Merchant & Trade, the rooftop bar at The Kimpton Hotel in Uptown, has been named one of the top 10 hotel bars in the eastern United States by Tales of the Cocktail. The cocktail program at Merchant & Trade is run by longtime Charlotte mixologist Henry Schmulling, who also oversees the cocktail program at the Kimpton’s ground floor Italian restaurant, Angeline’s.

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, often simply called “Tales” by members of the restaurant industry, advocates for beverage industry professionals. The group’s annual conference in New Orleans grew to be a must-attend for bartenders, and the event transitioned to a non-profit entity in 2018. Their annual “Spirited Awards” look to recognize the top talent in the beverage industry.

Last year, Merchant & Trade was nominated in the Best High Volume bar category. The bar’s nomination this year in the regional category puts Merchant & Trade alongside establishments such as the Elephant Bar at the NoMad Hotel in New York City, The Living Room at The Dewberry in Charleston, and Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle in New York City.

The nominees in each region will be narrowed down to the top 10 on May 4, then narrowed down to finalists on June 1. The winners are meant to be announced at the conference on July 25. —Kristen Wile

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