Both Bar-Solution and Fred Minnick reproduce the official Tales of the Cocktail Top 10 Nominees announcement for 2026, and their identical Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar lists include Donna’s in Houston, Texas, satisfying the condition that at least one Texas venue appears in the Top 10.
For Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. Central, the regional Top 10 list includes Bar Fino — Austin, TX and Donna’s — Houston, TX among others. The article notes that Top 10 Nominees will be announced starting on May 19, 2026, with finalists and winners to follow.https://talesofthecocktail.org/tales-of-the-cocktail-foundation-announces-spirited-awards-us-2026-regional-top-10-honorees/
The 2026 Spirited Awards calendar states that Regional Top 10 Honorees are announced April 1-8, Top 10 Nominees are announced May 19-21, Top 4 Finalists June 8-9, and winners at the July 23, 2026 ceremony.https://talesofthecocktail.org/spirited-awards/
In its reproduction of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation announcement, the article lists the 2026 Top 10 for Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar as: Daisy Margarita Bar — Los Angeles, CA; Dolores — Brooklyn, NY; Donna’s — Houston, TX; Eleven11 — Nashville, TN; Junebug — New Orleans, LA; Rougarou — Denver, CO; schmuck. — New York, NY; Semiprecious — Denver, CO; The Peach Crease Club — Denver, CO; Vandell — Los Angeles, CA.https://www.fredminnick.com/2026/05/22/tails-of-the-cocktail-announces-international-spirited-awards-nominees/
Reprinting the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Top 10 Nominees announcement, the piece includes the same Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar Top 10 list, which features Donna’s — Houston, TX as one of the nominees.https://bar-solution.com/see-the-full-2026-spirited-awards-top-10-nominee-list/
10 = primary source confirmed, no ambiguity. 7-9 = strong evidence, minor interpretation. Below 7 = material uncertainty; market should have been voided.
Resolves YES if the 2026 Spirited Awards Top 10 list for Best New US Cocktail Bar includes at least one venue located in Texas, per the official TOTCF announcement. Resolves NO otherwise.
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