Edinburgh cocktail bar Panda & Sons are celebrating after picking up 3 awards at the Cocktail Spirited Awards in New Orleans, marking the first time since 2014 that a Scottish bar has won a Spirited Award at the international cocktail event. It is also the first time that time a European bar has ever won 3 awards at the global celebration of excellence in bartending and hospitality.
Panda & Sons walked away with World’s Best Cocktail Menu, Best International Bar Team, and International Bar Mentor of the Year for founder Iain McPherson with the judges highlighting the venues “visionary approach to hospitality, unparalleled creativity, and global influence”
It caps off a defining year for Panda & Sons and its founder, Iain McPherson. Earlier in 2025, the team picked up top honours at the UK’s CLASS Bar Awards and McPherson was ranked number 1 on the Drinks International Bar World 100 list, recognising him as the world’s most influential bar professional.
“We are absolutely overwhelmed,” said Iain McPherson. “To represent Scotland and Europe on the world stage and bring home three Spirited Awards in one night is a dream come true. It’s a reflection of our team’s dedication, creativity, and love for what we do.”