This Phoenix bar was just named the best cocktail destination in the U.S.
A Phoenix cocktail bar just brought home a big win in a prestigious national awards program, beating out bars in New York and Washington, D.C.
Century Grand was named the Best Cocktail Bar in the U.S. in the 2023 Spirited Awards announced by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation on July 27 in New Orleans. The Spirited Awards have recognized all areas of the beverage industry, from bartenders to journalists, since 2007.
The Awards are considered the Oscars of the beverage industry. Arizona bars have been nominated over the years but never won.
Century Grand was nominated in multiple categories, including Best U.S. Bar Team, Best U.S. Cocktail Bar and Best U.S. Bar Mentor for co-owner Jason Asher.
The bar, at the corner of Indian School Road and 36th Street in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix, is owned by Barter & Shake Cocktail Entertainment, which is behind the forthcoming Say Less bar.
How Century Grand's owner reacted to the news
Asher was elated about the announcement.
"Tales of the Cocktail, thank you for providing this platform and family to be a part of for nearly 16 years," said an emotional Asher, who has been part of Tales of the Cocktail since 2007.
"And a bar needs two families, both the staff and guests. This is a thank you to my bar family, every single one of you and every guest that walks in the door every day that helps us keep our lights on and provide opportunity for every staff member we have to have a quality of life. We set out do to something seven, eight years ago and we haven't lost sight of our vision."
He thanked his partners and his wife, Kailee Asher, ending with, "Arizona, we've arrived," as he lifted his award. The camera panned to a tearful audience.
"It’s so surreal!," Kailee Asher, Barter & Shake's director of communications, wrote in a statement to The Arizona Republic. "We are so grateful and excited to have been recognized by our peers for all of our hard work. It takes a team to create the magic we want to give to guests. This is the first time an Arizona bar has been recognized and received an accolade so large."
What to know about Century Grand and Platform 18
Century Grand houses three concept bars:
Platform 18, a train station-themed bar serving drinks from the Prohibition era.
Grey Hen, an apothecary-inspired bar.
UnderTow, a nautical tiki bar.
Earlier this year, Platform 18 was named one of North America's 50 Best Bars. The 50 Best Bars team praised Platform 18 for its imaginative theme and "world-class bar programme," adding, "Connoisseurs looking to suspend their imagination for a journey of sight and taste will be delighted by this ticket."
Arizona wins again: Arizona brewers won big at this beer competition. Here are the 6 award-winning brews to try
Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow @banooshahr on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best cocktail bar in the US? That would be Century Grand in Phoenix