Tales of the Cocktail
| Tales of the Cocktail | |
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Founder Ann Tuennerman speaks to Tales of the Cocktail attendants in front of the Hotel Monteleone
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| Status | Active |
| Genre | Cocktails |
| Venue | Hotel Monteleone |
| Location(s) | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | September 2003 |
| Organized by | New Orleans Culinary & Cultural Preservation Society |
| Website | |
| talesofthecocktail |
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Tales of the Cocktail (sometimes shortened to Tales or TotC) is an annual trade conference, festival, and gathering of cocktail and spirits industry professionals in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference was founded in 2003 by cocktail enthusiast Ann Tuennerman, and as of 2016 hosts between 15,000 and 17,000 ticketed attendants.
Tales of the Cocktail began in 2002 as the New Orleans Original Cocktail Tour, a walking tour of historic New Orleans bars hosted by local cocktail aficionado Ann Tuennerman (née Rogers). In September 2003, Tuennerman celebrated the first anniversary of the tour by hosting Tales of the Cocktail, a small gathering of cocktail enthusiasts and industry professionals that included legendary bartender and writer Dale DeGroff.
After a hiatus following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Tales of the Cocktail returned to New Orleans in 2006 and resumed operation. The event was moved up to July to avoid overlapping with the anniversary of the hurricane, and has taken place in the summer ever since.
Ann Tuennerman retired from Tales of the Cocktail on September 25, 2017. Mrs. Tuennerman informed the diversity council that her husband Paul Tuennerman would be returning to work at Tales. Several members of the council resigned in protest at not being included in the decision. Mrs. Tuennerman resigned soon there after.
Melissa Young is running Tales of the Cocktail as of September, 2017.
Tales of the Cocktail is primarily hosted at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans’ French Quarter, but many events take place at other nearby bars, hotels, and event venues.
In 2007, Tales of the Cocktail launched the Spirited Awards, an annual awards ceremony honoring bars, bartenders, and other industry professionals from around the world. Some of the top awards include American and International categories of Best Cocktail Bar, Bartender of the Year, Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication, World’s Best Cocktail Menu, and numerous others. It is regarded by many as the most prestigious awards ceremony in the cocktail and spirits industry.
In 2011, Tales of the Cocktail launched their international event Tales of the Cocktail on Tour (sometimes shortened to Tales on Tour) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The event has since taken place annually in various cities, including Buenos Aires, Argentina and Mexico City, Mexico. In 2017, Tales of the Cocktail on Tour is slated to take place in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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Wikipedia