Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/41419
A range of fine teas were used to craft tea- and-whisky cocktails. But while the topics in seminars seemed to focus on minor details, the celebratory events broke records for their large scales. This year's Tales saw the world's largest kopstootje toast (genever slurp) with more than 400 people simultaneously slurping, the world's largest Negroni (more 30 gallons!) and the world's freshest Ramos Gin Fizz, made on site with an egg-laying chicken, freshly milked cow and an imported lemon tree. There were so many brand parties taking place at the same time it was impossible to hit them all—though I certainly tried. This year, the in spirit seemed to be pisco, with nine small brands joining together in one Pisco Pavilion, Macchu Pisco sponsoring a pisco blending session and Pisco Portón sponsoring several seminars and events. And while in past years vodka was most definitely out at Tales of the Cocktail, either top bartenders have given up resisting America's most popular spirit or else they've finally come to appreciate that it can be made with care, craftsmanship and nuance. Vodka events were well attended and staffed with top mixologists. As is becoming usual at Tales, smaller cocktail cities had big repre- sentations. Texas is the state that sends the most bartenders to New Orleans, particularly from Austin and Houston. Though West Coast cities Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and L.A. were strongly represented, we're seeing more Midwest representation from up-and-coming bartenders in places such as Milwaukee (Mathias Simonis), Lafayette (Luke Tullos), and Louisville (Jared Schubert). But Tales' reach is no longer confined to the United States. There was much-increased international presence from superstar bartenders from abroad. I ran into many bartenders I've met throughout the world over the past year, including Marc Bonneton of Lyon, France, winner of the Bacardi Global Legacy cocktail competition; Luca Picci, Negroni expert from Florence, Italy; James Goggin of New Zealand, a competitor in the 42BELOW Cocktail World Cup; and Dmitry Sokolov of Moscow, a competitor in both the Bacardi Global Legacy competition in Barcelona and the Angostura Cocktail Challenge in Trinidad. Beyond the people and parties and seminars, a highpoint of Tales is the Spirited Awards ceremony recognizing the best bars, bartenders and brand ambassadors in the U.S. and internationally. And as I was the winner this year of the Best Cocktail Writing award, it was a personal highpoint as well. september 201 1 / the tasting panel / 93 Marc Bonneton of Lyon, France, winner of the Bacardi Global Legacy cocktail competition.