Fact Sheet and Overview

Tales of the Cocktail is a dining and drinking experience for the connoisseur or amateur to fully experience cocktail culture in New Orleans and around the world. Tales of the Cocktail has “shaken and stirred” the New Orleans French Quarter annually since 2002. With more than 20 events during a three-day period, Tales of the Cocktail hosts thousands of guests, both locals and tourists with the support of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau and the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation.

In 2005, Tales of the Cocktail featured:

• Cocktail Hour:  An event that allowed guests to meet and greet authors of cocktail and culinary literature, purchase autographed copies, taste classic and contemporary cocktails preferred by the authors and dishes made with spirits on-site by local chefs.
• Spirited Dinners:  Nineteen famous New Orleans restaurants featured dinner pairings with unique menus designed by a chef and cocktail book author. Each course was paired with a cocktail and guests dined and mingled with the authors during dinner.
• Panel Discussions and Seminars :  Masters in their professions of bartending, spirits consulting, cooking and drink-mixing presented five seminars and discussions.
• VIP Southern Comfort Cocktail Tour:  Guests experienced a 2-hour tour through the French Quarter explaining the history and secrets behind the famous bars and restaurants and the spirits and characters they are known for.
• Mix-It-Up: A popular section of the fashionable Magazine Street was the site for a block party with cocktail tastings in 16 sophisticated and stylish shops with music by local DJs.
• Dine & Design:  A fabulous luncheon at Brennan’s restaurant featured local designer and author, Beverly Church, who presented ideas for entertaining in the home, from backyard weddings to holiday table decorations.

Tales of the Cocktail in 2005 Hosted:

• 20 Events over a three-day weekend, the majority sold to maximum capacity
• 35 Authors/Mixologists as special guests, including Dale DeGroff, Anistatia Miller, Jared Brown, and Tony Abou-Ganim of the Fine Living Network
• 303 print stories in local and national media (an increase of 200 since ’04)
• 55.2 million media impressions (an advertising value of $598,000)
• Increased liquor sales at accounts for Southern Comfort, the 2005 title sponsor

2005 Media Coverage:

Media coverage for the event included excellent pre and post-event stories in national outlets including:

What’s in Store for 2006!

July 19-23, 2006 marks the fourth annual Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.

The New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society, dedicated to preserving New Orleans’ dining and drinking history, and raising funds for members of the hospitality industry, is producing the event. The Society’s mission is to preserve the rich history of the restaurants and bars of New Orleans and the unique culture of dining and drinking famous to the city, and to educate locals, visitors and the hospitality industry, about this culinary heritage.

New events in 2006 include:

• Seminars and discussions with VIP hosts on subjects including:
  • Get the Hot Dish
  • The Flavor of New Orleans
  • Classic New Orleans Cocktails
  • Pairing Cocktails and Food
  • Tools of the Trade – Setting up Your Home Bar
  • Absinthe Discussion
  • Libations and Literature
  • Hot Drinks Cool Bars
  • Pie-tini’s and Cake-tails
  • South of the Border – Down Mexico Way
  • Cooking with Comfort
  • Books and Beignets: Talking about Writing about Drinking
  • Bourbon Academy
  • Bubbly Brunch
    

• “Sippin’ with 7,” a contemporary cocktail party the explores party themes
• World premiere of the documentary, “In the Spirit – The Tale of the Cocktail”
• “Martinis and Makeovers” at Belladonna Spa
• Certified bartending course from Bartend.com

For a complete schedule and list of presenters, visit www.TalesoftheCocktail.com