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Kwānt named best new international bar as London wins big at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards 2020

Mayfair newcomer Kwānt has been named “best new bar” at one of the cocktail world’s most prestigious global awards.

The bar is one of the multiple London winners at last night’s US-based Spirited Awards, which were announced as part of the annual Tales of the Cocktail festival in New Orleans.

Kwānt, which was launched last year by former American Bar cocktail guru Erik Lorincz, scooped the “Best New International Cocktail Bar” gong, beating fellow Londoner Tayēr + Elementary to the prize.

“I’m incredibly proud to be surrounded by such an amazing team who have made my dream come true,” said Lorincz on Instagram. “Without you I’m an unskilled worker.”

The bar has not yet reopened after lockdown, but will reopen its doors tomorrow.

Fellow London winners include Scarfe’s Bar at the Rosewood London, which was named best international hotel bar, and the Connaught Bar, which scooped the award for best international bar team.

There was a London win across the pond too, as London bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana (also known as Mr Lyan) won the best new American cocktail bar accolade for his bar Silver Lyan, which opened in Washington DC last year. Chetiyawardana is best known in the capital for his south bank bar Lyaness.

Tayēr + Elementary was also nominated for the world’s best cocktail menu award, and co-founder Alex Kratena was also among the shortlist for best international bar mentor alongside the Connaught Bar’s Agostino Perrone.

The bar at Mayfair restaurant Sexy Fish was shortlisted for two awards – world’s best spirits selection and best international restaurant bar – but came away empty handed. Soho bar Swift was nominated in the best international cocktail bar category, but lost out to celebrated Native in Singapore.