Many alcohol brands including Bacardi and Stella Artois support awards that recognize the best bartenders in the corresponding categories, but Campari is the first spirit brand that sponsors the first-ever award celebrating the best bars. Campari yesterday congratulated New York’s PDT for winning the newly established James Beard Foundation ‘Outstanding Bar Program Award’.

Photo: PDT’s Jim Meehan, Campari America’s Gerry Ruvo and PDT team

Campari is the inaugural presenting sponsor of this new award category that is established to find and celebrate the best cocktails, spirits, and/or beer service. More than 2,000 culinary and beverage luminaries and foodies attended the inaugural event.

«Cocktails and bars have been a part of restaurants ever since there have been restaurants and chefs,» said Jim Meehan, Managing Partner, PDT, who received the award from Gerry Ruvo, Chairman and CEO of Campari America, and Steve Olson, Wine & Spirits Chair of the James Beard Awards.  «But today, bartenders and mixologists are standing on the same stage with our heroes.  It’s a special moment.  On the way over, I told my staff that this is the first Outstanding Bar Program award, but we’re completely at home.  Campari has served as a bridge between the mixology and food worlds.  It is historic, it’s part of many classic cocktails and it’s long been enjoyed by our culinary peers.»

The new annual award marks the significant role that the bar category plays on the modern U.S. restaurant scene.

The ‘Outstanding Bar Program Award’ received over 2,200 online entries. The other nominees included Bar Agricole (San Francisco), Pegu Club (New York), The Aviary (Chicago) and The Violet Hour (Chicago), which were selected from 24 semi-finalists.