Artesian in London named World’s Best Bar

The Artesian at The Langham hotel in London has been voted the World’s Best Bar at the “Oscars” of the drinks industry: the Spirited Awards in New Orleans.

Alex Kratena, head bartender of Artesian

Taking place last Saturday at the Sheraton Hotel on the final night of the annual Tales of the Cocktail event, in addition to winning the World’s Best Bar award, the Artesian scooped two further gongs for World’s Best Hotel Bar and International Bar Team of the Year.

And if that wasn’t enough glory, one of the Artesian’s chief mixologists, Simone Caporale, was crowned International Bartender of the Year.

Some of the more unusual cocktails to have been served at the bar

The award has previously been won by the likes of Tony Conigliaro of 69 Colebrooke Row, Erik Lorincz of The American Bar at the Savoy and Agostino Peronne of The Connaught.

The Artesian’s head bartender, Alex Kratena, is one of the most exciting and envelope pushing mixologists working in London.

Each of his drinks tells and story – many are served in unusual receptacles and offer an interactive, theatrical element.

Having enjoyed success with Unfinished Business – an ever-evolving Bourbon-based cocktail aged in a goat skin leather wine sack, Kratena recently launched a new menu, Unfolding and Exploring, that encourages guests to experiment with unusual ingredients.

The Selfie Compatible blends Zacapa rum with Floc de Goscogne, Verjus, beer and bitters, while Will of the Woods features Glenlivet whisky, larch, mushroom, citrus and honey.

Tales of the Cocktail unites the cream of the global bartending and spirits community in New Orleans for five days.