N'awlins city of music, food, parties, parades, Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street, and just plain decadence! What's there not to love about New Orleans. It has a fusion of French, Acadian, Creole, Cajun, Dixie, Haitian, Caribbean, and good 'ol Southerners that has created some of the most unique culinary dishes, cocktail libations, celebrations, and music genres. Toss in some voodoo, mojo, and swampy geography and you have one of the most colorful, partying, celebrating, boozin', cookin', and spectacular cities in the world.
It's also the host of the Tales of the Cocktail, the international festival of cocktails, and this was our third year to attend this spectacular event. Here are some facts on this festival.
It's also the host of the Tales of the Cocktail, the international festival of cocktails, and this was our third year to attend this spectacular event. Here are some facts on this festival.
Laissez le Bon temp rouler Let the good times roll!
FACT SHEET-Tales of the Cocktail®, the internationally acclaimed festival of cocktails, cuisine and culture, returns to shake things up in New Orleans, July 20-24, 2011. The event mixes the best and brightest of the cocktail community—award-winning mixologists, authors, bartenders and chefs—for a five-day celebration of the history and craft of cocktails. 
To put the event in quantifiable terms you can chew on, Tales of the Cocktail® 2010 used 207.2 gallons of bitters, 2800 Driscoll’s blackberries, 1305 cucumber slices, 1320 egg whites, 1760 lemon twists, 2902 mint sprigs, 995 orange wheels, 475 ginger slices and 18,750 sets of taste buds that were delighted during the five-day festival.WHERE:It’s only fitting that New Orleans, the birthplace of the Sazerac cocktail, serves as the permanent home of Tales of the Cocktail®. The narrow French Quarter streets that gave rise to the Brandy Crusta and the Ramos Gin Fizz provide the perfect backdrop of history and culture for the annual affair. Just as it’s been from the start of Tales of the Cocktail®, the historic Hotel Monteleone will serve as the festival’s official headquarters in 2011.
WHO: Ann Tuennerman founded Tales of the Cocktail® in 2003, combining her passions for the history of New Orleans and a well crafted cocktail. http://www.talesofthecocktail.com/
Although there are several events, classes, and activities to attend, these are the events we attended.
Thursday, July 21-Cocktails From Around the World:Diageo Happy Hour-The Presbytere -A journey around the globe & enjoy cocktails from each of the continents, created by 40 of the World’s most internationally-acclaimed mixologists.
Mixologist-Around the World Event
Spirited Dinner-8:00 pm-Red Fish Grill-Celebrate the Musicians of New Orleans-5 course meal paired w/ cocktails. Music, the characters, Gulf seafood, and the musicians-Johnny Vidavich, Charmaine Neville & Rockin Dopsie!
Mixologist-Giles Looker from Great Britain
Rhonda w/ musician Charmaine Neville
1st cocktail pairing
Greg w/3rd cocktail pairing
Friday, July 22-USBG Bacardi Pina Colada Cocktail Competition-The Foundry-At this competiton you were given a wooden nickel to vote for your choice of the winning Pina Colada. This was a fantastic event complete w/17 different Pina Coladas seasoned with everything from caramelized pineapple, coffee liqueurs, to peppers! There was a great Rhumba band, food, and a wonderful festive party feel to this event! One of my favs of the three Tales of the Cocktail in the past years I've attended.
Tales of the Cocktails Founder Ann Tuennerman
Makin' new friends!
Party Like a Don!Presented by Don Julio Tequila, 2012 is the 70th anniversary of the year that Don Julio González began creating his revolutionary tequilas, and we're starting the celebration early! Join Tequila Don Julio and Master Distiller Enrique de Colsa at a festive fête celebrating the life of the Don and the legacies of his inventive tequilas, which were the first tequilas worthy of the respectful title "Don." Be transported to 1940's Guadalajara - the birthplace of Mexico's most popular ultra-premium tequila - and enjoy traditional cuisine and music that will bring you back to the moment when Don Julio's handcrafted tequilas were born. ¡Salud!
Our new friend again!
She does know her tequila!
This is one of the reasons I luvs N'awlins-well dressed men & women in hats!
New Friend-2010 Blues Luncheon
Old Friend now-2011-Pina Colada Competition
WHO: Ann Tuennerman founded Tales of the Cocktail® in 2003, combining her passions for the history of New Orleans and a well crafted cocktail. http://www.talesofthecocktail.com/
Although there are several events, classes, and activities to attend, these are the events we attended.
Thursday, July 21-Cocktails From Around the World:Diageo Happy Hour-The Presbytere -A journey around the globe & enjoy cocktails from each of the continents, created by 40 of the World’s most internationally-acclaimed mixologists.
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Mixologist-Around the World Event   |
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| Mixologist-Giles Looker from Great Britain |
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Rhonda w/ musician Charmaine Neville |
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| 1st cocktail pairing |
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| Greg w/3rd cocktail pairing |
Friday, July 22-USBG Bacardi Pina Colada Cocktail Competition-The Foundry-At this competiton you were given a wooden nickel to vote for your choice of the winning Pina Colada. This was a fantastic event complete w/17 different Pina Coladas seasoned with everything from caramelized pineapple, coffee liqueurs, to peppers! There was a great Rhumba band, food, and a wonderful festive party feel to this event! One of my favs of the three Tales of the Cocktail in the past years I've attended.
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| Tales of the Cocktails Founder Ann Tuennerman |
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| Makin' new friends! |
Party Like a Don!
Presented by Don Julio Tequila, 2012 is the 70th anniversary of the year that Don Julio González began creating his revolutionary tequilas, and we're starting the celebration early! Join Tequila Don Julio and Master Distiller Enrique de Colsa at a festive fête celebrating the life of the Don and the legacies of his inventive tequilas, which were the first tequilas worthy of the respectful title "Don." Be transported to 1940's Guadalajara - the birthplace of Mexico's most popular ultra-premium tequila - and enjoy traditional cuisine and music that will bring you back to the moment when Don Julio's handcrafted tequilas were born. ¡Salud!
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| Our new friend again! |
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She does know her tequila! This is one of the reasons I luvs N'awlins-well dressed men & women in hats!  New Friend-2010 Blues Luncheon  Old Friend now-2011-Pina Colada Competition  |
