Apéritif
Tales of the Cocktail is a festival to bring those passionate about cocktails together for seminars, tastings, networking and celebration. Distillers, bartenders, brand ambassadors and cocktails geeks come from all over the world for this industry event. .
Yours truly will be live-blogging the convention this year. Here we go.
DAY 3
Last night's dinner at Doris Metropolitan with Martin Miller's Gin was incredible. Whether tonics or negronis, the cocktails hit the spot. Doris, as always, didn't disappoint: Tuna tartare, calamari, foie gras on brioche, and wagyu hanger steak with roasted fennel pleased the other dinner guests and I for sure.
William Grant & Sons threw an amazing party at the WWII Museum. Several decade-themed rooms as well as the outdoor dedicated to "the future" with guys on motorized kegs wheeling around and post-apocalyptic bartender dress code.
Today Amaro Montengro showed off three new cocktails in the Hotel Monteleone's Capote Suite: A Montenegro Mule, a Montenegro Negroni, and a Montenegro Manhattan. The cocktails were paired with appropriate performances by a Russian ballet dancer, a Venetian contortionist, and a burlesque dancer.
Several tasting rooms and the London Gin pool party took over the hotel also. Sandeman took over the 15th floor with a luge in the shape of their sandeman logo, a lady making bon bons, and several people dressed in costumes. The Royal Sonesta was home to Glenfiddich, a hilarious Hendricks "tea party," and Balvenie's monogrammed coasters. The Absolut Elyx house, complete with Swedish brunch and personalized jewelry opened today also to great acclaim.
St. Germain (accompanied by Grey Goose) opened their "French Embassy" as well with several cocktails, hand-rolled cigars dipped in D'usse Cognac, and tintype photographer Victoria Will photographing guests.
Ann Tuennerman and her consort and co-founder Paul did a Dynamic Duo (Trio?) at Napoleon House with Marc Dekuyper, featuring Mandarine Napoleon. The event was extremely well attended with everyone trying to "Conquer Tales." Good times.
Up Next:
Spirited Dinner "Aperitivo" with Disaronno. The Bar Fight at Generations Hall.
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Andrew Marin writes about cocktails and food for Where Y’at Magazine, and his liver is running the Tales gauntlet again this year. Follow him @ndrewmarin on Twitter and Instagram and add andrewmarin on Snapchat for live updates.
