Founded in 2002, Tales of the Cocktail (TOTC) started as an annual walking tour of historic New Orleans cocktail bars and has grown into a premier cocktail fest, still going strong 18 years later. The 2020 Tales of the Cocktail will be a free digital conference held from Monday, September 21, through Thursday, September 24. This will be the first time that the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) has had to hold their conference completely digitally. This year's event features educational seminars, tastings, competitions, and networking events.
Starting Monday, August 31, guests will be able to create
their own schedules.
The first day of the conference, September 21, starts at 9:30 a.m. Enjoy the day learning and
trying new cocktails and spirits, then watch as the winners from select
categories of the Spirited Awards are announced. Thursday starts at 3 p.m. with
"Raise a Glass: 2020 Spirited Awards Ceremony Preshow." During this time, the
winners from Monday night will speak on the award they won. At 4 p.m., the 14th
Annual Spirited Awards Ceremony will begin. This is where the rest of the
winners will be announced.
The first winners will be announced on Monday, September 21,
as awards are doled out for honors ranging from the best restaurant or cocktail
bar to the best cocktail-related book or publication to the best spirits brand
ambassador. At the Annual Spirited Awards Ceremony, the rest of the winners will
be announced, for awards such as Bartender of the Year and World's Best Bar. For
more information about the Spirited Awards Ceremony, the categories, and the
nominees, refer to the Digital
Playbill.
With this year's conference being so unprecedented, the Tales
of the Cocktail Foundation wants to let guests know what to expect on their
screens. First there will be morning welcomes, when attendees will be able to
see a virtual lobby. There will be pre-recorded seminars, mentor office hours,
roundtable discussions, and virtual brand experiences available to all. Tales
of the Cocktail will have live panel discussions and live Q&As.
Additionally, attendees have access to the bookstore, the Dame Hall of Fame,
and the Spirited Awards Ceremony. The Guide
for TOTC 2020 gives an overview of the seminar selection process, shares
the Education Advisory Committee Members' picks for what not to miss on the
schedule, and lists recipes for seminars and brand events that are a part of
this year's event (so you can drink while you watch).
The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a nonprofit organization
that has a mission to educate, advance, and support the global drink industry. It
is an organization that does its best to address and solve key issues in the
hospitality industry, and the foundation believes that education can greatly
help bolster the industry. The foundation supports its communities with
financial support and promotion for organizations that have shown dedication
throughout history and promise for the future of the hospitality sector.
To register for Tales of the Cocktail, click HERE.
