Tales of the Cocktail is a spirited cocktail festival that takes place every year in New Orleans, Louisiana. We went for a few days to experience this 7th annual festival that took place between July 8 – 12, 2009!

He Said

If you are a bartender, a bar owner, a cocktail drinker, or none of the above, Tales of the Cocktail is where you should be.  For those in the business TOTC is an invaluable resource, one that you should never go with out.  It was overflowing with in-depth instruction, the latest news, products, and trends, everything needed to further your cocktail knowledge. Ok, with that out of the way let me tell you why you REALLY should go.  It’s New Orleans, the birthplace of the cocktail, and only New Orleans can bring you a good time like this!  From the moment TOTC kicks off it’s packed with nonstop events, from demonstrations and seminars (samples included) to tasting rooms (a good place to go while waiting for the next seminar!), parties, and even a traditional NOLA funeral where a cocktail is laid to rest!

Now being a newbie not only to this festival but for cocktails in general, I’ve found TOTC not only an insanely good time, but a huge eye opener. Before this, my idea of a cocktail was the neon green oversized slushy looking thing from those chain restaurants that will remain nameless. Man was I mistaken!  I’ve been formally introduced to such drinks as the Old Fashioned, the Pisco Sour, the Ramos Gin Fizz, the Corpse Reviver 2 amongst many more. Thanks to the Tales of the Cocktail for expanding my palette and my knowledge. I’m looking forward to next year. I should be fully recovered by the time it rolls around!

 

She Said

Tales of the Cocktail was filled with fun, cocktail delights, and an education that every 21-something should have.  During each seminar, we were given drink, after drink, after drink! We must have samples around 4 – 5 drinks per seminar not counting the free drinks in the tasting rooms, which were held in between seminars. (My favorite tasting room was the Gin and Tonic one!) All of the cocktails were samples of the past, present, and of future trends, so it was interesting to taste how cocktails changed over time. 

Speaking of trends, TOTC was such a trendy experience because it was filled with all these guys and girls who were all wearing their bar outfits and their gangster hats, that were just so bad boy/bad girl like.  I totally felt left out in my button down dress shirts!  (Mental note for trendy rock outfits for next year!)

As a gossip girl, I was so excited to hear that Danny Devito was going to make a radio appearance at Chef and the Fat Man show at the Carousel Bar!  We got there really early and watched the whole show!  I was so excited too because celebrity Chef Besh actually showed up!  He has a restaurant called Besh Steak over in Harrah’s! (We ate there our last visit and it was delicious!) Danny, Rhea, and Chef Besh all have great personalities and it was mesmerizing watching them in real life!

Overall, TOTC was a great experience!  It had something for everyone’s level of cocktail expertise and it was nothing like a typical conference! (People were very chatty and outgoing as you can imagine!)  The seminars were over around 4ish and there were some activities through TOTC to do at night.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have tickets, but that didn’t stop us from hitting Bourbon St, Harrah’s, and the Garden District! 

Guy and Girl Travels Tip: Get your tickets early!
We missed out on a lot of TOTC events because we got our tickets too late!