25 Jul Getting Ready for Tales of the Cocktail 2012 – Happy 10 Year Anniversary!

Ticket booked – yes! Hotel confirmed – yes! Bags packed – almost! Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Advil? yes! Water – will buy upon arrival. It’s time to head out for the Annual Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.  Yes, July in New Orleans is extremely hot and humid and the week is intense as it is filled with back to back to back seminars, tastings, dinners and parties to celebrate cocktails. But, this is an annual voyage for my cocktail pal and me and 2012 marks our 4th sojourn to this amazing event, as well as the 10th Anniversary of Tales of the Cocktail. As we have been preparing to head out to New Orleans there have been mixed thoughts on whether it is best to stop drinking and rest the days leading up or to start drinking to get ready. As there were a few wine events this week, I went with the theory that I was in training because once we hit the ground, we will be attending tastings, seminars, events, parties from 9am until we can’t stand up anymore. This is an event that is attended by a veritable who’s who of the cocktail community, from bartenders to writers to brands from around the world. More than 15,0000 people descend upon New Orleans for five days each year as we celebrate the historical and contemporary life of cocktails in the birthplace of the cocktail. Tales of the Cocktail began in 2003.  Founder Ann Tuennerman first invited a few cocktail writers to join her and other locals for a walking tour of New Orleans bars, a cocktail hour and a spirited dinner to honor the city of New Orleans that she feels such passion and love for. The event has grown every year with new content being added since. In the fifth year, Paul Tuennerman joined Tales as CEO and the Spirits Awards were added. 2012 marks the 10th year of Tales of the Cocktail and this year there will be more than 50 events per day, including tastings, seminars, demos, lunches, book signings, tours and spirited dinners.

We have a busy schedule ahead of us and hope to attend as many events as possible.  Here is a sampling of the schedule we aspire to keep!

Thursday, July 26th Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Tasting Event Tales of Two Cities: Beantown and Barbary Coast WHISKY & WHISKERS AUCHENTOSHAN POP UP BARBER SHOP OXLEY Edible Fruit Cocktails Pernod Absinthe Tasting Room TRUE/UNTRUE: EXPLORING BAR WORLD MYTHS The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley Invites You to Refresh Your Liver Indie Spirits Expo DIAGEO HAPPY HOUR “A WORLD CLASS AFFAIR” VIP HOUR Caorunn Storyteller Competiton US Finals Fernet-Branca Happy Hour VIVA SANGRITA!! VIVA TEQUILA OCHO!! National Finals Bulldog Cocktails London Lemonade Loft Sailor Jerry Block Party BBQ Pink Pigeon Picnic Guity Pleasure After-Party (Disaronno and Tia Maria) EMPLOYEES ONLY-NOLA Brugal Rum Cocktail Loop Croft PINK Porto Panj Becherovka Midnight Snack Stand Udderly Fabulous Pajama Party with Adult Chocolate Milk and Cookies Bacardi Oakhart presents ‘Mas Mamones’ starring Trixie Minx and Friends Friday, July 27th Breakfast: Fernet Branca Style with Count Niccolo Branca OXLEY Edible Fruit Cocktails “Taste of Italy” Media Luncheon PIERRE FERRAND DRY CURACAO: A BARTENDER’S BEST FRIEND (Tasting Room) Marie Brizard USA Cocktail Challenge Raise a Glass to New Orleans’ Newest Culinary and Tippling Destination – SoBou! CRAFT DISTILLERS TASTING (SPECIAL EVENT) Bulldog Cocktails London Lemonade Loft Battle of the BarSmarters BACARDI 150TH ANNIVERSARY USBG HAND-SHAKEN DAIQUIRI COMPETITION Brugal Rum Cocktail Loop Oxley Gin presents ‘Burlesque Ballroom’ featuring Trixie Minx and Romy Kaye Saturday, July 28th  “Brunch with an Italian Twist” Come Aboard for Cocktails and Lunch with Carnival Cruise Lines PIG & PUNCH-Presented by The Bon Vivants OXLEY Edible Fruit Cocktails Tanqueray and Saveur’s First Drink of the Night TASTE THE WORLD’S BEST SPIRITS Chilean Pisco and pisco cocktails JUNIPERLOOZA TALES PRESENTED BY BEEFEATER GIN AND PLYMOUTH GIN Disaronno presents ‘Brass Band Jam’ featuring Lagniappe Brass Band Sunday, July 29th Sailor Jerry Street Food & Go Cups We hope to share this year’s experiences each day and will do our very best to adhere to this schedule!  Here we come NOLA!