As I mentioned earlier today, in a few hours I am headed down to New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail.
Below is my schedule to give you a sense of what I’ll be up to. “Credentialed” next to items just indicates that I have a press pass.
At the bottom of this post after my schedule, there is an awesome public Google calendar of all sanctioned TOTC events, with instructions on how to add it to your calendar.
Also, if you missed the post earlier today, Mouth of the Border is psyched to offer readers and fellow Tales attendees 15% off their first order with Suite Arrival. The site lets you select TSA-approved travel size toiletries and have them shipped directly to your hotel room so you don’t have to run around looking for a razor and toothpaste.
Enter “MOTB” at checkout for 15% off on your first order until 11/2/2010.
2010 Tales of the Cocktail – Schedule
Arrive: Thursday, 10:58 pm in NOLA
ONGOING
10:00 am – 6:00 pm Bike with Bols, Free First Come, First Served
Where: Front of the Monteleone Hotel
Cool off again with a Dutch Bols Genever Bike Ride – Explore New Orleans the Dutch way by bike – with the Bols Genever bicycles and see the city from a different angle. These are available on a first come, first served basis. Eight Dutch bikes are ready to rock the streets of NOLA, maps included…enjoy a rolling perspective of the city, burn off those po-boys and beignets as you see the sights. The Bols Genever Bicycles are available daily from the parking garage of the Hotel Monteleone
THURSDAY
11 pm – 2 am Midnight Petanque with Ricard or Coastal Rehab Benefit at Tipitina’s
FRIDAY
8 am (tentative): Meeting with founder, Bluecoat Gin
10 – 11:30 am: (credentialed) Social Media: Creating Cocktail Legends
Where: The Riverview Room, Hotel Monteleone
What: Bars, bartenders, spirit makers, and cocktail enthusiasts are using the unique opportunities social media provides to leverage their business.
10:30 am – 12 pm (Free/Tasting Room): Pisco: “The Ultimate Pisco Challenge”: The Pisco Sour Pentathlon
Where: The Iberville and Bienville Rooms
What: Join International leading Pisco expert Diego Loret de Mola “Mr. Pisco” and celebrity mixologist Francesco Lafranconi – “El Maestro”, in an unprecedented event.
They will take you through the unique experience of learning about Pisco and Pisco Sour through the talent and skills of 8 of the best bartenders in America through a 5 phase competition.
Four co-ed teams of the best bartenders will challenge themselves in crafting the most balanced Pisco Sours, shaken and prepared from scratch for a party of up to 180 attendees in a limited period of time.
11:30-1:30 PM (credentialed): Reincarnation Room
Where: Vieux Carre Room, Hotel Monteleone
Presented by William Grant & Sons Scotch Portfolio
Must Present Media, Presenter, or Sponsor Badge at Door
What: For four of the past five years, William Grant and Sons has been named the ISC Distiller of the Year, due largely to the exceptional quality and ground-breaking nature of its flagship whiskies – Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single malt and The Balvenie, the world’s most handcrafted single malt.
11 am – 2 pm (Free/Tasting Room): Maison d’Absinthe
Where: The Royal Room A and B, Hotel Monteleone
What: Visit La Masion d’Absinthe, New Orleans’ own store that is solely to absinthe. On site they will be selling, reproduction absinthe fountains, glasses, spoons, saucers and other accessories; books on absinthe; absinthe candies and t-shirts.
12:30PM (tentative) – Bax vs Clift: Progressive Cocktail/Cooking Techniques from Tippling Club & Der Raum
Where: Riverview Room (HM)
What: The award winning duo behind Asia’s No. 1 Venue, Tippling Club – touted as the most progressive bar concept to hit the global scene – is presenting in the US for the first time. A rare opportunity to witness Tippling Club’s head bartender Matthew Bax (also of Australia’s Der Raum fame and a Tales Award finalist) and Chef Ryan Clift (formerly of Vue de Monde and Marco Pierre White protégé) in action, as they bring their contemporary food and drink matching philosophies and techniques to the Tales table.
Bax and Clift specialise in creating awe-inspiring degustation food and drink pairings with a focus on art, panache, and flavour. Visit: www.baxvsclift.com, www.tipplingclub.com, www.derraum.com.au Food & Drinks: But not as you know it.
3 -4 pm (tentative): Meetings with The Bitter Truth and Perfect Puree at Carousel Bar, HM
6:30 pm: Dinner. Location tbd.
7:30 – 10 pm: (credentialed) USBG Milagro Tequila Margarita Competition
Where: Board of Trade, 316 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA
What: USBG Milagro Margarita Competition Tequila may come from south of the border but those who will put it to good use are from all over the world. Join us for the United States Bartenders Guild Milagro Tequila Competition as twenty-eight bartenders from 14 different cities will put their best margaritas up against one another. You’ll be able to sample the festive spirits as the bartenders compete not just for personal fame but the right to bring the title back to their hometown.
8 – 11 pm: Esquire & Don Q Rum party, August*
Tentative: 10 pm – 2 am: Bar Room Brawl w/ Gran Marnier, Generations Hall
SATURDAY
11:30 am – 12:30 pm (credentialed): Mount Gay Brunch
Where: Vieux Carre Room (HM)
What: Hosted by global brand ambassador Chesterfield Browne, featuring an “unforgettable meal rich with many Carribean delights.”
12:30 – 2 pm (Free/Tasting Room): Sazerac
Where: The Hunt Room
What: Come learn about the exciting and diverse brands of the Sazerac Company of New Orleans. From world class Bourbons, Tequilas and Canadian Whiskys to innovative Vodkas, Cordials and Specialty Brands, The Sazerac Company has among the most intriguing spirits portfolios in the industry.
11 am – 2 pm (Free/Tasting Room): Vintage Cocktail Book Sale
Where: The Royal Room A and B, Hotel Monteleone
What: The book sale will feature an extremely rare international collection of cocktail books from the late 1800s and early 1900s including original copies of Jerry Thomas (1862), Charles Baker (1939), William Schmidt’s The Flowing Bowl and Frank Meier’s The Artistry of Mixing Drinks. This event will impress anyone and everyone that cares about the cocktail world.
12:30 pm – 2 pm (credentialed): Ichigo/Ichie: One Chance/One Meeting the Way How to Synchronize the Bartenders Mind/Body
Where: La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom, Hotel Monteleone
What: How to improve your bartending techniques – your style behind the bar – to know what does the RITUAL – PROCES mean/count at the bar from the standpont of the guest.
Sponsored by: Nikka Whisky
Moderators: Stanislav Vadrna
3 – 4:30 pm (credentialed) Subconscious Drinks
Where: La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom, Hotel Monteleone
What: How to influence your guests experience through body language, aromas, colours and sound.
Sponsored by: 10 Cane Rum
Moderators: Andrew Nicholls
Panelists: Misja Vorstermans
6 pm (credentialed): World Cocktail Excursion
Where: The Sugar Mill, 1101 Convention Center
What: As the official pre-party to the Tales of the Cocktail® Spirit Awards, Beam Global Spirits & Wine invites you on an unforgettable Worldwide Cocktail Excursion. The past, present and future collide to present a post-modern expedition through time and space, with stops at cocktail destinations from around the world. Featuring global brands from Beam’s illustrious spirits portfolio, this event offers a one-of-a-kind experience where time and distance know no boundaries. Get lost along the way and find yourself in far-off locales such as Scotland, France, St. Croix, Holland, Mexico, Canada and beyond….
Pick up a map in the Hotel Monteleone lobby and begin the voyage – let your taste buds be your guide. New Orleans is a city of excitement, adventure, and strolling through the historical French Quarter as you navigate the various parties that seem to be happening on every corner.
Sponsor: Beam Global Spirits
8:30 – 11 pm (tentative): Spirited Award Ceremony, The Roosevelt Hotel, 123 Barrone St*
11 pm – 2 am (tentative): Plymouth Gin Bartender’s Breakfast The Chicory
Sunday
10 am – 1 pm (VIP/Media – credentialed) Mr. and Mrs. Cocktail’s Spirited Sunday Brunch
Where: The Vieux Carre Room, Hotel Monteleone
What: All good things must come to an end. Though we’ll be sad to bid adieu to Tales of the Cocktail 2010, we’ll be going out in style at Mr. and Mrs. Cocktail’s Spirited Sunday Brunch. VIPs and media as well as Native Spirits and Founder’s Day Pass holders are all invited to spend the final hours of Tales of the Cocktail with the people that made it all happen. Mingle with Ann and Paul Tuennerman, the Angels and all the Tales of the Cocktail team as we feast on New Orleans-style fare jambalaya, gumbo, red beans and rice-with a side of Stella Artois, Herbsaint Frappés and refreshing Vitamix blended fresh cocktails created by Blair Reynolds.
FIRST CHOICE: 10AM (tentative) – The Flavor Trip
Where: La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom (HM)
What: Excite your taste buds and confuse your senses as Hendrick’s Gin lifts you upon the wings of the mystic miracle berry for a flavor trip sure to leave you shocked with utter delight. When was the last time you enjoyed the likes of a soy Negroni or an inverted Collins? Outcome: Attendees will learn what a miracle berry is and how it can be applied to cocktail and food. They will also taste the delightful talents of food wizards Bompas and Parr, as examples of their events around the world are offered for your sensory pleasure. Panelists: Sam Bompas and Harry Parr, Sam Bompas and Harry Parr, Sam Bompas and Harry Parr.
SECOND CHOICE: 10AM (tentative) – Scotland’s Whisky Legends and Pacult
Where: Riverview Room (HM)
What: Panel discussion with F Paul Pacult, moderator, Dr Bill Lumsden, Richard paterson and Colin Scott, panelists. Topics will be Scotch horizons for the next five years; experimentation in distillation and maturation; Scotch in cocktails and more. Last 30 minutes will be a Scotch tasting with each panel member presenting one of their favorite Scotch whiskies. Outcome: To learn more about the world’s favorite whisky category and what its horizons are from insiders. Tasting with experts.
THIRD CHOICE (depends on travel to the airport) Sunday 12:30PM – The Eggpire Strikes Back
Where: Queen Anne Ballroom (HM)
What: A Presentation that hopes to clear up all the confusion, myths, and abuse of the world’s most feared cocktail ingredient: the egg. Some of the topics will include:
- a history of eggs and the history of eggs in cocktails.
- A tasting of THE ORIGINAL COCKTAIL (with feather and egg-cup!)
- The truth about Salmonella and other health risks associated with eggs thouroughly researched.
- Eggs around the world. It sounds simple but what is an egg? How does it differ around the world and in your supermarket?
- Kitchen VS Bar. Do we refrigerate the eggs or not?
- the How-to and why of the Infusion of Eggs.
- Contemporary egg cocktails. Outcome: This is immensely interesting for those who refuse to use fresh eggs behind the bar, or the consumer that refuses to drink egg-containing cocktails. Also the professional will gain a greater understanding of this ingredient including its history. The bartender that is already using eggs will get to taste some exciting new drinks and ways to use the egg.
5 pm DELTA flight departs NEW ORLEANS
TOTC GOOGLE CALENDAR:
My friend Brett made an awesome public Google Cal of all the official TOTC events that you can add and sync with your phone. Here’s how:
- Go to your google calendar in a web browser
- Under “Other Calendars”, click “Add”
- Click “Add By URL”
- Paste this link: www.google.com/calendar/ical/cdc37ldabn8dje44oaqmdpuv3g%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
You can add it to your iPhone through Google Sync.
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