Monday, June 15, 2009

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Tales of the Cocktail 2009

In the last two years, I’ve spent more time in New Orleans than in any place other than my own home. Now it’s time to head back.

Tales of the Cocktail, the annual homage to mixed drinks, kicks off July 8th in the French Quarter. Headquartered at the Hotel Monteleone, Tales brings together bartenders, distillers, writers, cocktail bloggers, and the public from around the world for five days of seminars, workshops, talks, panels, dinners, and sampling.

Lots…and lots of sampling.

For a preview of what’s to come, check out the collaborative Tales Blog. Entries from cocktail bloggers around the world present interviews, snapshot of upcoming sessions, suggestions for surviving such copious amounts of alcohol (hint: just because it’s paid for, tasty, and in front of you doesn’t mean you have to drink it).

Chris Sule, distiller at Old New Orleans Rum, has spearheaded a session I’m particularly excited to attend. In fact, it’s a big reason why I’m coming this year. From Brewer to Distiller takes a look at what happens when beer brewers get their hands on a still. It is also a chance to examine what unique sensibilities—if any—brewers bring to the table when they start making rums, whiskeys, absinthes, brandies, and other spirits. My preview of the session is on the Tales Blog here.

Thursday, July 9 from 2:30-4:00 PM at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans.

You bet I’ll be there.

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4 comments:

Max Watman said...

"hint: just because it’s paid for, tasty, and in front of you doesn’t mean you have to drink it"

Are you sure about this? My understanding is . . .

Matthew Rowley said...

That depends entirely on how functional you need to be before noon each day. While it would be rude to turn down a drink in someone's home, it'd be a bit boorish to drink every last drop of liquor you can lay hands on.

Eat, drink plenty of water, and drink alcohol as you see fit. As you may recall, though, all the pages were looking a little dog-eared Sunday morning last year.

How appropriate that Wayne Curtis is holding forth on hangovers right about then this year...

Anonymous said...

Matthew: we hope you will find time to come to our Cocktail Shaker Collectors Event Wed July 8 4;30-6 pm. it's held in the Museum of the American Cocktail. and we are giving away over $1,000.00 in vintage bar ware in a free drawing for all attending... we may have on there with your name on it.
all best, stephen visakay

Matthew Rowley said...

Stephen ~

I'll do my best to make it. I missed last year's gathering of vintage bar wear enthusiasts and still regret it. Maybe I'll learn some tricks for getting the aluminum top unwedged from our midcentury glass shaker. It got jammed on at an angle and is NOT coming off.