La Descarga named a finalist in three 2012 Spirited Awards categories.

New Orleans’ annual cocktail festival Tales of the Cocktail announced its Top 10 Finalists for the 2012 Spirited Awards categories! And L.A. is a boozy force to be reckoned with. Compare that to last year when L.A. barely registered as a blip on the list despite our kickass cocktail scene with the likes of Julian Cox, Dave Kupchinsky and Vincenzo Marianella.  Check out the L.A. finalists now! La Descarga has three nominations, including World’s Best New Cocktail Bar!

• Eric Alperin (The Varnish): American Bartender of the Year

• Vincenzo Marianella (Copa d’Oro): American Bartender of the Year

• Harvard & Stone: Best American Cocktail Bar, World’s Best New Cocktail Bar

• La Descarga: Best American Cocktail Bar, World’s Best New Cocktail Bar, Best High Volume Cocktail Bar

• Rivera: Best Restaurant Bar

• Spare Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt: World’s Best Hotel Bar

• The Varnish: Best American Cocktail Bar, World’s Best Cocktail Bar

• Seven Grand: Best High Volume Cocktail Bar

• Dan “The Imbiber Dunn: Best Cocktail Writing — Author, Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book

• Dave Stolte’s Home Bar Basics: Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book

• Mutineer Magazine: Best Cocktail Writing — Non-Book

Congrats and good luck to all. The list of finalists will be culled down to the top three in each category and those with the most points wins. The actual list of winners will be announced on the Tales of the Cocktail Web site on June 7 while the Spirited Awards event takes place during Tales on July 28.

Here’s hoping L.A. makes its presence known. Who are you rooting for and who do you wish made the list?