Press Releases

Each year, Tales of the Cocktail awards the "Golden Spirit Award" to the presenter who received the highest evaluation scores from seminar attendees. Through this award, Tales of the Cocktail provides recognition to this individual and the outstanding talent they have shown for advancing the craft of the cocktail by sharing with their peers. Tales of the Cocktail is proud to announce that Jacob Briars is this year's Golden Spirit Award Winner.

Briars who is a bartender from New Zealand and the 42BELOW Vodka Professor, moderated two seminars during the five-day cocktail festival. His first seminar, titled A Shot of the Black Stuff, examined the complexity and variety of Amaros and bitters and how cocktail lovers can harness their potent powers. His second seminar, titled Civilization Begins with Distillation, took a look at how spirits played a major role in some of the critical moments of human history.

In an effort to support a seafood industry that plays such a large role in the culinary traditions of New Orleans, The New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society (NOCCPS) sold a limited edition bar towel during Tales of the Cocktail. During the festival and in the weeks following, towel sales have raised $7,500 for oyster shuckers from P&J Osyters who have recently been laid off due to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Ann Tuennerman, Executive Director of the NOCCPS, will present fifteen out-of-work oyster shuckers with $500.00 checks at a ceremony on Wednesday August 25 at 10:30 am at the P&J Oyster Company.

An irreplaceable part of the five-day culinary and cultural feast of Tales of the Cocktail® is the annual collection of competitions, giving mixologists from around the world a chance to show off their competitive spirit. Tales of the Cocktail 2010 brought out the best and brightest in the cocktail industry for some tasty competitions sponsored by CABANA CACHAÇA, Cointreau, the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG), Bonefish Grill, [yellow tail] wine, Catdaddy and Grand Marnier.

The CABANA CACHAÇA Bartender Olympics tested team speed, creativity and knowledge of the Brazilian spirit. Ultimately, the West Coast Team (or Blue Team) lead by Walter Moore and Alex Straus and featuring mixologists Jason Bran, Julian Cox, Josh Harris and Scott Baird took first place after creating an inspired cocktail with secret ingredient Abita Amber beer.

For the first time, Tales of the Cocktail is going digital with its annual recipe book. Cocktail-lovers can now enjoy a little bit of Tales of the Cocktail in their own homes with hundreds of recipes by some of the world’s most well-known mixologists including Tony Abou-Ganim, Simon Ford and Timo Janse. The 244-page e-book features a forward by Brian Rea and an introduction by Dale DeGroff and includes recipes for all the cocktails from the seminars, tasting rooms, spirited dinners, parties and all the other events of Tales of the Cocktail 2010 which can be easily searched for based on any number of keywords.

In addition to being able to provide cocktail lovers instant access to all the recipes of Tales of the Cocktail through download, this e-book is a more environmentally-friendly option by completely eliminating the need for paper and shipping.

Octavia Books On Site Bookstore Breaks 2009 Sales Record

Over 60 well-known authors of cocktail and culinary literature autograph their works Wednesday through Saturday, July 21-25th, at Octavia Books on site Tales of the Cocktail Bookstore

“SHOTS OF INSPIRATION” was a series of book signings by – authors of cocktail and culinary literature. These signings were part of Tales of the Cocktail the premier 5- day culinary and cocktail festival held annually held in New Orleans. Octavia Books, a locally-owned, New Orleans-based, Independent bookstore, ran the on-site book sales.

On July 24, a group of more than 600 cocktail enthusiasts from around the globe came together at The Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans to honor the best of the cocktail industry at Tales of the Cocktail’s 4th Annual Spirited Award® Ceremony. Through its annual Spirited Award® Ceremony, Tales of the Cocktail® provides recognition to those individuals and establishments that have shown an outstanding talent for advancing the craft of the cocktail. This year’s awards show, sponsored by Pernod Ricard USA, honored fifteen individuals and establishments for excellence as determined by a judging panel of 30 of the world’s foremost cocktail experts.

Is it a Theatre Event? Is it a Cuisine Event? Or is it a Cultural Celebration? Maybe a bit of all three creating a “gumbo of deliciousness”! Back By Popular Demand after a successful show last month that included Leah Chase and Jeremy Davenport - Superstar Events-LA & House of Blues – New Orleans present, “Meanwhile, Back At Café Du Monde…” a unique, festive food story/monologue event about the 2nd Universal Language, FOOD, and how our lives revolve around food. This special New Orleans event will be held on Monday, July 26th, after Tales of the Cocktail, and will include stories of food and cocktails led by Founder of Tales of the Cocktail – Ann Tuennerman, Chefs, Bar Chefs, Cocktail Historian and New Orleans celebrities. It will begin with a cocktail party at 6:30pm, with Showtime at 7:45pm.

The New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society is proud to announce the first recipients of the Sazerac Seal of Approval. This program honors those establishments that adhere to the traditional Sazerac recipe, making the highest quality Sazeracs New Orleans has to offer. Ann Tuennerman, Executive Director of the NOCCPS, will honor Bar Tonique, Carousel Bar, Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse, Sazerac Bar, DBA, French 75, Cure and Bar Uncommon during Toast to Tales, Tales of the Cocktail’s welcome event held July 21 at 2 pm on the front steps of the Hotel Monteleone.

“The Sazerac is the official cocktail of New Orleans so we wanted to shed a little light on the bars that are committed to the past, present and future of this drink,” said Tuennerman. “What’s great about our list of honorees is whether you’re in the French Quarter, Marigny, CBD or Uptown, you can always have an exceptional Sazerac.”

These establishments were selected by a team of “Secret Sippers” that sampled countless Sazeracs throughout New Orleans, evaluating them based on quality of ingredients, taste and presentation. Three different Secret Sippers visited each location on three separate occasions to ensure that each establishment being recognized provided a consistent Sazerac across its bartending staff.

In true New Orleans fashion, the 8th annual culinary and cocktail festival Tales of the Cocktail^® will be laying to rest the cocktail Sex on the Beach in a jazz funeral procession Saturday, July 24 at 11:30 pm. Bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts from around the world will congregate outside The Roosevelt Hotel to carry the cask and forever bury this college bar monstrosity.

“I am sure that every bartender in the world would love to see certain cocktails disappear from the bar,” said Simon Ford, Director of Trade Outreach and Brand Education for Pernod-Ricard. “This year the voters have decided that the Sex on the Beach should be buried. I guess is an 80's drink and its time has come, maybe next year we can resurrect it but for now the bartenders have spoken,”

It is the mission of Tales of the Cocktail^® to promote the best of the cocktail community, and in turn to shake a finger at some of the world’s worst drinks. Tales of the Cocktail^® got into the cocktail-killing business three years ago with the burial of the Appletini. At the 2009 festival, attendees danced down Royal Street, led by a brass band, to take the Red-Headed Slut to her grave. This year, with the burial of Sex on the Beach, Tales of the Cocktail^® is one step closer to correcting some of the cocktail community’s worst mistakes.

Everyone’s going green these days. Cars. Hotels. TV Stations. Now your next event can be green as well. On Saturday July 24 from 12:30 to 2:30 at Le Meritage restaurant, Tales of the Cocktail’s Eco-Celebrations Luncheon will explore what it means to be green. Maria McBride, Style Director for BRIDES magazine, will join Beth Parentice, founder of Eco-Bar.net, as they share ways to infuse some eco-smarts into your next event.

Eco-celebrations features a three-course menu hand-crafted by Le Meritage chef Michael Farrell and is elegantly paired with four original and, of course, eco-friendly cocktails. These fresh, organic cocktails will feature Casa Noble tequila, 360 Vodka, and Pommery Pop champagne.

So whether you’re planning a wedding, a cocktail party, a corporate soiree or fundraiser, there are eco-sensible resources and sustainable solutions that will make any celebration you plan stylish, delicious and smart.

The Eco-Celebrations luncheon is just one of several themed cocktail lunches being held during Tales of the Cocktail. For tickets to Eco-Celebrations or any of the other spirited luncheons, visit TalesoftheCocktail.com. Each Spirited Luncheon is $45 in advance and $50 at the door.

“SHOTS OF INSPIRATION” is a series of book and print signings by cocktail authors artists, master distillers and blenders from all over the United States. The 2010 series also includes several New Orleans artists and authors that will be signing their signature local works at Octavia Books on site at Tales of the Cocktail.

These signings are part of Tales of the Cocktail five-day festival in which authors share their expertise at various seminars, dinners and events! Each guest will be available for signings for one half-hour at their scheduled time.

In just a few short weeks the international community will converge on the city where spirits live 24/7. Shaken from their slumber within the bottle, the spirits will take on a life of their own at Tales of the Cocktail® 2010.

Tales of the Cocktail® brings together the best and brightest of the cocktail community—award-winning mixologists, authors, bartenders, chefs and designers—for a five-day celebration of the history and artistry of making drinks. Each year offers a spirited series of dinners, demos, tastings, competitions, seminars, book signings, tours, and parties all perfectly paired with some of the best cocktails ever made.

Through its annual Spirited Award® Ceremony, Tales of the Cocktail® provides recognition to those individuals and establishments that have shown an outstanding talent for advancing the craft of the cocktail. To embody the ideals with which Tales of the Cocktail® was originally founded, these awards will recognize both national and international honorees who will receive exclusive Riedel Crystal awards.

Tales of the Cocktail® is known for bringing together the best in cocktail culture. This year they are combining that cocktail culture with the artistic spirit of New Orleans in a new line of iconic artwork created to commemorate this year’s most spirited cocktail festival, to be held July 21-25.

The centerpiece of the “Where Spirits Live” line is the first-ever Tales of the Cocktail commemorative festival poster, featuring the retro, cocktail-inspired work of artist Derek Yaniger. Derek’s artwork will also be featured on several other items including the official festival t-shirt and the “Where Spirits Live” shaker tin.

Swamp Dog & Friends are releasing their latest Lounge Hounds of New Orleans photograph titled “Where Spirits Live” in honor of this summer’s spirited festivities. Featuring Shiloh, A.K.A. Swamp Dog, the portrait finds “the unforgettable little hound of questionable heritage and pedigree” seated in front of Pravda, a Decatur Street bar known for its extensive selection of Absinthe.

Tales of the Cocktail welcomes back award-winning artist Robert Rodriguez who has created his second in a series of Tales of the Cocktail posters. Robert’s 2010 “Where Spirits Live” poster will be on sale during the festival where the internationally known artist will also be signing his limited edition artwork.

On Monday, July 19th and Tuesday, July 20th, Dita Von Teese will take New Orleans by storm with her thrilling “Be Cointreauversial” performance. Guests will enjoy Cointreau cocktails and wait in anticipation while being treated to a bevy of special guests, including Mr. Murray Hill, priming them for Dita Von Teese’s arrival. Following the opening performances, attendees will be wowed as Dita Von Teese bathes in a life size Cointreau glass, embellished with Swarovski crystals. Dita Von Teese’s extraordinary performance will certainly set the bar high for the rest of the week’s events at Tales of the Cocktail.

Dita Von Teese displays a certain irreverence, spiritedness and je-ne-sais-quoi that exemplify Cointreau’s “Be Cointreauversial” brand mantra. The paradoxes inherent in Cointreau: a soft edge that dims upon contact with ice; a delicate taste that explodes in the mouth, followed by a well-tempered tone also reflect a spirit with “Cointreauversial” character.

Where Y’at Magazine’s annual Best of the Big Easy issue is one of the most anticipated issues of the year. Over 1000 votes are cast by readers for different categories such as Best Happy Hour, Best Italian Restaurant, Best Late Night Bar, and much more. The voting began on March 20 and ran until May 20. This issue features the famous “Writers’ Picks” in which Where Y’at Magazine writers and editors share their thoughts on the best that New Orleans has to offer in music, food, and entertainment.

“To say we’re thrilled with this recognition would be putting it mildly. Ann and her team have made a tremendous contribution in the resurgence of the Classic Cocktail while simultaneously elevating the city of New Orleans. Tales of the Cocktail has become the most recognized, international educational event focusing on the craft of cocktails,” says Paul Tuennerman AKA Mr. Cocktail, Chief Business Officer Tales of the Cocktail.

Tales of the Cocktail returns this summer, July 21-25, 2010. Once again the international community will converge on the city where spirits live 24/7. Shaken from their slumber within the bottle, the spirits will take on a life of their own in New Orleans at Tales of the Cocktail 2010.

The “Roman Holiday” cocktail created by New Orleans bartender Kimberly Patton-Bragg won the Aperol Cocktail Competition held in New Orleans on Friday, May 28, 2010. Recipes poured in from New Orleans to New Zealand as bartenders worldwide whet their appetite for summer by creating original Aperol libations. Kimberly Patton-Bragg won first place with her drink featuring Aperol aperitivo, Hendrick’s gin, Monin Rock Melon syrup and fresh cucumber.

The Aperol Cocktail Competition was held at ―The Attic at Lucy’s Retired Surfer Bar & Restaurant located in the trendy Warehouse District of New Orleans. The finalists served up their Aperol libations to thirsty guests at a VIP Event hosted by Aperol and Tales of the Cocktail®. Attendees had final say as they determined the winner by popular vote. Winning recipes can be found at www.TalesoftheCocktail.com.

Second place was awarded to Ricky Richard of the Crescent City School of Gaming & Bartending who created the “Saint Aperol.” Tiffany Soles, a local bartender at Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse, came in third place with her “Capri Cooler.”

Tales of the Cocktail® is proud to announce the 2010 “Where Spirits Live” line of merchandise created to commemorate this year‟s most spirited cocktail festival, July 21-25. From bar tools to posters to cocktail attire, the new line of merchandise is the perfect way to commemorate the spirited festivities of Tales of the Cocktail® 2010. “This year we‟ve expanded our merchandise line by popular demand. The „Where Spirits Live‟ line really measures up to the New Orleans‟ standard of festival merchandise,” says Michelle Dunnick, Tales of the Cocktail® event manager and merchandise director. The centerpiece of the “Where Spirits Live” line is the first-ever Tales of the Cocktail commemorative festival poster, featuring the retro, cocktail-inspired work of artist Derek Yaniger. Derek‟s artwork will also be featured on several other items including the official festival t-shirt and the “Where Spirits Live” shaker tin. Other items include

The Bar Room Brawl will be held at Generations Hall on Friday, July 23rd from 10PM to 2AM. In this no holds barred team competition, some of the best cocktail bars in the United States will be competing against each other for the champion title. The competing bars, selected by Steve Olson, Andy Seymour, Grand Marnier and Tales of the Cock®, are: The Varnish, Los Angeles; The Florida Room, Miami; Drink, Boston; Rickhouse, San Francisco; Dutch Kills, New York; and The Drawing Room, Chicago. Competing bars are invited to put together teams of their best mixologists to create an original drink featuring Grand Marnier that also compliments the bar they represent. At midnight the competition ends and an expert panel of judges will pick the winner and kick off the party. Teams will then serve their signature Grand Marnier cocktails to attendees to compete for crowd favorite. The official 2010 Bar Room Brawl judges include: Tony Abou Ganim, Bridget Albert, Dale DeGroff, Allan Katz, Francesco Lafranconi, Jim Meehan, Chris McMillan, Jeffrey Morgenthaler, Julie Reiner, Audrey Saunders, and David Wondrich.

Tales After Dark will be held every night of the festival at Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse from 12am to 2am. As a New Orleans premier venue, the Playhouse will pay homage to a different jazz era each night with a corresponding signature drink. “Like great jazz, great cocktails are created from the skill of improvisation. During Tales After Dark we are going explore the evolution of jazz in Cuba, Brazil and New Orleans and pair each night with great cocktails; all with the spirit of improvisation,” said Irvin Mayfield. Adding, “The history of jazz and the history of cocktails are intertwined. One goes hand in hand with the other.”

The Spirited Dinner® Series will take place Thursday, July 22 at 25 different local restaurants. Each Spirited Dinner® will have a distinctive menu served along with extraordinary cocktails of all variations and flavors. For each spirited dinner, mixologists, and bar-chefs have worked alongside New Orleans’ most prestigious restaurants to bring you a unique and exciting menu. Spirited Dinner® guests will learn mixing and pairing techniques straight from the menu designers. To further enrich your experience, these creators will be on-hand for advice on anything food or cocktail.

The five Spirited Luncheons from Thursday, July 22- Saturday, July 24 also showcase perfect food and cocktail pairings but built around the theme of the lunch. At each of these educational luncheons, mixologists will guide you through an in-depth look at the featured spirit or spirits. Whether you are learning how to grow a cocktail at the Seed to Glass Luncheon at Iris Restaurant or putting your boots on for the Spirit of Texas Luncheon at Dickie Brennan’s Steak House, the Spirited Luncheon series will surely stir even the most idle of souls.

The Tales of the Cocktail Apprentice Program was developed in 2008 to give talented bartenders the opportunity to apprentice with some of the world’s most influential mixologists, and further develop their bartending skills. Tales of the Cocktail, Cointreau and the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society have come together to support the next generation of mixologists through the CAP, providing scholarships to select cocktail apprentices who will study at a location where they will be able to get hands on experience with renowned bartenders and spirits professionals.

Participants in the Tales of the Cocktail Cocktail Apprentice Program will have several opportunities to hone their craft, while learning from some of the most skilled veterans of the cocktail industry. Working directly with presenters during the highly sought after seminars, the program gives participants an opportunity to work on large scale events, providing experience they may not normally encounter in their day to day activity.

As Don Lee, a leader of the Cocktail Apprentice Program, states, "With over 60 seminars and 15,000 attendees, the Tales of the Cocktail CAP creates challenges that many of these individuals have not had to deal with behind a bar. The program requires participants to develop an instantaneous understanding of how to streamline functions both creatively and with complete savvy, simultaneously working with 100% efficiency as a team."

The USBG Milagro Tequila Margarita Competition at Tales of the Cocktail will be held at the Board of Trade on Friday, July 23rd starting at 7:30 PM. This year's cocktail competition will have USBG chapter members from across the country shaken their way to victory as 15 members compete against each other with their original margarita representing each chapter.

"If this year's competition is anything like the past, you can expect the unexpected... attendees will be delighted by the imagination and ingenuity of the competitors," said Paul G. Tuennerman, Executive Director and CEO of Tales of the Cocktail.

This years judges include: David Nepove aka Mr. Mojito and Vice President of USBG National, Mike Raven, Managing Editor of In the Mix Magazine, our media partner, and Daniel Schneeweiss, Creative Development Chief and Co-Founder of Milagro Tequila. Tickets are on sale now.

The New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society and Crescent City School of Bartending have partnered to create a bartending scholarship in honor of Flo Woodard, the longtime bartender at the Court of Two Sisters. The Flo Woodward Memorial Bartending Scholarship will annually select a bartending professional to attend the Bartending/Beverage Management Course, which is a 12-week program taught by Daniel Victory at the Crescent City School of Bartending in New Orleans and valued at $3000.00.

Pernod Absinthe has been announced the highlighted absinthe to the “Absinthe of the Month” series at the Absinthe Museum of America, located in New Orleans during April 2010.

Piedmont Distillers, a craft distillery in Madison, North Carolina, is challenging mixologists across the country to create the best Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine cocktail. The Catdaddy Bar Chef Challenge will culminate in the Piedmont Distillers’ Tasting Room at Tales of the Cocktail on July 22, 2010. The Top 3 Finalist will present their cocktails to the Judging Panel; Dale DeGroff, Joe Michalek (Founder of Piedmont Distillers), Paul Tuennerman and Alan Kropf & Jeff Dorenbush of Mutineer Magazine. This panel will select the winner of the coveted Golden Mason Jar trophy. Tasting Room attendees will vote for the People’s Choice cocktail and the winner of the Moonshine Still trophy. All of the Top 3 Finalists will receive a 2 night stay at the legendary Hotel Monteleone, six complimentary tickets to Tales of the Cocktail seminars and $500. In addition, the Top 3 Recipes will be featured in an upcoming issue of Mutineer Magazine.

March 23, 2010, Cleveland, OH – Nightclub & Bar Magazine is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the Professional Series at the 2010 Tales of the Cocktail event, the premier cocktail and culinary festival that celebrates the history and culture of dining and drinking in New Orleans July 21- 25.

The Professional Series at Tales of the Cocktail will be held Wednesday, July 21 at the Hotel Monteleone and is a day-long series of seminars designed specifically for bartenders, mixologists, bar owners and operators and cocktail professionals. The series features top mixologists and cocktailians as presenters and panelists, including Tobin Ellis, Eben Freeman, Kathy Casey, Philip Duff, Angus Winchester, Audrey Saunders, Chad Solomon and Christy Pope, covering current topics for successful bar operation, such as media skills, creative

Pernod Absinthe has been announced the highlighted absinthe to the “Absinthe of the Month” series at the Absinthe Museum of America, located in New Orleans during April 2010.

“Pernod Absinthe has a rich history beginning in the early 1800’s when Henris-Louis Pernod partnered with Major Dubied to distill Pernod Fils, the first commercially distilled absinthe,” notes Brian Eckert, Pernod Brand Manager for Pernod Ricard USA. “The original Pernod Absinthe consisted of 65-75% alcohol. Pernod Fils quickly gained a distinct reputation around the world and became the favorite drink among the cultural elite including Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet. At the close of the 19th century, during the industrialization period and at a time when modern marketing and advertising techniques were taking hold, Pernod’s success reached its height and the Pernod name became synonymous with high-quality absinthe,” Eckert added.

Death in the South Pacific by Washington bartender Evan Martin is the “official cocktail” of the 2010 annual culinary and cocktail festival, Tales of the Cocktail. Recipes poured in from New Zealand to Washington as over 150 bartenders worldwide punched it up to create a tiki inspired cocktail for our 8th annual festival. Evan Martin won out with his drink featuring Appleton Estate Extra 12 Year Old Rum, Rhum Clement VSOP, Grand Marnier, Trader Tiki's Orgeat Syrup, Fee's Falernum, Fee’s Grenadine, and Cruzan Blackstrap Rum.

This summer the international cocktail community will converge on New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail 2010. The five-day festival of all things cocktail will be held July 21-25, 2010, celebrating its eighth anniversary. Individual tickets go on sale April 1 with special packages, such as the Native Spirits and Founder’s Day Packages still available for purchase.

As New Orleans continues to celebrate its newfound superstar status as Super Bowl Champions there are three more reasons to visit one of Travel + Leisure’s ― America’s Favorite Cities this summer. The 17th annual New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE) kicks off summer with its five-day extravaganza May 25 – 29, 2010. Long sultry days are welcomed with an abundance of fresh Louisiana seafood at the 3rd annual Louisiana Seafood Festival June 11 – 13, 2010. And the 8th anniversary event of Tales of the Cocktail is sure to raise the spirits of any summer-loving, wine & food connoisseur July 21 – 25, 2010.

Tales of the Cocktail in partnership with Culinary Concierge Magazine, Tasting Panel Magazine, and CocktailTimes.com announces the ten finalists for the Official Cocktail Competition of the 8th Annual Tales of the Cocktail.

The judges for the competition were Jeff Berry, Anthony Dias-Blue, Robert Hess and Stephen Remsberg.

"Sampling from over 150 of these creative, complex, forward-thinking, often delicious "tikified" Planter's Punches was pure pleasure, but choosing only 10 was no easy task - there were just too many good ones. Often it came down to the originality of the garnish, or the use of an unexpected ingredient that harmonized particularly well. But I can confidently say that if I saw these 10 finalists on the cocktail menu of a Tiki bar, I would never leave." Said author and Tiki expert Jeff Berry

Eventbrite, the fastest growing social commerce company, today announced that the world’s premier dining and drinking festival, Tales of the Cocktail, will use the company’s platform to power all aspects of ticketing, entry management and promotion for the $9.7 million event. Eventbrite is an industry leader in delivering powerful, complete solutions that handle all aspects of the event management process, including ticket sales, registrations and promotion through Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

"Tales of the Cocktail is an extraordinary event that has seen exponential growth since 2003," said Ann Tuennerman, co-founder of Tales of the Cocktail. "With growth, comes complexity, and so it only makes sense that we work with Eventbrite. We need a service that seamlessly handles the process from start to finish - registrations, tickets, entry management and everything in between – and we’re thrilled to know that with Eventbrite we have the best in the business powering our event."

Tales of the Cocktail, the premier global cocktail and culinary festival that celebrates the history and culture of dining and drinking in New Orleans celebrates their eighth anniversary event, July 21-25, 2010.

Tales of the Cocktail is an internationally acclaimed festival of cocktails, cuisine and culture held annually in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event brings together the best and brightest of the cocktail community—award-winning mixologists, authors, bartenders, chefs and designers—for a five-day celebration of the history and artistry of making drinks. Each year offers a spirited series of dinners, demos, tastings, competitions, seminars, book signings, tours and parties all perfectly paired with some of the best cocktails ever made.

When Absinthe was banned in the United States in 1912 it left a large hole in the cocktail culture of New Orleans. Absinthe was a cherished sipping drink for New Orleanians and a critical ingredient in the city’s most historic cocktailThe Sazerac. There just couldn’t be a substitute for Absinthe. That is until J.M. Legendre invented Herbsaint in 1934.

Though the “Sacred Herb” was originally created as a stand-in for Absinthe, Herbsaint has since developed a flavor all its own. For many it has become the ingredient of choice in a Sazerac while also inspiring its own series of cocktails such as the Herbsaint Frappé, the Herbsaint Suisse and the Herbsaint Punch.

March 12th and March 19th, 2010
Both Lunches: 11:30am-1:30pm

Arnaud’s Restaurant
813 Bienville Street

$35 per person, per Friday
To RSVP, contact (504) 523-5433 or katy@arnauds.com

This summer the international community will converge on the city where spirits live 24/7. Shaken from their slumber within the bottle, the spirits will take on a life of their own in New Orleans at Tales of the Cocktail 2010.

Tales of the Cocktail 2010 Kick Off
January 21, 2010
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Hotel Monteleone Front Steps

Dedicated on May 2, 1998, NOMAF became the first such health initiative in the United States, addressing the health care needs of musicians and their families. The mission of the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation is to keep music alive by sustaining New Orleans musicians and tradition bearers in body, mind and spirit. We do this through providing access to health and social services through the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic, regardless of musicians’ ability to pay, and by fostering cultural opportunities that advocate for and support this effort.

Thank you for helping us spread a little holiday cheer at this year’s Tales of the Toddy celebration. Without your help we never would have been able to bring the spirits of the holiday season to our festive guests. We hope you will join us next summer when the spirits come to life at Tales of the Cocktail 2010.

View all the delicious Tales of the Toddy Recipes here!

Join Tales of the Cocktail us as we pay homage to the Sazerac Cocktail and Herbsaint in a special event that is designed to better acquaint you with this legendary libation. Learn about the cocktail’s storied history and how to make your own Sazerac. After attending this event, you will officially be a Sazeractivist, and it will be your honor to spread the story of the official cocktail of New Orleans to others in an effort to preserve its history.

Also learn about the legendary Herbsaint brand and its rich history in New Orleans dating back to late December 1933, when a New Orleans pharmacist-turned-entrepreneur by the name of J. Marion Legendre introduced a product called Legendre Absinthe. This new product came on the heels of the United States’ repeal of Prohibition earlier that month. Legendre, who became interested in pastis and absinthe products while in France during World War I, secretly made absinthe in his uptown home in New Orleans during prohibition. His launch of Legendre Absinthe was a dream come true. Sadly for Legendre, just months after launching his product, the U.S. Government banned the use of the word absinthe amid concerns that absinthe could have hallucinogenic and possible detrimental effects on people. Not one to be dismayed, Legendre quickly re-named his product HERBSAINT and launched an aggressive marketing campaign that called on people to “Drink Herbsaint Wherever Absinthe Is Called For”. After 15 years of tireless HERBSAINT promotion across the United States, Legendre sold the brand to the Sazerac Company in 1949. The Sazerac Company of New Orleans still owns the brand, and Herbsaint remains a mainstay on sophisticated bars throughout the city.

New Orleans is no stranger to the cocktail, where enjoying a drink is a civic pastime for locals and visitors alike, only rivaled by dining. Though many drinks can call New Orleans home, the one that stands above the rest with the embodiment of the history and the character of our city is the Sazerac®, the Official Cocktail of the City of New Orleans.

This historic drink has survived war, fire, disease and quite possibly the worst of them all, Prohibition. Yet through it all, bars, taverns, speakeasies and coffee houses have continued to swirl the Herbsaint and pour the Sazerac® Rye for a drink as unique as the city that gave it life.

The cocktail that is now often referred to as History in a Glass now has its own glass.

Lucid Absinthe Supérieure has been announced the first absinthe to spearhead a new “Absinthe of the Month” series at the Absinthe Museum of America, located in New Orleans during October 2010.

Lucid Absinthe Supérieure is the first genuine absinthe made with real Grande Wormwood to be legally available in the United States in 95 years. Established as the absinthe category leader on the U.S. market, Lucid is proud to be at the forefront of educating the American public on absinthe.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Absinthe Museum and see it as a natural fit to be the first ‘Absinthe of the Month’”, says Ted Breaux, renowned absinthe historian, creator of Lucid and native New Orleanian.

On Monday October 5th, 2009 members of the New Orleans chapter hosted a bartender benefit for Kyle McHugh. The benefit at Cure raised a total of $5,107.00 from sales of Sazerac Rye cocktails, donations of tips from bartenders Kirk Estopinal and Maksym Pazuniak, who worked that evening, along with a silent auction and cash contributions from the New Orleans USBG Chapter, New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society, Cointreau and Piedmont Distillers totaling the amount to $5,107.00.

October 1, 2009 (New Orleans, LA) – The total economic impact produced by the 7th annual event was $9.7 million a $2.1 million dollar increase from 2008. The results of a the recent Visitor Profile and Economic Impact Study for Tales of the Cocktail 2009 was conducted by the University of New Orleans Division of Business and Economic Research.

This year, Tales of the Cocktail brought out-of-town visitors into New Orleans accounting for 11, 349 visitor nights for the event. The event generated a total economic impact of $9.7 million in visitor spending, which includes $8.0 million in attendee spending and $1.7 million in vendor spending.

State and local governments realized $676,653 in tax revenue as a result of the five-day festival. Tales of the Cocktail is recognized as the premier global cocktail event in the world with the majority of the visitors coming to Tales of the Cocktail came from New York (21.4%), California (15.4%), Texas (7.2%), and Florida (6.5%). International visitors to Tales of the Cocktail came from Canada (34.4%), the Netherlands (18.8%), the United Kingdom (18.8%) and Australia (6.3%).

Tales of the Cocktail, the internationally acclaimed festival of cocktails, cuisine and culture held its annual event in New Orleans, Louisiana from July 8 to July 12, 2009. The event brings together the best and brightest of the cocktail community—award-winning mixologists, authors, bartenders, chefs and designers—for a five-day celebration of the history and artistry of making drinks. Each year offers a spirited series of dinners, demos, tastings, competitions, seminars, book signings, tours and parties all perfectly paired with some of the best cocktails ever made. In its seventh year, Tales of the Cocktail hosted thousands of sippers, used 12,000 thousand pounds of Kold Draft ice, garnishes and more in the five days…

Tales of the Cocktail, a culinary and cocktail festival every July, features award-winning mixologists, authors, bartenders, chefs and designers in the New Orleans French Quarter. The event is a five day cocktail event with dinner-pairings, cocktail demos and tastings, seminars, mixing competitions, book-signings and much more. Measuring some of their success in garnishes, Tales of the Cocktail 2009, used 12,000 lbs of Kold Draft Ice, 13,884 mint leaves, 14,000 lemons, 192 lbs of sugar, 12,000 bottles of FIJI Water, 74 Gallons of lime juice, 1375 strawberries, 950 Luxardo cherries, 450 cucumber wheels, 640 cocktail recipes, 48,921 items in the Swag Speakeasy and thousands of souls stirred.

It’s the most spirited event of the summer – and it takes place in the birthplace of the cocktail, New Orleans. Tales of the Cocktail, a dining and drinking extravaganza that explores the Spirit and spirits of New Orleans, it is a balanced mix of food, drink, history and fun, shaken with sophistication and creativity, and served up to educate locals and visitors to the city with perfection. The event began in August 2003 and celebrates its eighth year in 2010.

September 15, 2009 (New Orleans, LA) – The total economic impact produced by the 7th annual event was $9.7 million a $2.1 million dollar increase from 2008. The results of a the recent Visitor Profile and Economic Impact Study for Tales of the Cocktail 2009 was conducted by the University of New Orleans Division of Business and Economic Research.

This year, Tales of the Cocktail brought out-of-town visitors into New Orleans accounting for 11, 349 visitor nights for the event. The event generated a total economic impact of $9.7 million in visitor spending, which includes $8.0 million in attendee spending and $1.7 million in vendor spending.

State and local governments realized $676,653 in tax revenue as a result of the five-day festival. Tales of the Cocktail is recognized as the premier global cocktail event in the world with the majority of the visitors coming to Tales of the Cocktail came from New York (21.4%), California (15.4%), Texas (7.2%), and Florida (6.5%). International visitors to Tales of the Cocktail came from Canada (34.4%), the Netherlands (18.8%), the United Kingdom (18.8%) and Australia (6.3%).

Each year, Tales of the Cocktail awards one presenter with the “Golden Spirit Award” to the presenter who received the highest evaluation scores. This year, there was a tie and each Golden Spirit Recipient will receive the grand prize for a trip for two to Puerto Rico generously provided by Tales of the Cocktail Sponsor Rums of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

Through this award, Tales of the Cocktail provides recognition to these two individuals and the outstanding talent they have shown for advancing the craft of the cocktail. This year’s winners were Francesco Lafranconi for his presentations titled “Drink Italy” and “Cask Strength” and Charlotte Voisey for her presentations “On 21st Century Gin” and “The Cocktails of Tales”. Through their carefully prepared and well executed presentations, Francesco and Charlotte each embody the ideals with which Tales of the Cocktail was originally founded.

Tales of the Cocktail and Cointreau® Liqueur Award the First Annual 2009 Trails of the Cocktail Scholarships Cocktail Apprentices Eric Simpkins and Mike Ryan Travel to France to Discover the Making of Cointreau and Further Their Cocktail Education

NEW ORLEANS, LA—August 10, 2009– Cointreau® Liqueur is proud to partner with the Tales of the Cocktail, the premier global cocktail and culinary festival that celebrates the history and culture of dining and drinking, as they award the first annual Trails of the Cocktail Scholarships to Tales of the Cocktail apprentices Eric Simpkins and Mike Ryan.

12,000 POUNDS OF KOLD-DRAFT ICE, 13, 884 MINT LEAVES, 11,250 LIMES AND 640 COCKTAIL RECIPES TALES OF THE COCKTAIL 2009 BY THE NUMBERS

NEW ORLEANS – (July 28, 2009) – Tales of the Cocktail, the internationally acclaimed festival of cocktails, cuisine and culture held its annual event in New Orleans, Louisiana from July 8 to July 12, 2009. The event brings together the best and brightest of the cocktail community—award-winning mixologists, authors, bartenders, chefs and designers—for a five-day celebration of the history and artistry of making drinks. Each year offers a spirited series of dinners, demos, tastings, competitions, seminars, book signings, tours and parties all perfectly paired with some of the best cocktails ever made.

In its seventh year, Tales of the Cocktail hosted thousands of sippers, used 12,000 thousand pounds of Kold Draft ice, garnishes and more in the five days…

July 15, 2009 (New Orleans, LA) Tales of the Cocktail, now it its 7th year, set the stage to celebrate the Caipirinha with the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) “Caipirinha Competition”. This event was co-hosted by the United States Bartenders Guild and Leblon Cachaça, and took place to a sold-out audience at the picturesque “Pat O’Brien’s on the River”. Competing were 18 bartenders from nine cities, with each competitor muddling and shaking their cocktails in front of two distinct sets of judges until two winners were awarded the grand prize – The Golden Muddler trophy.

The first set of judges were comprised among some of the most respected mixologists and journalists in the spirits industry including: Tony Abou-Ganim, the Modern Mixologist and Master of Ceremonies for the evening; Junior Merino, the Liquid Chef; Naren Young of bobo in New York City; Francine Cohen, Editor in Chief of Food & Beverage Magazine; and special guest judge H. Joseph Ehrmann of Elixir in San Francisco.

LOS ANGELES, JULY 14, 2009—This past Sunday at New Orleans’ Tales of the Cocktail, TRU Organic Spirits announced winners of the Barmade Bitters Challenge. The three winning aromatic bitters, which act like “seasoning” for cocktails, represent the best examples of a lost craft in classic cocktail making now being revived by bartenders across the United States. The winning bitters will be release by January 2010 and become the first certified, all‐organic collection available.

The contest and seminar showcased 15 bitters (five each in fruit, herb and spice) for an audience of 100 plus bartenders and fans, along with the judging panel, which included John Deragon from PDT, Allen Katz from Southern Wine & Spirits and Slow Food, Livio Lauro from the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild, Melkon Khosrovian and Litty Mathew from Modern Spirits (the company that produces TRU Organic Spirits). The judges looked for aroma and taste in three simple cocktails (with soda, vodka and whiskey), as well as originality and commercial potential.

“SHOTS OF INSPIRATION” was a series of book signings by – authors of cocktail and culinary literature. These signings were part of Tales of the Cocktail the premier 5-day culinary and cocktail festival held annually held in New Orleans. Octavia Books, New Orleans based Independent bookstore handled all sales.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – July 12, 2009 – Through the Spirit Awards, Tales of the Cocktail provides recognition to those individuals and establishments that have shown an outstanding talent for advancing the craft of the cocktail. To embody the ideals with which Tales of the Cocktail was originally founded, these awards will provide recognition to both national, as well as to local New Orleanians. Pernod Ricard and Beverage Media group sponsored this year’s second awards show.

On Friday, July 10, the 2009 GRAND MARNIER and NAVAN “On the Fly” Competition celebrated the creativity and last-minute inventiveness of eight top bar stars, working exclusively with the ingredients found in Jeffrey Morgenthaler's bag of tricks, which included such items as lollypops, hot sauce, pralines, and many more out of the ordinary ingredients. Confronted with a variety of challenges, the contestants pushed the limits of originality and skill “on the fly” in front of an audience of hundreds of their peers and cocktail aficionados at the W Hotel in New Orleans during Tales of the Cocktail.

The mixologist who executed the most original creation was Giuseppe Gonzales of New York, creating The On the Fly Colada, a winning cocktail, featuring NAVAN Natural Vanilla Liqueur.

Through its annual Spirit Awards, Tales of the Cocktail provides recognition to those individuals and establishments that have shown an outstanding talent for advancing the craft of the cocktail. To embody the ideals with which Tales of the Cocktail was originally founded, these awards will provide recognition to both national and international guests, as well as to local New Orleanians. Winners will receive exclusive Riedel Crystal awards.

Tales of the Cocktail, the annual culinary and cocktail festival has collaborated with The Liquid Muse Virgin Mixology® and Fre Alcohol Removed Wines to offer the festival’s second annual official nonalcoholic cocktail. The annual festival will celebrate the history and culture of cocktails and food in New Orleans with five-days of first-class food and drink events on July 8-12, 2009.

Pernod Ricard is proud to be the sponsor of this year’s 3rd Annual Cocktail Spirit Awards - recognizing industry leaders and innovators. For years, Tales of the Cocktail has brought together an incredible group of suppliers, bartenders, writers and the most authoritative experts in the industry- all acting as partners in the celebration and appreciation of cocktail culture. In presenting the Spirit Awards, Pernod Ricard applauds each industry participant and nominee. Also, as part of the evening’s celebration, Beverage Media Group, Inc. a 2009 Sprit Awards partner will recognize 10 Up & Coming Mixologists, selected from participants of Tales of the Cocktail’s Apprentice Program.

In 2009, for the second year in a row, Tales of the Cocktail, the premier cocktail and culinary festival that celebrates the history and culture of dining and drinking in New Orleans, will work closely with more than 30 of the most dedicated and widely read bloggers covering the world of spirits and cocktails. Together, these bloggers will contribute to “Blogging Tales of the Cocktail,” the largest collaborative cocktail site on the Internet.

Tickets are now on sale for Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Dinners. Buy your tickets now for a night of dinner pairings presented at 25 New Orleans restaurants. The Spirited Dinners will take place Thursday, July 9, 2009 during the 7th annual cocktail and culinary festival, Tales of the Cocktail. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to dine in style at New Orleans’ finest for an experience that takes pairing to the next level.

Saveur, the award-winning epicurean, travel and spirits title announced that it will be the lead media sponsor of Tales of the Cocktail, the industry-noted culinary and cocktail festival taking place in New Orleans from July 8 – 12, 2009. Uniting the world’s top mixologists, authors, bartenders and chefs for five days of cocktail- specific events and seminars in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter, Tales of the Cocktail will work with SAVEUR to develop an on-site program that showcases the cuisine and cocktails that the Magazine readers have come to depend on and admire.

William Grant & Sons USA is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Tales of the Cocktail program and the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society.

Click link for rules and entry form.

Tales of the Cocktail and TRU Organic Spirits today announced the first ever Barmade Bi

The historic downtown New Orleans property, Waldorf=Astoria Collection property shuttered since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, opened in 1893 as the Grunewald. In 1923, it was rebranded The Roosevelt in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt and retained its distinctive moniker until the hotel changed hands in 1965 and was renamed The Fairmont. The grand hotel will reopen in late spring 2009, reborn as a Waldorf=Astoria Collection® hotel.

Nightclub & Bar Magazine is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Professional Series at the 2009 Tales of the Cocktail event, the premier cocktail and culinary festival that celebrates the history and culture of dining and drinking in New Orleans July 8 - 12.

SPRITED STORY ANGLES The Julep-Annual Cocktail Competition is Julep focused

Celebrations- Wedding Cakes and Cocktails

Cocktail Trends-Christmas in July, Creative Mixology-Finding Inspiration in the Everyday, Virgin Mixology, Tea Time, Carnivorous Cocktails, Classic and Contemporary Absinthe Cocktails, Chemistry of Cocktails, Obscure Cocktails from the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg, Cocktails of the Tales, Take a Right at Albuquerque-contracting cocktails styles US versus Europe

To put the event in quantifiable terms you can taste, Tales of the Cocktail 2008 used 85 pounds of mint leaves, 40 pounds of super-fine sugar, 280 liters of lime juice, 350 liters of lemon juice, 1815 lime wedges, 2115 lemon twists, 2340 jalapeño slices, 50 pounds of ginger root, 12 pounds of cherries and satisfied the taste buds of thousands of cocktail lovers from across the world.

Tales of the Cocktail took place July 16-22, 2008 in the historic Hotel Monteleone and establishments throughout the French Quarter. A five-day festival welcomed celebrities, authors, bartenders, chefs and the most influential gathering of mixologists and cocktail experts in the country, including Dale DeGroff, Tony Abou-Ganim, Kevin Brauch, Sylvia Weinstock, Marcy Blum and Bridget Albert. With over 100 events that covered a wide-variety of subjects, Tales of the Cocktail entertained both amateurs and experts. Tales of the Cocktail, a culinary and cocktail festival, allows the connoisseur or amateur to fully experience (taste, see and learn about) cocktail culture in New Orleans and around the world. The event’s annual components are Spirited Dinners, a Seminar Series, Cocktail Hour, Cocktail Luncheons, walking tours of the French Quarter, and classic and contemporary cocktail parties—all presented by the country’s hottest chefs, authors, bartenders and cocktail experts.

NEW ORLEANS, LA—November 14, 2008 – Tales of the Cocktail, the premier cocktail and culinary festival that celebrates the history and culture of dining and drinking in New Orleans begins ticket sales in early Spring on their website, www.TalesoftheCocktail.com, for the seventh anniversary event, July 8-12, 2009.

Meet the Tales of the Cocktail Team
Ann Tuennerman-Founder, Tales of the Cocktail

Paul G. Tuennerman-Executive Director, New Orleans Culinary & Cultural Preservation Society

Event Team:
Michelle Dunnick

Christina Gaspari

Melissa Young