Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Tales of the Cocktail 2012: Spirited Awards Winners


Joaquin Simo - American Bartender of the Year
Here is the full list of winners of the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards for 2012. This year the United Kingdom dominated with wins in the following prestigious categories: World's Best Cocktail Bar, World's Best Drinks Selection, World's Best New Cocktail Bar, World's Best Cocktail Menu, International Brand Ambassador of the Year, and International Bartender of the Year.

Spirited Awards Winners 2012

Best High Volume Cocktail Bar - Eastern Standard, Boston

Best Restaurant Bar - Slanted Door, San Francisco

World’s Best New Cocktail Bar - The Zetter Townhouse, London

World’s Best Hotel Bar - Artesian at The Langham Hotel, London

Best Cocktail Writing - David Wondrich

Best Cocktail Writing (Non-Book) - Liquor.com

Best American Brand Ambassador - Jim Ryan, Hendricks Gin

World’s Best Drinks Selection - Salvatore's at The Playboy Club, London

American Bartender of the Year - Joaquin Simo, Death & Co., New York

Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book - PDT Cocktail Book, Jim Meehan

World’s Best Cocktail Menu - Callooh Callay, London

International Bartender of the Year - Alex Kratena, Artesian at The Langham, London

Best International Brand Ambassador - Angus Winchester, Tanqueray Gin
 
Best American Cocktail Bar - The Varnish, Los Angeles

World’s Best Cocktail Bar - The Connaught Bar, London

Best Bar Mentor - Steve Olson (aka wine geek)

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award - Gary "Gaz" Regan

A full recap of this lounger's Tales of the Cocktail 2012 adventures will be forthcoming on Umami Mart.com.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Tales of the Cocktail 2012 - The 10th Anniversary



Culinary and spirits festival Tales of the Cocktail (a.k.a. Tales) celebrates its' 10th Anniversary this July. Tales kicks off at the Hotel Monteleone on Wednesday, July 25th.  The world's best craft bartenders, taste makers, brand ambassadors, cocktail bloggers, liquor sponsors, and cocktail aficionados plus a legion of media and public relations people descend on the Crescent City for a week of booze filled seminars, "Spirited Dinners", tough talking competitions, liquor tastings, and brand sponsored parties.

The following is a list of events, parties, and seminars that Fredo plans to attend as a media correspondent for Umamimart and Loungerati. He is flying in on Thursday morning and will hit the ground running! OK, he will probably grab a big ole' lunch first but then it is on! Salute!

Follow Fredo at Tales on Twitter:#taleslounger and #umamitales

Fredo's Itinerary for Tales 2012:

SEMINARS 

True/Untrue: Exploring Bar World Myths
Cocktail writers Wayne Curtis and David Wondrich put to the test several common myths that underlie cocktail making. The audience will be dragooned into a blind taste test to help sort of fact from fiction. This seminar is sponsored by Don Julio Tequila & George Dinkel Bourbon.

Cognac: The Barkeep's Forgotten Friend
Dave Broom and Tristan Stephenson will discuss the flavours of Cognac, where they come from and what they mean. Attendees will sample a classic cocktail of that era and then look at ways in which to make it more accessible and exciting for the modern palate.

The Process to Perfection
A sold out seminar featuring newly weds Audrey Saunders and Robert "Drinkboy" Hess discussing successful cocktail programs! Enough said!! This seminar is sponsored by the Pernard Ricard USA portfolio.

Talking Tequila - A Sensory Science
Tequila Interchange Project members Phil Ward (Mayahuel, NY), Bobby Hugel (Anvil, TX), David Suro (Tequilas, PA), and Don Lee (Cocktail Kingdom, NY) present new sensory analysis and discuss the language of tequila. Sponsored by Herradura Tequila.

EVENTS, PARTIES, & COMPETITIONS

Spirit of Italy Media Luncheon
The lunch will feature Italian delicacies paired with cocktails made with Italian artisanal liquors, digestives and grappas produced by Luxardo, Amaro Lucano, Distillerie Moccia, Distillerie Nardini, Pallini, Toschi and Varnelli. The event will be hosted by master mixologist Francesco Lafranconi. 

Diageo Happy Hour "A World Class Affair"
Diageo hosts a happy hour of happy hours with their skilled mixologists providing a lush worthy sample of the company's brands. Leave the streets of New Orleans and enter a Brazilian-inspired oasis to celebrate the largest global cocktail program and have the opportunity to try an array of classics with a twist incorporating gin, tequila, whisk(e)y, vodka and rum alongside local delicacies. This seminar is sponsored by the Diageo brands portfolio.

Spirited Dinner: The Life and Times of Tom Bullock
The dinner will be a tribute to Tom Bullock, the first African American to write a cocktail book in 1917, his cocktails were so good they scandalized a President. It will take place aboard the luxury paddle wheeler Creole Queen on the Mississippi River.  A full creole buffet, hot jazz band and Bar and Books Cigars will be available for the duration of the cruise. Cocktail heavy weights Jim Meehan of PDT and David Wondrich will be involved in the libation portion of the cruise.

Employees Only - NOLA
New York's Employees Only (EO), the 2011 winner for best Cocktail bar in the World, are not ones to rest on their laurels. They bring their award winning operations down to the Big Easy at a pop-up bar in a burlesque bar called One Eyed Jacks that I am sure will be one of the hottest parties of the festival.

Distillerie Branca Breakfast
A unique opportunity to break bread with Count Niccolo Branca, the head of the Fratelli Branca family owned company. Sponsored by Fernet Branca.
Bacardi 150th Anniversary USBG Hand-Shaken Daiquiri Competition
Twelve competitors from USBG chapters across the country will take to their bar tools to shake up new takes on this classic cocktail with one thing remaining the same – Bacardi – the rum this legendary cocktail was created with. The prize: title as champion of the Hand-Shaken Daiquirí.

Bar Room Brawl
Teams from the following stellar cocktail bars from across the country compete for the coveted title of Bar Room Brawl Champions of the World!
North West:   Rob Roy—Seattle
West Coast:  Beretta—San Francisco
Mid West:  Manifesto-Kansas City
East Coast: Employees Only-New York City
South West:  Anvil Bar & Refuge-Houston
South East:  The Passenger/Columbia Room-Washington D.C.

Pig & Punch Party
A band of bartenders out of San Francisco called The Bon Vivants get to NOLA early and devote their energy to helping reconstruct schools in neighborhoods that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Pig & Punch is a free party to local residents offering spit roasted pigs and serving lots of boudin, Creole tomato salad, Cajun cole slaw, plus delicious complimentary punches out of 32 gallon trash containers and cold beer is available!

The Spirited Awards 2012
Guests are encouraged to wear your best cocktail attire to cheer on your friends and colleagues and find out who is deemed best of the best in the cocktail world for 2012 with entertainment, good pub food, and drinks supplied by your sponsors Pernod Ricard USA.

Juniperlooza Tales (aka the Bartenders' Breakfast)
If a bartender has breakfast its usually after a shift at the crack of dawn. To pay homage to the bartending way of life Simon Ford and Audrey Saunders' Bartenders Breakfast was born 6 years ago at Tales and its back again as the official unofficial wrap party for the festivities. Sponsored by Plymouth and Beefeater Gins.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Destinations: The Salon Celebrates Bastille Day - Friday, July 13th

Loungerati is teaming up with Prohibition Productions to celebrate the storming of the Bastille with a very special Salon called Pièce de Résistance. Musical acts will feature swing music, blues, and DJ'd jazz. In between the main acts, burlesque provocateurs will evoke the best of the Moulin Rouge with naughty can-can numbers. Meanwhile, Fredo from Loungerati will serve craft Parisian themed cocktails from the main bar.

Here is the skinny:

THE SALON at Rebel NYC
Friday July 13, 2012
Doors open at 7:30pm / Party till late


Featuring:

THE HOT SARDINES
Live music and dancing on the main dance floor (8-11pm)

THE GORDON WEBSTER BLUES QUARTET
late night blues sets (11:30pm-2am+)

DJs & dancing in a dedicated blues room with
FRIDAY NIGHT BLUES
special thanks to Blues Dance New York

sultry burlesque by
MEDIANOCHE
HAZEL HONEYSUCKLE

stage kitten:
SYDNEY SUNRISE

craft cocktails created and prepared by
FREDO from Lougerati.com

hosted by
MC DANDY WELLINGTON

Dance Performance by
PAOLO & LOLLIPOP

FREE SWING DANCE LESSON
Intro swing lesson by Arturo Perez from 7:45 to 8:15pm.

FLOUER from Friday Night Blues will offer blues dance lesson, from 8 - 10 pm ($10 extra). Lesson will be on the first floor in the performance hall.

Radishes for dapper gents provided by
MICHAEL INGBAR


REBEL NYC
251 West 30th St
(off of 8th Ave) New York, NY
21+ (ID required for entry)

$12 - Early Bird Tickets *sale ended*
$16 - Advance Tickets (online only)
$20 - At the Door (cash only)

Tickets and more info at:
http://www.thesalon.biz/july13.htm

No dress code... though we encourage everyone to dress up, and dress vintage with a Parisian twist!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy Independence Day America!!! Celebrate at the Liberty Belle Spectacular!


Today July 4th, marks the 236th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Though the country is as divided as ever when it comes to political, economic, and social perspectives, we all come together today to celebrate the great things about the country and being American.

In New York City, Loungers will be flaunting their patriotic pride at the Liberty Belle Spectacular at the Empire Hotel rooftop bar and lounge.  Expect lots of seersucker and linen suits on the fellas and colorful vintage cocktail dresses on the gals. This collaboration between the producers of Club Wit's End, The Salon, The Champagne Riot, and Dances of Vice is in its third year and promises to be the place to party and enjoy the fireworks going off above the Hudson River.  Once again, The Salon's Cocktail Director Fredo from Loungerati will at the back bar serving out patriotic punch, Liberty Belle Bucks, and a Red, White, and Bourbon fix that is sure to quench your thirst!

This event was chosen by TimeOutNY as oe of their recommendations for Fourth of Juy Events and is SOLD OUT as of this morning!!

Here is the lowdown from the Liberty Belle gang:

DANCES OF VICE, THE SALON, THE CHAMPAGNE RIOT, and WIT'S END join forces to present another unforgettable vintage Fourth of July extravaganza! Join us on the rooftop of the Empire Hotel for live music, burlesque, da...ncing, fireworks, and delicious cocktails under the stars!

THE THIRD ANNUAL LIBERTY BELLE SPECTACULAR - A VINTAGE FOURTH OF JULY ROOFTOP EXTRAVAGANZA

Live music by GELBER & MANNING AND THE STAR SPANGLED ORCHESTRA

EDDIE CLENDENING & HIS BLUE RIBBON BOYS from the hit Broadway Show MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

MONA'S HOT FOUR
w/TAMAR KORN

Scintillating Burlesque by
GIN MINSKY
JEZEBEL EXPRESS
GAL FRIDAY
MISS EKATERINA
MEDIANOCHE

Plus....
MC DANDY WELLINGTON
ALBERT CADABRA
DJ SEI (Rebel Night)
DJ MOMOTARO

Guest Bartender
FREDO from Loungerati

Jump and swing to patriotic melodies from the 1930-40's by GELBER & MANNING AND THE STAR SPANGLED ORCHESTRA; red hot rockabilly by EDDIE CLENDENING & HIS BLUE RIBBON BOYS from the hit Broadway show "Million Dollar Quartet;" and Dixieland jazz by MONA'S HOT FOUR, featuring TAMAR KORN on vocals.

Our all-star program also features tap sensation GIN MINSKY, world class contortionist MISS EKATERINA, mesmerizing burlesque by JEZEBEL EXPRESS, GAL FRIDAY, and MEDIANOCHE; magic by The Great Deceiver ALBERT CADABRA; and our dapper MC DANDY WELLINGTON.

DJ'S SEI (Rebel Night)) and MOMOTARO keep you dancing all night, and delicious cocktails by guest bartender FREDO from Loungerati all on one of New York's most beautiful rooftop venues makes for a Fourth of July to remember!

Be crowned Mr & Mrs Liberty Belle, and win cool stuff! Judges will be observing incognito during the party! 


Dress Code: We celebrate the Fourth in vintage style, and we encourage our guests to do the same! Vintage & vintage-inspired cocktail looks from the 1920s-50s are encouraged, but not required. But please, men: no sneakers or shorts!

July 4, 2012
EMPIRE HOTEL ROOFTOP
44 West 63rd St, NYC
Doors at 5pm
21+ (ID required)

ADMISSION
$25 Early Bird *sale ended June 23rd*
$30 in advance (w/reserved admission time)
$35 at door (cash only)
$25 Group Tickets (for groups of 10 or more)

TICKETS & MORE INFO:
http://www.libertybellespectacular.com