The 12th annual Tales of the Cocktail festival will take over the French Quarter from July 16-20 with an array of parties, seminars, awards ceremonies and countless opportunities to imbibe.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the many Tales of the Cocktail 2014 events you can attend.
Monday
Spanning from Monday, July 14th, to Monday, July 21st, Tales Restaurant Week includes a number of local restaurants offering price fixed menus and cocktail specials. Restaurants participating include Cafe Adelaide, Tujague’s, and SoBou, along with a number of other local eateries.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, July 15th, the United States Bartenders Guild will offer Master Accreditation testing at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street. Exams offered include Spirits Professional written, Advanced Bartender written and Advanced Bartender practical exams, and will cost $150 for USBG members.
Wednesday
The Bitters Market will open in the Hotel Monteleone on Wednesday, July 16th, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will stay open until the conclusion of Tales of the Cocktail. The Bitters Market will offer a plethora of bitters and exclusive specials that will only be available during the Tales week.
If bitters are not your forte, but rather, sugary, frozen liquor concoctions, “Hurricanes, Hand Grenades, Shark Attacks” promises to offer a history lesson on how these iconic drinks came to Bourbon Street. Moderated by Wayne Curtis, a writer for The Atlantic magazine and Imbibe, and with a panel author Richard Campanella, Brett Martin of GQ Magazine and historian Rien Fertel, this history lesson will be held in the Royal Sonesta’s Grand Ballroom North on Wednesday, July 16th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Scotch lovers should attend The Deconstruction of Scotch, where attendees will examine the effect that different grains have on scotch, taste scotch that has never been (and will never again be) available in the United States. Deconstruction of Scotch will be held at Choctaw, Royal Sonesta on Wednesday, July 16th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Thursday Through Sunday
Photo by Greg Miles.
While many of the weekly events are put on by large, national spirits companies, those seeking independent spirits should attend the Meet the Craft and Independent Distillers Happy Hour at La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom at Hotel Monteleone on Thursday, July 17th and Friday July 18th, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Attendees will get the chance to meet with distillers and learn about the secrets and methods used in producing craft spirits.
Fulton Alley will host “The Dude Imbibes,” a dinner and screening of The Big Lebowski, featuring cocktails (read: White Russians) by Tito’s Handmade Vodka. A buffet style meal will be offered with an assortment of dishes, ranging from slow roasted pork belly sliders to andouille tater tots. Tickets are $75 for dinner, and $99 for dinner and bowling.
Best Fest hosts Stones Fest at Tipitina’s on Thursday, July 17th at 10:00 p.m. and will feature a number of both local and national musicians, including George Porter Jr., Jason Sudeikis, Pat Sansone and Glenn Kotche of Wilco, Walter Wolfman Washington, and Jonathon “Boogie” Long, covering Rolling Stones’ tracks to benefit Sweet Relief, a non-profit that financially assists musicians who are ill. Tickets are $27 and can be purchased from www.tipitinas.com.
Countless other events will be held throughout the Tales of the Cocktail weekend. For full listings and more information on events, please visit www.talesofthecocktail.com
