Tales of the Cocktail - WednesDAY Roundup

Seminars on the first day of Tales of the Cocktail are targeted to industry professionals. While the whole five days are educational packaged in pleasure, the first day is really about the meat of the bartending business. 


The Ups and Downs of Running Multiple Venues, Part 1:From Cocktail Napkin to Cocktail Bar: How to open your own bar and Bringing Service Back all competed for my time in the 10-11:30 a.m. slot. Sadly for me, Part 1 of Opening your own bar, sponsored by Nola.com and brought by BarSmarts was SOLD OUT, which a lengthy standby line and I opted for Bringing Service Back, which was a perfect choice given recent work conversations. 

Bridget Albert, Master Mixologist

Led by Master Mixologist Bridget Albert with Tony Abou-Ganim, Tobin Ellis, Allen Katz and Leo Robitschek, Bringing Service Back! was presented by Heaven Hill Distilleries and upon entering the seminar a cocktail was placed in my hand. The Lonesome Hero was delicious but was so wrought with details of spirits and countries where they hailed, that I can only tell you that it had rye whiskey, cinnamon, cherry and orange bitters. It was an awesome cocktail for breakfast it turned out. 

Tony Abou-Ganim

The details of the seminar and its findings will appear in the Louisiana Restaurant Association magazine October Issue, but the most interesting thing uttered was by panelist Tobin Ellis who said the economy crashing was the best thing that ever happened to the workforce. People are hungry again and are realizing what it's actually like to do real work. No one really wants to talk about that, but he had a solid point. 

Following the seminar, I meandered to the Oxley Gin tasting room and upon arrival, I was handed a clear plastic logoed shaker and instructed to visit each station for a signature cocktail, as well as an ingredient for a "make my own cocktail" experience. The room was dimmed with green accent lighting and decked out with greenery and gorgeous floral arrangements on the bars. Let me not forget that the bartenders in this tasting room were smoking hot! Which greatly made up for the fact that the make your own cocktail, was less than impressive taste wise. It consisted of a generous pour of Oxley, lime juice, tapioca and at its final stop was poured on a cold slab and returned to a tasting cup. It's consistency wasn't bad, but the jolt of tang made my mouth pucker and gave me a full body chill. 

Prior to lunch, I also visited the Come and Get it! Cocktails Texas Style! tasting room, which featured Republic National Distributing Company brands and Dallas-Ft. Worth's most accomplished bar talent. Texas hospitality and flavors as big as the Lonestar State is the description  and that summed it up. Craft spirits, farm-fresh ingredients and homegrown talent made this a high point of the morning. 

Lunch was really where it was at, however, most Tales attendees are not privy to the happenings of the Reincarnation Lounge for members of the media. Eleven tequila brands and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) hosted a lunch to boast the extreme growth of the agave based spirit in the U.S. market, emerging super premium brands and how tequila fits any budget and any occasion. 

Kimberly Patton Bragg and a one of the cocktail apprentices mixed up two delightful tequila cocktails--one heavy on the ginger, my favorite! Following a Mexican-themed lunch and the presentation, guests were invited to sample the various brands and within theme the lines of product. Goodie bags included a full bottle of one of the 11 brands and I lucked out with a bottle of Patron Platinum. 

Paul Tuennerman, Robin Barnes, Ann Tuennerman with
Delta Dawg and the Second Line Lady at the Toast to Tales!

Last stop on my day part of Tales Day one journey concluded with the Toast to Tales on the front steps of the Monteleone Hotel, the event's headquarters. Robin Barnes was belting out good ole New Orleans tunes as Mr. and Mrs. Cocktail hit the stage, thanked the sponsors, ambassadors, attendees, professionals and the like for their support as the event reaches its 10th Anniversary status. Sazerac Seal of Approval awards were given to six bars - five in New Orleans and for the first time, outside of the Big Easy. Guests were invited to imbibe on this year's official cocktail, the Rum Row Old Fashioneds and enjoy a cake pop from Pure Bakery. I was honored to hold the first dog of Tales while the festivities were underway. Delta Dawg donned her outfit for the occasion and she was a hit. 

Then the skies opened up, I grabbed my umbrella and headed to the car. Need a disco nap before the parties of the evening.