The event is part of the Tales of the Cocktail conference where bartenders, bar owners, spirits brands and other cocktail industry professionals come together for an extended weekend of events, education and awards.
The Spirited Awards recognize specific people, bar teams, outstanding menus, mentorship and more.
This year, Phoenix bar Little Rituals took the title of the Best Hotel Bar in the U.S.
When Little Rituals' name was called at the ceremony, co-owner and local bar icon Aaron "Doc" DeFeo took the stage to accept the award.
Frank de la Cruz, lead bartender at Little Rituals, accompanied him on the stage and held the glass plate trophy while DeFeo shared a few words of gratitude.
"Thank you so much, this is amazing, incredible, I don't think we ever foresaw this and we're just so stoked to be here with everybody in front of so many of our heroes and so many people who we look up to," DeFeo said, also congratulating the other nominees in the category.
"This award is representative of hard work and education, but ultimately everyone that's onstage tonight is here because somebody else put trust in them, mentored them and maybe partnered with them," DeFeo said. "I wouldn't be here tonight without my partner Ross Simon. He did all of those things for me and for the other people at Little Rituals. He took a chance on us and this award is his as much as anyone else's."
Simon is another cocktail great in Phoenix, also known for his award-winning bar Bitter & Twisted.
"We are elated that Little Rituals won the prestigious award of Best U.S. Hotel Bar at this year’s Spirited Awards," Simon said in a news release. "This recognition reaffirms our unwavering commitment to our craft and our bar's ethos, while also acknowledging the tireless dedication exhibited by our remarkable team."
On Thursday night, DeFeo finished his short speech with a call to action.
"We're just so thankful," he said, "and let's party."
Little Rituals named Best Hotel Bar in the U.S.
Little Rituals is located inside the Residence Inn Phoenix Downtown hotel and to find it, customers take the elevator up to the fourth floor, where they are rewarded with views of downtown and PHX Arena. Guests can sit at the bar or find a spot among the intimate tables or cozy lounge areas. The bar is refined and classy, yet fun with a little sparkle thrown off by overhead starburst chandeliers and the glow of neon. The illustrated drinks menu helps guide customers to their perfect choice, whether that be a Crisp Martini or the famous Big City Nights, a pink-hued sour with blackberry, cinnamon and lemon, with a printed collage of downtown landing delicately on top.
A food menu accompanies the drinks, ranging from shareable snacks such as the Disco Fries with brisket, cheese sauce and pho gravy, to full entrees such as the Korean BBQ Salmon with shishito mashed potatoes.
It's a long road to the awards, with the Regional Top 10 Honorees announced in April, the Top 10 Nominees announced in May, the Top Four finalists named in June and finally the awards ceremony in late July. Last year, Little Rituals made it to the Top Four round. A year later, it was crowned the winner.
“It’s a real delight to celebrate the winners of the 2025 Spirited Awards,” Charlotte Voisey, Executive Director of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation said in a news release.“Each winner represents the spirit of evolution, pushing boundaries, embracing change, and moving this industry forward. Congratulations to everyone recognized – your work inspires all of us!"
