Where to get a decent cocktail in NYC during Tales of the Cocktail week

The crew behind the stick at Attaboy this week

Once a year, the world's best craft bartenders, taste makers, brand ambassadors, drinks writers, liquor sponsors, and cocktail aficionados plus a legion of media and public relations people descend on the New Orleans for a week of booze filled seminars, "spirited dinners", tough talking competitions, liquor tastings, and brand sponsored parties. Yes, it is time for Tales of the Cocktail again, the culinary and booze festival that is a bonafide  CocktailCon for the industry.

In past years, many of New York’s cocktail imbibers took the week off and substituted their daiquiris for a shot and beer. Their favorite drink slingers were partying it up in the Big Easy so why even bother? Fear not friends, times have changed as new generations of craft bartenders have expanded the city’s already deep bench of bartending talent. There will be no cocktail drought this year. In addition to a slew of young and up and coming bartenders, many veterans and legends will be in town this year.

The following is a list of 10 top shelf watering holes and the talent behind the stick this Wednesday through Saturday July 17 – 20:

• Attaboy (134 Eldridge Street) – Award winning barmen Sam Ross and Michael McIlroy are staying in town this year with their whole crew including bright boys Brandon Bramhall, Andrew Rice, and Dan Greenbaum. Expect lots of citrus forward seasonal cocktails and aperitifs.
• Clover Club (210 Smith Street) – Travis St. Germain, Ryan Lilila, and Pedro Rojas will be keeping Brooklyners wet with their delicious array of cocktails and small plates.
• Employees Only (510 Hudson Street) – The party never stops at EO, where Bratislav Glisic and Ulysses Vidal keep high volume cocktails flowing till the chicken soup is served.
• Macao Trading Company (311 Church Street) – Good guys Gabe Lerner and Vincent Vitek will be serving up libations Drunken Dragon style.
•  Ward III (111 Reade Street) – Consummate hosts Kenneth McCoy and Abdul Tabini with young guns Mikey Diehl and Dustin Olson will be making bespoke cocktails for your pleasure.
• Rum House (228 West 47^th Street) – Old pros Nino Cirabisi and Abel Rodriquez joined by young buck Eric Job will be cranking out libations for the Times Square crowd. Stop by for a drink and the live piano.
• Death & Company (433 East 6^th Street) –Jason Littrell will be back from Tales and working Saturday July 20^th with Natasha David while new boys Scott Teague and Tyson Buhler cover the rest of the week
• Mayahuel (304 East 6^th Street) – Phil Ward’s cantina and agave mecca is fully operational with Jeremy Oertel and Jordan Brower holding the fort on Saturday July 20^th with Jordan Bower and Natasha David covering tags the rest of the week.
• The Dead Rabbit (30 Water Street) – Jack McGarry & Sean Muldoon assure us that they have a deep bench and it will be business as usual at the Financial District cocktail destination. Expect signature punches, toddies, slings, and a encyclopedia of clever cocktails.
• Amor y Amargo (443 East 6th Street) – Barman Sother Teague is flying up a ringer from Atlanta, Mr. Ari Form makes his triumphant return to NYC. Get your bitters and amaro fix on!

So get out there and support your local NYC cocktail bar! The show must go on! 

Tales of the Cocktail Celebrates 10 years

Loungers, below is a press release from our friends at Tales of the Cocktail.  They will be celebrating their ten year anniversary this July. Take it from me, "Tales" is a must attend festival for cocktail aficionados and newbies alike! The event runs from Wednesday July 25th through Sunday July 29th and promises to be the best one yet.  Please book you accommodations sooner than later, as the most popular hotels get booked up fast. Tickets to the excursions, competitions, seminars, and tasting dinners are on sale now at TalesoftheCocktail.com.

New Orleans, Louisiana -With more than 200 events for both experts and amateurs alike, we will be making history during the five days of Tales of the Cocktail® 2012. For the historic 10th Anniversary celebration, this year’s schedule includes a host of events including a street food and go-cups event and new Tales of the Cocktail® excursions.

The Street Food and Go Cups event will show how in a city known for it’s food, a new culinary trend has hit the streets on the final day of Tales of the Cocktail®, Sunday July 29th. Food trucks are rolling through New Orleans serving everything from fish tacos to grilled cheese. At Tales of the Cocktail® 2012, we’re adding cocktails to their menus. Grab some grub, a good drink and a picnic table, and then enjoy a lunch unlike anything else.

“At this point in my life, I have few passions left that I haven’t addressed with gusto,” said Paul G. Tuennerman, Co-Instigator and COO of Tales of the Cocktail. “So, the combination of New Orleans, Food Trucks, and Cocktails is the natural next step in the quest to leave this life, satiated.”

The “Tales of the Honey Island” excursion, on Sunday, July 29th, presented by 42 Below Vodka trades the wild life of the French Quarter for the wildlife of the Louisiana swamplands. This exclusive Tales Tour will take you to the Honey Island Swamp where you’ll enjoy cocktails on board the airboat as you drink in the majestic sights and sounds of this famous swamp.

The “How to Strip for Your Man” excursion, on Sunday, July 29th, presented by Secrets in Lace and Spicebox Whisky is a sizzling class that is guaranteed to add spice to your love life. Do something delightfully naughty but nice for yourself and your man by following the easy step-by-step moves of veteran Bourbon Street ecdysiast GiO who will show you everything you always wanted to know about striptease. There will be a 20-minute cocktail break between the first and second hour of the class.

The “Mardi Gras Beads at Galeria Alegria” excursion, on Sunday, July 29th, answers the question: What happens to all of those colorful strands after Mardi Gras? Join in for a night of making artwork out of the Mardi Gras necklaces and chowing down on authentic NOLA cuisine at a happy hour-meets-art class. Gallery owner and self-taught German-born artist Stephán Wanger will lead a class in creating the kind of artwork he pioneered.

The “Urban Farm Tour” excursion led by Poppy Tooker, a native New Orleanian who has spent her life immersed in the vibrant colors and flavors of her hometown. She will take you to some of New Orleans most fascinating urban farms including Brobson Lutz “Bee Hive in the Hood” and the mid city chicken farms of Joe Brock. Ends with a wonderful tasting of foods raised from the gardens of Ye Olde College Inn a New Orleans landmark established in 1933.

The “Confederacy of Cruisers” excursion presented by Spicebox Whiskey lets the good times roll as you take in the sights and sounds of New Orleans from behind a pair of handlebars on Wednesday, July 25th and Friday, July 27th. This two-wheeled tour takes you through the distinctive neighborhoods of New Orleans as you soak in some history and stop off for some local cuisine along the way. Mixology maven Chris Hannah joins the tour, serving up some of the cocktail history and culture that lives throughout the city.

The “Curing with Cocktails” excursion presented by Jameson Irish Whiskey on Sunday, July 29th, presented by Chef Alon of Domenica Restaurant will give an introduction to the Italian technique of butchering a local Mangalista pig on Thursday, July 25th and Saturday, July 28th. Enjoy the succulent Salumi paired with a delicious cocktail while gaining knowledge in the art of pig butchering.

To purchase tickets or for more information about these excursions as well as other events at the Tales of the Cocktail® 10th Anniversary celebration, visit TalesoftheCocktail.com.

Tales of the Cocktail 2011: Spirited Award Nominees

 New Orleans - The Fifth Annual Spirited Awards™ nominees for 2011 have been announced. The winners will be crowned  at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award Ceremony and Dinner on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans. Tables can be purchased online at www.TalesoftheCocktail.com

We have added our Votes (*) and predictions (W - Winners). A wrap up of the awards after TOTC.

American Bartender of the Year

Eric Alperin, The Varnish

Kenta Goto, Pegu Club

Misty Kalkofen, Drink

Sam Ross, Milk & Honey

Joaquin Simo, Death & Co. * (W)

Best American Brand Ambassador

Colin Asare-Appiah, U'luvka Vodka

Jacques Bezuidenhout, Partida Tequila

Jamie Gordon, Absolut Vodka (W)

Jim Ryan, Hendrick's Gin*

Best American Cocktail Bar

Clover Club, Brooklyn

Drink, Boston

Employees Only, New York * (W)

The Varnish, Los Angeles

World’s Best Hotel Bar

Artesian at The Langham, London*

Clive's Classic Lounge at Chateau Victoria Hotel, Victoria

Clyde Common at The Ace Hotel, Portland

The Savoy, London, England (W)

Best Cocktail Writing

Toby Cecchini, New York(W)

Camper English, San Francisco*

Darcy O'Neil, London, Ontario

Naren Young, New York

Best New Product

Bank's Five Island Rum

Cocchi Americano

Smith & Cross Rum* (W)

Tequila Calle 23

World’s Best Drinks Selection

Artesian at The Langham, London*

Cure, New Orleans

Eau de Vie, Sydney

Employees Only, New York(W)

Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book

Fix the Pumps by Darcy O'Neill

Left Coast Libations by Ted Munat & Michael Lazar

Punch by David Wondrich

Speakeasy by Dushan Zaric and Jay Kosmas*(W)

World’s Best Cocktail Menu

Artesian at The Langham, London*

Eau de Vie, Sydney

Mayahuel, New York (W)

Sanctuaria, St. Louis

International Bartender of the Year

Erik Lorincz, American Bar at Savoy Hotel, London(W)

Dre Masso, Green & Red - London

Sam Ross, Milk & Honey*

Dushan Zaric, Employees Only

World’s Best New Cocktail Bar

1534, New York

Dram, New York

Eau de Vie, Sydney

PKNY (ex Painkiller), New York* (W)

World’s Best Cocktail Bar

69 Colebrooke Row, London(W)

Dry Martini, Barcelona

Employees Only, New York*

High Five, Tokyo

Best International Brand Ambassador

Ian Burrell

Claire Smith, Belvedere Vodka

Dan Warner, Beefeater Gin (W)

Angus Winchester, Tanqueray Gin*

Best Bar Mentor

Wayne Collins, London

Steve Olson, New York

Audrey Saunders, New York (W)

Dushan Zaric, New York*

New Categories added in 2011:

Best High Volume Cocktail Bar

Eastern Standard, Boston

Flatiron Lounge, New York*

Florida Room, Miami

Rickhouse, San Francisco (W)

Best Cocktail Writing - Non Book

BarlifeUK.com

Imbibe USA*

Liquor.com (W)

Tasting Panel Magazine

Best Restaurant Bar

The Drawing Room, Chicago(W)

Eleven Madison Park, New York*

Hawksmoor Seven Dials, London

Hix, London

(source: Tales of the Cocktail Newsletter)

Barfly's Beat: Tales of the Cocktail - Last Call

Last Call for Tales goers

"Where is everyone going for after hours? Old Absinthe? d.b.a?"

"Old Absinthe House."

This short conversation is repeated nightly as official Tales of the Cocktail evening events wind down. Where will party continue for a crowd already saturated with specialty cocktails, complimentary tastings, liquid pool parties, and spirited dinners? Where to call it a night depends on the day of the week, but generally there are a few stalwart establishments where the spirits community gathers to party until the wee hours.

First stop is Jean Lafitte's Old Absinthe House on the corner  Bourbon and Bienville streets, a fixture in New Orleans cocktail history for over a century. It is the home of the famous Absinthe House Frappe cocktail, which was created in 1860s by Cayetano Ferrer, and has quite a cocktail menu of traditional New Orleans and Southern drinks.

"Everyone You Have Ever Known or Ever Will Know Ends up at the Old Absinthe House."

On Friday night, as the Grand Marnier Bar Room Brawl wrapped up, I posed the question to  Catdaddy Moonshine Bar chef challenge winner Payman Bahmani and Sam Ross of Milk & Honey. Old Absinthe House was the consensus. So we left Generations Hall and hailed taxis to Bourbon Street.  The bar's ambiance is a wonderful mish-mash of history and customer driven decoration.  Business and "calling" cards are stapled to the walls, it has a gritty dive bar feel, comely female bartenders, worn out oak bar, and all sorts of under garments hang from the ceiling along side antique chandeliers.  The place is like Cheers! when we enter with recognizable faces packed three deep to the bar. The Tales crowd kept the party going as promised. Their drink of choice? Beer and a shot.

That's right. The world's best barkeepers and cocktail aficionados keep it simple at the Old Absinthe for Last Call. No frappes, no absinthe drips, no sazeracs, and for Godsake - no Ramos fizzes! Just an Abita or a Budweiser in a bottle, and a shot of tequila, Fernet, or turkey.  That is the Tales wind down.

The party overflowed into the street where merriment, conversation, and tomfoolery was not in short supply. Bonus: Hotel Monteleone is only three blocks away so the stumble home is a short one.

Vaughan's Lounge at 4229 Dauphine in Bywater is a Thursday night tradition. Why take a taxi a few miles from the French Quarter to a divey roadhouse? Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers jazz/brass band plays every Thursday until the wee hours. Vaughan's is an authentic Crescent City party that welcomes everyone. Play ping-pong in the back room, enjoy cheap drinks, and get your dance on to Kermit's krewe.

Some advice:

• Never agree to Green Chartreuse shots with certain notable Boston mixologists at 2:30am. If you agree that this is a good thing, then it is already to late for you. 
• Exit Strategy: Take the cab driver's information on the way to Bywater so you can call them for extraction. Bywater, which is east of the French Quarter and most hotels, is a pretty desolate neighborhood after hours. It is not easy to flag a cab so call ahead when you are ready to head back to the hotel.
• Cash Bar and $10 cover but it is often waived late night.

d.b.a at 618 Frenchmen Street on the outskirts of the French Quarter is the Big Easy outpost of the popular East Village watering hole. Like its' Yankee cousin, d.b.a. New Orleans has a tremendous selection of brown spirits and beers prominently displayed on massive chalk boards above the back bar. Try the Abita Imperial Stout and NOLA blonde ale to start, maybe an award winning Four Roses Yellow bourbon on the side. There is also live jazz nightly at d.b.a. Best feature, the come as you are attitude and no pretension.

Mind you, this is the rated PG version of the Tales night cap destinations. There is a rated R version which is best experienced and not written about. That said,  see you at the Old Absinthe House where everyone ends up.

- Fredo

Tales of the Cocktail 2010: Spirited Awards Winners

Death & Company - Best American Cocktail Bar 2010

Roosevelt Hotel, New Orleans - Saturday July 24th - I am happy to report the winners of the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards 2010- many of whom were definitely due.  Once again, New York City took the lion's share of prestigious awards including Best American Cocktail Bar, World's Best New Cocktail Bar, and World's Best Cocktail menu.

Spirited Awards Winners 2010

Best American Cocktail Bar

• The Clover Club, Brooklyn
• Death & Company, New York City - Winner
• Rickhouse, San Francisco
• The Varnish, Los Angeles

World’s Best Hotel Bar

• Artesian Bar at The Langham, London
• The Bar at The Connaught Hotel, London - Winner
• The Florida Room at The Delano, South Beach, Florida
• The Bar Hemingway at The Ritz, Paris

Best Cocktail Writing

• CLASS magazine - Winner
• Gary Regan
• Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller
• Naren Young

Best New Product

• Celery Bitters, The Bitter Truth - Winner
• Cocktail Kingdom’s barware
• Crème Yvette by Cooper Spirits
• Meehan Cocktail Bag by Jim Meehan

Best American Brand Ambassador

• Charlotte Voisey, Hendrick’s Gin - Winner
• Jacques Bezuidenhout, Partida Tequila
• Jamie Gordon, Absolut Vodka
• Tal Nadari, Bols Genever

World’s Best Drinks Selection

• Artesian Bar at The Langham Hotel, London
• Bar Lebensstern in Café Einstein, Berlin - Winner
• Macao Trading Co, New York City
• The Widder Bar, Zurich

Murray Stenson of Zig Zag Cafe, Seattle

American Bartender of the Year

• Eric Alperin, The Varnish
• Kenta Goto, Pegu Club
• Murray Stenson, Zig Zag Café - Winner
• Sam Ross, Milk & Honey

Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book

• Beachbum Berry Remixed
• Gin Compendium by Gary "Gaz" Regan
• MudPuddle Books by Greg Boehm
• Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails by Ted Haigh - Winner

World’s Best Cocktail Menu

• Death & Company, New York City - Winner
  
• The Lonsdale, London
• Mayahuel, New York City
• Rickhouse, San Francisco

International Bartender of the Year

• Agostino Perrone, The Connaught Hotel, London - Winner
• Brian Miller, formerly of  Death & Company, New York City
• Salvatore "The Maestro" Calabrese, formerly Fifty, London
• Sam Ross, Milk &Honey, New York City

World’s Best New Cocktail Bar

Mayahuel, World's Best New Cocktail Bar 2010

• Cure, New Orleans
• Dutch Kills, Queens
• Mayahuel, New York City - Winner
  
• Rickhouse , San Francisco

World’s Best Cocktail Bar

• 69 Colebrooke Row, London
• The Bar at The Merchant Hotel, Belfast - Winner
• Death & Company, New York City
• Quo Vadis, London

Best International Brand Ambassador

• Angus Winchester, Tanqueray Gin
• Dan Warner, Beefeater Gin
• Jacob Briars, 42 Below Vodka
• John Gakuru, Sagatiba Pura Cachaça - Winner
  

Best Bar Mentor

• Dale "King Cocktail" DeGroff - Winner
• Robert Hess
• Sasha Petraske
• Tony Abou-Ganim

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award

• Brian Rea - Winner
  
• Gary Regan
• Murray Stenson
• Tony Abou-Ganim

(Photo credit: D&C -NY Eater, Murray Stenson, NY Times, and Mayahuel, The Gothamist)

Lounge Essentials: The Modern Travel Bar

Flight 001's F1 To Go Bottles

As I went over in my post on Traveling Like Its 1960, these days one has to get creative to have a cocktail on a jet plane. Sure you can buy what ever swill the flight attendants are hawking for $5.00 but I like to experience high altitude flight my way. So in order to enjoy quality cocktails on the plane to New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail one needs to bring your own in Flight 001's F1 To Go Bottles. In order to execute them, simply ask the flight attendant for a mixer and ice.

For pre-made cocktails that do not require juice or mixer, ask for a bottle of water and cup of ice. Keep the water for post libation hydration and drink your cocktail on the rocks. This will be important for proper dilution which is missing in batching.

Please note, that like the movie theater, Airlines frown upon bringing your own drinks on the plane. So keep this activity discreet but try not to alarm the other passengers who may equate you mixing multi-colored liquids to lighting up a sneaker.

For my 2010 Tales of the Cocktail trip I filled the F1 To Go Bottles with the following:

Alaska Cocktail pre-made

2 oz Plymouth Gin

1/4 oz Yellow Chartreuse

2 dashes of Angostura orange bitters

Request for water and cup of ice. Save the water, serve your drink on the rocks.

Gin and Bitter Truth Celery Bitters

2 1/2 oz of Plymouth Gin

2-3 dashes of celery bitters

Ask for vegetable or tomato juice on the rocks, take a hearty sip then add the Gin/Bitters mix. Stir and enjoy.

Anejo Rum by Don Q - Correct your Coca-Cola on the rocks with Rum.

Campari - Ask for Orange Juice on the rocks, instant Alitalia style eye opener.

Créme de Violette in an aerosol spritzer. I sometimes pre-make Aviations, the spritz of CdV is lovely!

Aromatic bitters in a dropper, because you hang over on the flight back will be much smoother with a few dashes of bitters added to club soda.

Cin-Cin and have a great flight! Next stop Nawlins!

- Fredo

Tales of the Cocktail 2010 Begins Today

New Orleans - The 8th Annual Tales of the Cocktail, a culinary and spirits festival developed by Ann and Paul Tuennerman, kicked off today with a toast at the Hotel Monteleone. The world's best mixologists, bartenders, brand ambassadors, cocktail bloggers, liquor sponsors, and cocktail aficionados descend on the Big Easy for five days of seminars, "Spirited Dinners", competitions, tastings, and brand sponsored parties.

Tales is a bona fide Star Trek convention for spirits enthusiasts. For the second year in a row, Loungerati dispatches their cocktail correspondent and bon vivant Fredo to the Crescent City. This time the man at seat F14 has Media Credentials and will be blogging/tweeting (in between sips) the event on Friday and Saturday. He will also be reporting for the Parkville Luminary, Kansas City's fastest growing weekly publication. Along with the lectures, competitions, tastings, happy hours, and parties, Fredo will be taking time to chronicle the events and sample the local fare. New Orleans isn't all Vieux Carrés and Sazeracs, attending Tales is a great way enjoy the culinary tradition and support the city's tourism.

Fredo's Tales Itinerary

Friday, July 23

• Science of Stirring Seminar with Thomas Waugh, Dave Arnold, and Eben Klemm
• "On the Rocks" Happy Hour - a uber tasting of 23 spirits in one of their purest forms.
• USBG Milagro Tequila Margarita Competition - 28 bartenders from 15 different cities will put their best margaritas up against one another using Milagro Tequila.
• Bar Room Brawl presented by Grand Marnier at Generations Hall - Bar teams from around the country duke it out by creating original cocktails using Grand Marnier. The judges will crown one team the Champions of the World and attendees will determine the People's Champion.

Saturday, July 24th

• Rolling Out the Red Carpet for Rookies Seminar - This session would focus on techniques that experienced bar professionals can use to communicate good cocktail techniques and ingredients to rookie home bartenders. Robert Hess of Drinkboy is a featured Panelist.
• Tiki Now! The New Breed of Tiki Bar Seminar - An investigation and analysis from the death of the Tiki Bar to the resurgence to the new trends emerging.
• The Julep Story from 1488 to the Present Seminar
• Dinner at the Pork & Bourbon mecca Cochon Restaurant with Payman Bahmani of Life's a Cocktail 
• Plymouth Gin Bartender's Breakfast at 11pm!

In addition, he may finagle a seat at the Spirited Awards Ceremony and Dinner presented by Pernod Ricard on Saturday night. This year Tales of the Cocktail did not offer individual tickets but rather sold tables of ten for $650. These were promptly snapped up by liquor brands and sponsors. So hopefully a bit of schmoozing and networking can materialize a seat for the Lounger.

Other activities on the wish list:

• Grab an hour or two of sun by the Hotel Monteleone Rooftop pool
• Muffelata sandwich at Central Grocery (this will also be midnight snack - those friggin sandwiches are enormous)
• Get to a Jazz Bar for the real deal
• Oysters at Acme
• Deliver a package to Rio Mar
• A Pimms Cup at Napoleon House 
• A Vieux Carré at the Carousel bar
• A Sazerac at the Roosevelt Hotel
• Sleep for a few hours and stay hyrdrated

Follow Tales of the Cocktails at Twitter: #totc

Follow Loungerati at Tales: #talesloungers

Tales of the Cocktail 2010: Spirited Awards Nominees

The Spirited Awards nominees for 2010 have been announced. The winners will be crowned  at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award Ceremony and Dinner on Saturday, July 24, 2010 in New Orleans. Tables can be purchased online at www.TalesoftheCocktail.com

We have added our Votes (*) and predictions (W - Winners). A wrap up of the awards after TOTC.

Best American Cocktail Bar
The Clover Club, Brooklyn *
Death & Co, NYC
Rickhouse, San Francisco
The Varnish, Los Angeles (W)

World’s Best Hotel Bar
The Artesian at the Langham, London*
The Bar at The Connaught Hotel, London
Florida Room at The Delano, Florida (W)
Hemingway Bar, Paris

Best Cocktail Writing
CLASS magazine
Gary Regan* (W)
Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller
Naren Young

Best New Product
Celery Bitters, The Bitter Truth
Cocktail Kingdom’s barware* (W)
Crème Yvette by Cooper Spirits
Meehan Cocktail Bag by Jim Meehan

Best American Brand Ambassador
Charlotte Voisey, William Grant Portfolio
Jacques Bezuidenhout, Partida Tequila
Jamie Gordon, Absolut (W)
Tal Nadari, Bols*

World’s Best Drinks Selection
Artesian Bar at The Langham Hotel, London* (W)
Bar Lebensstern in Café Einstein, Berlin
Macao Trading Co, NYC
Widder Bar, Zurich

American Bartender of the Year
Eric Alperin, The Varnish (W)
Kenta Goto, The Pegu Club
Murray Stenson, Zig Zag
Sam Ross, Milk & Honey*

Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book
Beachbum Berry Remixed (W)
Gin Compedndium by Gaz Regan
MudPuddle Books by Greg Boehm*
Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails by Ted Haigh

World’s Best Cocktail Menu
Death & Co, NYC*
Lonsdale, London
Mayahuel, NYC
Rickhouse, San Francisco (W)

International Bartender of the Year
Agostino Perrone, The Connaught Hotel, London
Brian Miller, Death & Co, NYC (W)
Salvatore Calabrese, London
Sam Ross, Milk & Honey, NYC*

World’s Best New Cocktail Bar
Cure, New Orleans
Dutch Kills, Queens*
Mayahuel, NYC (W)
Rickhouse, San Francisco

World’s Best Cocktail Bar
69 Colebrooke Row, London (W)
The Cocktail Bar at The Merchant Hotel, Belfast
Death & Co, NYC*
Quo Vadis, London

Best International Brand Ambassador
Angus Winchester, Tanqueray*
Dan Warner, Beefeater (W)
Jacob Briars, 42 Below
John Gakuru, Sagatiba

Best Bar Mentor
Dale DeGroff
Robert Hess
Sasha Petraske* (W)
Tony Abou-Ganim

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award
Brian Rea
Gary Regan
Murray Stenson* (W)
Tony Abou-Ganim

(source:  Ann Tuennerman of Tales of the Cocktail)

Pre-Tales of the Cocktail Blogger Brunch at Rye House

This past Sunday afternoon, I had the pleasure of joining dozens of my fellow New York cocktail bloggers, barflies, mixoligists, cocktailians, and up and coming industry folks at the Rye House for a libatious Blogger Brunch. The Herbsaint sponsored event was produced by the gang behind Tales of the Cocktail and Selena Ricks of the Dizzy Fizz.

Participants received a complimentary Herbsaint "Louche" which is a mini water drip (pictured) and provided with a delicious brunch and cocktails (natch). 

The drinks featured the sponsoring liqueur Herbsaint, also known as Liqueur d’Anis, which according to Tales of the Cocktail founder Anne Tunermann means "Absinthe" in creole. J.M. Legendre's original formula for this anisette has been lost for decades until now. The kind folks at Sazerac Company, also based in New Orleans, have resurrected prized ingredient for the famous Sazerac cocktail. Herbsaint, which is 90 proof, is available at Astor Wine & Liquers and comes in a vintage designed bottle and label. Below is one of the great Herbsaint cocktails served at the Pre-Tales Blogger Brunch:

Herbsaint Fizz by Rye House's Jim Kearns

3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz simple syrup
1-1/2 oz Herbsaint
1 egg white

Preshake egg white, lemon, simple,  and spirit to emulsify, add ice, shake, serve in a tall glass, top with soda.

For more information about Tales of the Cocktail, contact:

Ann R. Tuennerman

Melissa Young 

Michelle Dunnick

Christina Gaspari

A big thanks to Selena Ricks at the Dizzy Fizz for being the hardest working gal on the scene! 

Loungerati will be Tales of the Cocktail in the Big Easy reporting and imbibing ... what about you?

(Photos courtesy of Lush Life Productions)

Tales of the Cocktail 2010's "Official Cocktail" Announced!

Fresh off the press, it will clearly be Year of the Tiki at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans this July. The "Death in the South Pacific" cocktail submitted by Washington mixologist Evan Martin was crowned Tales' “official cocktail”. More than 150 bartenders worldwide submitted recipes for the event.  I guess we will be packing Hawaiian shirts and the Orgeat syrup this year! Here is the press release:

"Winner of the Official Cocktail Competition. Evan's drink will be the official cocktail of Tales of the Cocktail 2010.

Winning Cocktail and Official Cocktail of Tales of the Cocktail 2010:

Death in the South Pacific

 

0.75 oz. Appleton Estate Extra 12 Year Old rum
0.75 oz. Rhum Clement VSOP rum
0.5 oz. Grand Marnier
0.33 oz. Trader Tiki's Orgeat Syrup
0.33 oz. Fee Brothers Falernum
3 dashes Absinthe
0.5 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
0.5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
0.5 oz. Fee Brothers Grenadine
0.5 oz. Cruzan Blackstrap rum

Method: Add all ingredients except for the grenadine and Cruzan Blackstrap to a Zombie shell glass and fill with crushed ice. Swizzle the drink well to mix and frost the glass and then pour in grenadine. Overfill the glass with crushed ice and then pour in Cruzan Blackstrap.  

Garnish: Take a bamboo skewer and put a brandied cherry through at the very top followed by 1 pineapple leaf (insert through the middle) and then cut off skin from 1 large orange slice and then cut the strips in half. Insert the ends through the skewer having them hang on opposite sides of each other. Then insert the straw through the loop in the bamboo skewer. It should look like a guy hanging off of the drink (cherry=head, pineapple leaf= arms, citrus peel dangling away from each other are the legs)."

(Source and image courtesy of Tales of the Cocktail )

Tales of the Cocktail - 2009 Spirit Award Winners

I arrived at Harrah's Theatre early, lost $20 at slots, then got on line for the weekend's grande finale - 3rd annual Tales of the Cocktail Spirit Awards sponsored by Pernod Ricard USA. I sampled the bar, chatted with a few soon to be winners, grabbed a Blood and Sand, and a seat with a crew of mixologists from Drink Boston. After a whopping set of introductions by funny man Billy Harris, The Tuennermans & Co, and cocktail author Simon Difford, the Spirit Awards were handed out.

And the winners are:

(Drumroll)

Best American Bar: Audrey Saunders' Pegu Club, NYC

Best Hotel Bar in the World: The Merchant Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Best Cocktail Writing 2009: David Wondrich of Esquire Magazine

Best New Product: Bols Genever

Best American Brand Ambassador: Simon Ford for Plymouth Gin

World's Best Drinks Selection: The Merchant Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland

American Bartender of the Year: Jim Meehan of PDT, NYC

Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book: The Essential Cocktail: The Art of Mixing Perfect Drinks by Dale Degroff

World's Best Cocktail Menu - The Merchant Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland

International Bartender of the Year: Tony Conigliaro, Lonsdale, London

World's Best New Cocktail Bar: Julie Reiner's Clover Club, Brooklyn

World's Best Cocktail Bar: Jim Meehan's PDT, NYC

Helen David Life Achievement Award:Peter Dorelli, London

It is clear the New York is still Cocktail Central in 2009! Loungerati is especially proud of our local favorite, The Clover Club. Julie made the trip just in case she won, well congrats!!!

Tales of the Cocktail - Day Two

I woke up pretty early (10am) considering the events of the night before. My head was buzzing as I walked down to Café du Monde for touristy beignets and cafe au lait. They were "OK." I later found a better place for beignets downtown near the hotel called Café Beignet. So after a not satisfying breakfast, I headed back to Hotel Monteleone for a Bloody Mary at the Carousel Bar.

Sadly, I had missed my morning seminar but was soon surrounded by Tales goers - aka a whose who of the industry! So, I washed down the hair of the dog and decided to spend the day walking around the French Quarter. Walked down Bourbon Street, headed over to Central Grocery at 923 Decatur Street for an original Muffaletta (A circular loaf of soft Italian bread is sliced horizontally and piled with salami, ham, and provolone, chopped green and black olives fragrant with anchovies and garlic)and a Peroni. Then went to Saint Louis RC Church for penance.

After lunch followed by a few Hail Mary's, I hit Napoleon House for a their house specialty, the Pimms Cup. What a classic venue! The peeling paint is the real macoy, so is the bar staff, the food, and Southern hospitality. The Napoleon House is a historic Vieux Carre bar that has been slinging cocktails since 1797. Wait, that was before Napoleon!! But whose fact checking after a few Pimms Cups? What a lovely place. Chatted up the bartender about various Pimms Cup variations, and walked away with a souvenir Pimms Collins glass.Yes, I paid for it (this time).

Back to the Carousel Bar where I met with Peche Austin crowd. Good guys who love the craft. Now Austin is a cocktail destination. Meanwhile, Danny Devito was hawking his Lemoncello (yes that is how he spells it) on the Chef and the Fatman live radio broadcast being filmed behind the bar at Monteleone. Every 15 minutes my seat would move toward the chaos of the radio show and then back around. Surreal. After a few go rounds, I decided to retire to the Iberville Suites and take a nap before dinner.

Grabbed dinner at Emeril Lagasse's NOLA. My friend Mona used to bartend at NOLA and sure enough the head bartender, Dean not only remembered her but is still a best friend. Naturally, I got the royale treatment. I opted for the tasting menu with wine pairing (only $55!). Next stop, the W Hotel across Canal Street for a competition.

The "On the Fly Competition", sponsored by Grand Marnier and Navan Vanilla liqueur was MC'd by cocktail blogger Jeffrey Morganthaler. The judges were straight out of a cocktail legends playbook - Tony Abou-Ganim, Bridget Albert, Antoine Gervais, Xavier Herit, Francesco Lafranconi and King Cocktail Dale DeGroff.

The contestants were seasoned mixologists and writers who know their cocktails:

- Giuseppe Gonzalez (Dutch Kills - New York)

- Eric Alperin (The Varnish - Los Angeles)

- Misty Kalkofen (Green Street - Boston)

- David Wondrich (Esquire Magazine - Brooklyn)

- Paul Clarke (Cocktail Chronicles - Seattle)

- Neyah White (NOPA - San Francisco)

- Todd Thrasher (PX Lounge - Virginia)

Ingredients included everything from Tea Forte to BBQ sauce, and the only other catch was that they had to use ½ oz. of either Grand Marnier or Navan. They had thirty minutes to do their work.

Had fun rooting for NYC and what do you know, Giuseppe got the win with his epic Trinidad Sour. Sat with Josh Linson of Tea Forte showing baby pics and discuss cocktails (what else?), then shared a cab across town to Pat O's with some LA bartenders and the truly charming Cheryl Charming. She busted out the iPhone and showed off the Hollywood Cocktails app. 5,000 bar questions, take that Trivial Pursuit!

USBG Leblon Cachaca competition at Pat O's on the water. United States Bartenders Guild had 18 bartenders from 9 cities represent their chapter to compete for the top prize and a golden muddler to bring back to the winning city. Winners this year were Peoples Choice: Tad Carducci (The Tippling Brothers) and Judges Choice: USBG Las Vegas Chapter which was composed of Tobin Ellis and Andrew Pollard.

Tippling brother Tad Carducci (New York) had the winning cocktail!

Masalarinha - A fragrant, Indian-Inspired Caipirinha.

2 oz. Leblon Cachaça

3 quarters lime

1/2 oz. honey

1 2” inch peel of grapefruit

1 1” inch cube of fresh pineapple

1/4 tsp. garam masala powder

1/4 tsp. turmeric for color

Muddle lime, pineapple and honey. Add additional ingredients and ice. Shake and serve over ice.

Tobin Ellis (Las Vegas) - Winning cocktail

São Paulo Flip

1 1/2 oz. Leblon Cachaça

1/2 tsp. apricot & fig preserves

1/2 oz. elderflower liqueur

1 1/2 oz. apricot nectar

2 dashes Peychaud bitters

Lemon Espuma*

Fresh hand charged seltzer

Combine all ingredients in mixing glass. Add ice, shake and then strain. Top with 3/8” Lemon Espuma. Sprinkle with dash of cardamom dust. Etch rosetta pattern with Apricot Coulis.

*Lemon Espuma: In Dessert Whip add 4 oz. fresh lemon juice, 4 oz. pure cane syrup, 4 oz. egg white. Charge mixture with 1 NO2, shake and chill.
(source: Leblon Daily Muddle)

The Grand Marnier after party at Tommy's Wine Bar on Tchoupitoulas