DMBA 2019: Best Bars, Bartenders, and Spirits in Asia

DRiNK Magazine and Thirsty Work Productions presented the DMBA 2019 on Monday, December 9, recognizing members and brands of the drinks industry in Asia. Winners of the awards listed below.

DMBA 2019 crowned 22 bars, brands and industry mavens from bartenders to brand ambassadors in Asia at their awards ceremony at the Jing An Shangri-La, West Shanghai. This marked the fourth run of DMBA.

Shanghai Stars at DMBA

Notable Shanghai winners include Cross Yu, who also scored a hattrick, winning the Founders Awards and the coveted Bartender of the Year award, while his bar E.P.I.C. was recognized in the Music Program category.

Cross Yu

Sober Company had the honor of Bar of the Year. Sober Company also ranks No. 45 on the World's 50 Best Bars 2019 and No. 16 on the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2019. It's part of the same group as Speak Low, which ranks No. 35 on World's 50 and No. 7 on Asia's 50.

Sober Company

The Taste Buds group scooped the Entrepreneurship Award, while their venues Atelier by Taste Buds won High Volume bar and the recently opened Arch by Taste Buds bagged the Design Award.

Arch by Taste Buds

Napa Wine Bar & Kitchen, arguably the best wine bar in Shanghai, took home the award for Wine Program. Most befitting.

Shanghai-inspired (and based) gin company Peddlers Gin received the award for Bartender Brand and Stone Brewing was recognized for its Beer Program. Hakkasan was presented with the award for Restaurant Bar, Punch Room at The Shanghai EDITION with Hotel Bar.

Peddlers Gin

List of DMBA 2019 Winners

Bartender of the Year (Asia)
*Presented by Peddlers Gin
*Jay Khan

**Bar Team (Asia) (New for 2019)
***Presented by Luxardo
*The Old Man, Hong Kong

Bar of the Year (Asia)
*Presented by Amaro Montenegro
*COA, Hong Kong

**International Bartender of the Year
***Presented by Jiangxiaobai
*Martin Hudak

**Sustainability Award
***Presented by Bacardi
*The Hope & Sesames

**Innovation Award
**Presented by U.S. Cranberry24/7 by Secoo

**Bartender Brand
***Presented by DRiNK Magazine
*Peddlers Gin

**Brand Ambassador
***Presented by Small Batch Learning
*Craig Swindell – Chivas Regal

**Design Award
***Presented by Campari
*Arch by Taste Buds, Shanghai

**Music Program
***Presented by Chandon
*E.P.I.C., Shanghai

**Wine Program
***Presented by Ray Fine Wines
*Napa Wine Bar & Kitchen, Shanghai

**Beer Program
***Presented by Viola
*Stone Brewing Tap Room, Shanghai

**Service Award
***Presented by Rémy Martin
*Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou

**Restaurant Bar
***Presented by Aperitivo Select
*Hakkasan, Shanghai

**High Volume Bar
***Presented by Woodford Reserve
*Atelier by Taste Buds, Shanghai

**Hotel Bar
***Presented by Fever-Tree
*Punch Room – The Shanghai EDITION

**Cocktail Program
***Presented by Cointreau
*Sober Company, Shanghai

**Entrepreneurship Award
***Presented by Hennessy
*Taste Buds

**Founders Award
***Presented by Thirsty Work Productions
*Cross Yu

**Bar Team
***Presented by Chivas Regal
*Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou

**Bartender of the Year
***Presented by Monkey 47
*Cross Yu

**Bar of the Year
***Presented by Maker’s Mark
*Sober Company, Shanghai

All images courtesy of DRiNK.