Highlights from Tales of the Cocktail

Tales of the Cocktail kicked off in traditional style with a toast to the cocktail infront of the festival’s hub, the Monteleone Hotel in New Orleans’ Royal Street.

As revellers welcomed Tales back to the city for another year, a flash mob of 60s dancers paying tribute to the “return” of the Harvey Wallbanger, got the party started.

For Tales founders Ann and Paul Tuennerman, the beginning of the festival marked the culmination of a whole year’s work to attract thousands of cocktail enthusiasts from across the industry, to New Orleans’ French Quarter.

On a more serious note, attendees were encouraged to get involved in one of the many intriguing seminars being held throughout the festival. One of the first of the event was the Deconstruction of Scotch whisky, an exploration into the styles created by William Grant, and included a tasting of the soon-to-be-released Kininvie 23 Year Old and Girvan Patent Still 25 Year Old. The seminar was led by William Grant’s Mitch Bechard and Lorne Cousin.

Who says vodka is dead? It’s the second-largest selling spirit in the world yet some bars refuse to stock it in their bars. Bacardi’s Jacob Briars, along with William Grant’s Charlotte Voisey, bartender Naren Young and Ryan Magarian explored the issue in the seminar Behold the Trojan Horse!

Anchor Distilling Company presented one of the best opportunities at the show to taste some of the finest whisky from around the world, with representation from Scotland, the US and Japan.

But for those looking for a bit more innovation than single malts, William Grant gave visitors one of the first opportunities to try its Girvan Patent Still grain whisky in a pop-up tasting room.

Those attending seminars were rewarded for the hard work, concentration and – mostly – lack of snoring during presentations, with regular iliquid refreshment, provided by the event’s CAP Bartenders.

There was respite and sound advise in the Mind, Body and Soul classes every morning, which taught bartenders how to manage stress, and apparently fly.

You couldn’t walk down Royal Street during Tales without seeing this guy. Probably the deepest tan you’ll ever encounter.

Ludo Ducrocq (right), head of brand ambassador advocacy at William Grant, welcomed Hudson whiskey’s first US brand ambassador to Tales, Han Shan (left).

The team from St. George Spirits had it going on at the Craft and Independent Distillers Happy Hour. The guys were joined by the likes of Broker’s Gin, Corsair Distillery, Gonzalez Byass, High West Distillery and many more.

Whisky writer Dave Brrom teamed with Steven Marshall from Bacardi and Ryan Chetiyawardana for a Scotch geek-out as they discussed the value of worm tubs, and Bacardi’s new Scotch selection.

Staying innovative and creative when hosting a tasting room can be tricky, but Purity Vodka gave visitors to its pop-up room a trip around the world with the brand, trying it out in a variety of different cocktail styles. Oskar Johansson and Johan Evers represented Swedenwith their fdrink, Nordic Summer, which features a spruce and anise syrup.

Bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana unveiled the new look for White Lyan’s interior. Seriously, this fun mural was used to make a point about the availability of information on the internet, in one of Tales’ insightful SED presentations, based on the popular TED talks.

Lillet’s snack stand, located in the foyer of the Monteleone, provided liquid refreshment and a little something to line the stomach.

Aside from the seminars and tasting rooms frolicking, the larger spirits groups gave invited guests a chance to let their hair down in style. William Grant’s portfolio party, based at a disused airport terminal, took guests back in time to discover the thrills of aviation through a maze of different, themed tasting rooms, including this ice cream and waffles parlour.

William Grant, not to be outdone by a competitor, up the ante with the inclusion of a camel at its party.

Meanwhile, Diageo transported guests to a warehouse festival full of quirky bars inspired by its brands. Guests could order a Johnnie Walker from one of these bath house attendees and pair it with a Red Stripe fished out from an ice bath.

But the highlight of the evening events had to be the Spirited Awards, which took place at the Sheraton Hotel on Saturday (19 July) night. Alex Kratena, representing the team at The Artesian at The Langham London Hotel, took home four awards, not before dousing himself with Champagne in celebration on centre stage.

Toward the end of the evening, the legendary Dale DeGroff took to the stage to bust out a little crooning with jazz accompaniment.