in categories such as World's Best Cocktail Bar, World's Best Cocktail Menu and Tales Visionary Award, among others. Cheech & Chong's High & Dry Seltzers are hemp-based THC-infused canned beverages designed to deliver the psychoactive effects of cannabis in a palatable, drinkable formulation. A growing category that is gaining market share, hemp-derived THC beverages have become a common sight at liquor stores and bars in some states since the legalization of hemp agriculture and products via the 2018 Farm Bill. First Cannabis Beverage Spirited Awards Sponsor This year marks the first time that the Spirited Awards has embraced a cannabis brand as an official sponsor of the event. As part of the festivities, weed culture heroes Cheech & Chong (Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong) will present the Spirited Awards for the Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series and the Best Cocktail and Spirits Publication. The High & Dry seltzers will also be highlighted throughout the Tales of the Cocktail experience, giving bartenders and other industry professionals an opportunity to sample the products and learn how they integrate with the cocktail world. 'We're not just bringing drinks-we're bringing the culture,' Chong, co-founder of Cheech & Chong's Beverages, said in a statement from the company. 'High & Dry is all about fun, connection, and new experiences. And Tales of the Cocktail is the perfect place to share it.' Hemp-THC Drinks A 'Whole New Category' In Cannabis Consumption In an exclusive interview, Marin says that hemp-derived THC beverages including the High & Dry Seltzers and the company's High Tea THC-infused iced tea offerings make cannabis accessible to a wide range of consumers. 'It's a whole new category, it's a brand-new way of enjoying the herb,' says. 'And we want to go to where the people are, and make it easier, so you can get your you're drink at a grocery store, you know? And that makes it a lot easier for when you go watch your kid play soccer.' Cheech Marin (l) and Tommy Chong Cheech & Chong's THC infused seltzers are available in a variety of flavors, as are the High Tea canned iced tea drinks. When asked what sets his THC-infused beverages apart from the others in a market crowed with weed drinks, Marin notes one important difference. 'Well, you know, they're called Cheech and Chong,' he replies with a chuckle. 'And everybody knows that name. So, we hope that this stands for high quality and enjoyability and accessibility and you know, we kind of want to spread the news. At a certain age, you get kind of wary of smoking, you know, and I know the age. Hemp or THC in a liquid form, that's a lot better.' Tales of the Cocktail kicks off on July 20 in New Orleans and runs through July 25.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dutch Bros, beloved national coffee chain, to move headquarters out of Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Dutch Bros, a beloved Oregon-founded chain with national acclaim, is moving their headquarters out of the Pacific Northwest. The company confirmed to KOIN 6 News that its official headquarters will soon move to Phoenix, Arizona. 2 Portland bars named finalists in New Orleans' upcoming Spirited Awards The change comes roughly one year after CEO Christine Barone, an Arizona native, joined the company. 'Over the past several months, we have seen the functional and cultural advantages of having more of our field support roles working together in one place. To support the next phase of Dutch Bros' growth, we're relocating additional roles to our new Phoenix office and making strategic changes to the structure of several teams,' the company said in a statement to KOIN 6 News. 'Bringing more people together will allow us to better serve our customers and crews across the country. With these changes, the Phoenix office will become our official HQ.' However, the company said their original roasting facility will remain in Grants Pass, Oregon. 'Additionally, through the Dutch Bros Foundation, we'll continue our long-standing commitment to uplifting and supporting the Southern Oregon community,' the company said. Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
10-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
World's Best Bars: The Nominees For The 2025 Spirited Awards
There ought to be a few of drinks on the house tonight at the best bars in the world as the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation announced its nominees for the 2025 Spirited Awards. Launched in 2007 and considered to be among the hospitality industry's highest honors, the Spirited Awards are part of the annual Tales of the Cocktail festival held in New Orleans in July, honoring the top bars, bartenders, brand ambassadors, and spirits journalists from around the world. The awards are selected by a jury of hospitality peers—acclaimed bartenders, bar owners, and journalists and authors. (Forbes is the official media partner of the Spirited Awards.) Once again, there are many familiar watering holes among this year's nominees. Hong Kong's Bar Leone (named Best New International Cocktail Bar at the 2024 Spirited Awards) built on its early success and received three nominations: Best International Bartender, Best Bar Team and Best International Cocktail Bar. And Mexico City's Handshake Speakeasy, which won Best International Bar Team in 2024 and whose cofounder, Eric Van Beek, was named International Bartender of the Year last year, was also nominated for Best International Cocktail Bar. In the United States, Denver's Yacht Club, which was named Best U.S. Cocktail Bar last year, received a nomination for Best U.S. Bar Team and McClain Hedges picked up a nomination for U.S. Bartender of the Year. And Allegory, at Washington, D.C.'s Eaton Hotel, which was named Best U.S. Hotel Bar last year and is home to 2024's U.S. Bartender of the Year, Kapri Robinson, was also nominated for Best U.S. Bar Team. New York continued to flex its cocktail muscle. Three of the four nominees for Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar can be found in Manhattan: Bar Snack, Clemente Bar and Sip & Guzzle. (The fourth nominee, ViceVersa, is in Miami). And Overstory, in the Financial District, was nominated again for Best U.S. Cocktail Bar. For those who want an atlas of nominees, Tales of the Cocktail built an interactive map of the world's best bars in 2021. Most nominees will have to wait until July 24 to learn if they actually won a Spirited Award, but there are at least two bars (The Bar at Keens Steakhouse in New York and Madrid's Bar Cock) and two bartenders (Lynette Marrero and Ian Burrell), who can raise a glass in celebration tonight. Both Keens and Bar Cock will be celebrated as Timeless bars for their decades of innovation and service. Burrell, who began his career as a bartender in London in the 1990s, reinvented himself as a 'global rum ambassador' some 20 years ago, will be presented with the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award at the Spirited Awards. The charismatic Burrell has represented many different rum brands over the years—and cofounded Equiano rum in 2020—and is renowned in the industry for a presentation style he calls 'edutainment.' Marrero, meanwhile, is a veteran New York bartender who was named Best Bar Mentor at the 2019 Spirited Awards, and will be honored with the Tales Visionary Award. In addition to cofounding Speed Rack, an international bartending competition for women, she is the mixologist behind Delola, Jennifer Lopez' line of bottled cocktails. 2025 Spirited Awards Nominees New York's Overstory is nominated again for Best U.S. Cocktail Bar. Hong Kong's Bar Leone is nominated for Best International Cocktail Bar Harry N. Abrams Veteran rum ambassador Ian Burrell will be awarded the Helen Lawrenson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The 'Oscars of bars' just named these Phoenix spots among the best in US
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation released its Top 10 U.S. nominees for the 19th Spirited Awards, considered the Oscars of the beverage world, and six Arizona bars and bartenders made the list. The nominees will be narrowed down to the top four finalists in each category on June 9 and the winners will be announced at the Spirited Awards Ceremony on July 24 in New Orleans. 'Every year, we're inspired by the extraordinary and diverse global talent emerging from our industry,' said Tiffanie Barriere, Spirited Awards U.S. Chair, in a press release. 'This year's shortlist is a celebration of those who are redefining excellence — crafting remarkable cocktails, elevating guest experiences, and pushing our industry to new heights around the world.' Here are the Arizona bars and bartenders that made Top Ten in their categories. Category: Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar. Details: 2 N. Central Ave., Suite 101, Phoenix. Check-in inside Wren and Wolf. Category: U.S. Bartender of the Year for Libby Lingua and Best U.S. Bar Team. Details: 1514 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. 602-675-4244, Asher left Barter & Shake Cocktail Entertainment, the team behind Century Grand and Sunny's Lounge, in December 2024 to launch his own consulting company Juniper and Jigger Hospitality. Category: Best U.S. Bar Mentor. Details: Little Rituals has been in the top four in this category several times. Category: Best U.S. Hotel Bar. Details: 132 S. Central Ave., Phoenix (on the fourth floor of the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott Phoenix Downtown). 602-603-2050, Category: Best U.S. Restaurant Bar. Details: 4130 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. 602-612-2961, The winners will be announced at the 19th annual Spirited Awards Ceremony, which takes place on July 24, 2025, in New Orleans. Reach the reporter at BAnooshahr@ Follow @baharcreative on Instagram. Christopher Gross loathes mustard: plus other things I learned at his favorite restaurant This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 4 Phoenix bars named among the 10 best in US. How to visit
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Phoenix bars named among top 10 in US for 'remarkable cocktails'
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation released its Top 10 U.S. nominees for the 19th Spirited Awards, considered the Oscars of the beverage world, and six Arizona bars and bartenders made the list. The nominees will be narrowed down to the top four finalists in each category on June 9 and the winners will be announced at the Spirited Awards Ceremony on July 24 in New Orleans. 'Every year, we're inspired by the extraordinary and diverse global talent emerging from our industry,' said Tiffanie Barriere, Spirited Awards U.S. Chair, in a press release. 'This year's shortlist is a celebration of those who are redefining excellence — crafting remarkable cocktails, elevating guest experiences, and pushing our industry to new heights around the world.' Here are the Arizona bars and bartenders that made Top Ten in their categories. Category: Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar. Details: 2 N. Central Ave., Suite 101, Phoenix. Check-in inside Wren and Wolf. Category: U.S. Bartender of the Year for Libby Lingua and Best U.S. Bar Team. Details: 1514 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. 602-675-4244, Asher left Barter & Shake Cocktail Entertainment, the team behind Century Grand and Sunny's Lounge, in December 2024 to launch his own consulting company Juniper and Jigger Hospitality. Category: Best U.S. Bar Mentor. Details: Little Rituals has been in the top four in this category several times. Category: Best U.S. Hotel Bar. Details: 132 S. Central Ave., Phoenix (on the fourth floor of the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott Phoenix Downtown). 602-603-2050, Category: Best U.S. Restaurant Bar. Details: 4130 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. 602-612-2961, The winners will be announced at the 19th annual Spirited Awards Ceremony, which takes place on July 24, 2025, in New Orleans. Reach the reporter at BAnooshahr@ Follow @baharcreative on Instagram. Christopher Gross loathes mustard: plus other things I learned at his favorite restaurant This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix bars named best in US for 'remarkable cocktails'
