Cocktail lovers rejoice!
Tales of the Cocktails brings together the most respected talents in mixology for six days of special events throughout the city. There's something for everyone at this world-renowned festival including a jam-packed schedule of seminars, tastings, and special events that highlight cocktails, cuisine and culture.
Founded in 2002 by Paul and Ann Tuennerman, Tales of the Cocktail has become the world’s premier cocktail festival. With over 200 annual events for bartenders and spirits professionals, this week-long festival is the place to create and exchange ideas and techniques in the cocktail world. While offering opportunities to learn new skills within the events offered, the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society invests proceeds from the festival back into the spirits industry.
This year's events include:
Sustainability Summit
Tuesday, July 18
On the Tuesday at Tales from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., be sure to check out this brand new event that focuses on how to promote sustainability in bars. For details and a full outline of the day, see here.
Fleurty Girl Popup
Tuesday, July 18 - Saturday, July 22
For the whole week of Tales, check out iconic Fleurty Girl’s popup shop in the Regal Suite of the Royal Sonesta.
New Orleans Cocktail Tour
Tuesday, July 18 - Saturday, July 22
Every day at 4 p.m., you can dive into the rich cocktail history of New Orleans with Joe Gendusa, renowned New Orleans cocktail tour guide. This late afternoon boozy walking tour will begin appropriately at Le Booze and lead you around historic cocktail hotspots in the French Quarter until 5 p.m., when you can hit your choice of happy hours in the neighborhood. This tour is not to be missed if you love hearing stories and exploring, while having a cocktail en route.
Dynamic Duos
Tuesday, July 18 through Sunday, July 23
In bars and cocktail lounges all around New Orleans, local bartenders will team up with the best of the bartending business from around the world to create delicious drinks all night long. Cocktail bars and restaurant bars participating include Cure and Cane & Table (among many others), whose cocktail programs have been recognized with awards by the James Beard Foundation. Check out the full list of Dynamic Duo participants here.
The Spirited Dinner Series
Thursday, July 20
Take part in Tales’ Thursday night tradition – the Spirited Dinner Series. Various companies, distilleries, and businesses pair with incredible, award-winning restaurants in the Crescent City to create an evening of specially curated meals and spirits open to everyone on Thursday, July 20. You can taste Caribbean fare and island-inspired spirits at Nina Compton of Top Chef’s Central Business District (and James Beard Award-winning!) restaurant, Compère Lapin. Head to the historic Napoleon House in the French Quarter for a menu of veggie-based food and drink, or hop on the streetcar Uptown to Boucherie and taste elements of gin in both your dinner and your drink. Many more restaurants are participating, including La Petite Grocery, Seaworthy, August, Cellar Door, and Doris Metropolitan.
Check out the full list of Spirited Dinners here, and make your reservations directly with the restaurant of your choice! Be sure to download the Tales of the Cocktail app on your cell phone as well for event schedules, locations, event information, and more.
Speakers
Be sure to check out the array of speakers throughout the week. A few of the festival’s expert speakers include:
Melanie Asher of Macchu Pisco LLC
Adrian Biggs of Bacardi USA
Jeff Berry one of the Imbibe magazine’s “25 Most Influential Cocktail Personalities”
Jane Bowie of Marker’s Mark
James Chase of Chase Distillery
Charlene Dawes of Tasting Group Limited
...and many more!
Seminars
Seminars will cover every topic imaginable in the cocktail world. Whether you’re a bartender, business owner, or cocktail-fanatic, broaden your horizons at these Tales of the Cocktail events.
Some of the seminars to be featured include:
Piping Hot- The World’s Favorite Hot Drinks
8 Flavors: The Untold Story of Mixology
A Journey Into the World of Vintage Spirits
How To Be Good At Drinking
The Last Great Whiskey: Picking Your Own Barrel
Drinking Around the Garden
...and many more!
11th Annual Spirited Awards
On Saturday, July 22nd, the Spirited Awards will recognize the best bars, bartenders, and cocktail experts from around the world. A carefully selected panel of 110 judges will represent every region of the world and facet of the business will select the Spirited Awards recipients.
Tickets for Tales of the Cocktail 2017 can be purchased here. All tickets are sold individually so attendees can build their own schedule. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #soloNOLA!