The big awards—best bar and best bartender—actually went to the same establishment this year. Hotel Congress was chosen by the food and beverage industry voters as the best bar with Congress’ Keith Caywood voted to be the best overall bartender. Congress’ David Clark was also recognized as the best craft bartender that evening.
We’d have to agree somewhat over here at the Tucson Weekly, seeing as Barb Trujillo of Congress won as our best bartender for the 2014 Best of Tucson awards. The bar and club also won best club for live music, best nightclub, best place to dance, and best signature cocktail (the Ghost Orchid).
This article appears in Dec 11-17, 2014.
Interesting.
It’s tricky to identify “bests” in categories as broad as this one, because bars tend to excel in situation-specific ways. The bar at the Arizona Inn is magnificent, but it’s not where I want to go for a beer after work. There are some seriously good times to be had at Che’s, but it might not be the right place to meet up with Aunt Sandy. Bars are purposeful destinations, and all but the saddest attract tend to specialize in something beyond the basic purpose of drinking.
Some bars specialize in many things. The Hotel Congress hums in such resonance with the spirit of Tucson, it’s easy to overlook what a great job they’ve painstakingly come to do over the past 30 years of offering something for everyone. By this rationale, I can’t think of a better bar. But there are even a few things Congress doesn’t do especially well. (Being quiet is one; being cheap is another.)
Same goes, really, for Bartenders. Some have great personalities. Some approach the art of drink-making with the discipline and affection of old-world craftsmen. (Or women.) And some are just wicked fast. A bartender with all these traits and more is a wondrous thing, and I’ve met a few. But some of the most fun bartenders—like some of the most fun bars—are quirksome and flawed. Art imitating life, as it were. No one goes to The Buffet seeking excellence in anything.
In this modern age of clickbait and listicles, the online proliferation of best-this and best-that is understandable and forgivable. But the real truth is that Tucson doesn’t have a best bar, or a best bartender. It has lots of them, depending on what you’re in the mood for. I could go for a glass of Bud, a shot of Jameson’s and a jukebox right now. Maybe a little Social D. That still gives me plenty to chose from.
However, this is not a list just for the sake of making a list. This was voted on and awarded by people who work in the industry. While the bests overall may be debatable, this is the best as voted by their colleagues, which should carry weight.
Especially difficult when you can only win if you buy into the USBG.