Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/61075
TALES OF THE COCKTAIL Tales Takes Vancouver! T he second annual Tales of the Cocktail Vancouver took place this February, centered in the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel but spread throughout the city. This smaller version of the annual New Orleans event offers some of the best of what happens in the Big Easy, along with celebrations of local flavor. Attendees were encouraged to get out and explore the city's cocktail culture with the BC Bar Crawl, involving more than 20 watering holes. Each featured a special drink for Tales, and bar-hoppers could get a "passport" stamped when trying each one. Revelers who completed the entire passport could submit it for a chance to win a trip to New Orleans. Bartenders went all out for the week, with carbonated, barrel-aged, and bottled cocktails found on menus around town. Conference guests also hit the local restaurants for pairing dinners, in which multi-course meals were paired with brands and bartenders who made special drinks for each course. Local spirits brands were also given the opportunity to present their wares to the public at the Meet the Maker and other tasting events at the hotel. These small brands were joined by larger ones in tasting suites, including Hendrick's, Beefeater and Havana Club rum—a real treat for visitors from the U.S., where this authentic Cuban brand is embargoed. The treats for Vancouverites, though, were the six seminars that took place over the course of one day. Sessions were chosen from the most popular semi- nars at Tales New Orleans, so Canadian bartenders had access to the very best content and connoisseurs. Audrey Saunders of Pegu Club and author Harold McGee talked about the science of dilution, while Dushan Zaric of Employees Only in New York spoke on the right spirits for mixology. In an explosive session, author Wayne Curtis demonstrated proof in spirits by igniting rum soaked in gunpowder. Capping off each day were gala parties: Hendrick's "Wedding of the Century" in which cucumber and rose were married, William Grant's glamorous Hollywood North party and the Bitter Bash, the official closing party of Tales Vancouver, a red-hued blowout thrown by Campari on Valentine's Day. Tales Vancouver may be smaller than its New Orleans sibling, but in the same way it puts the spotlight on local mixology while offering expertise from international industry superstars. COCKTAIL TAKES PLACE IN NEW ORLEANS JULY 25–29, 2012. TALES OF THE CAMPER ENGLISH GETS IN THE SPIRIT AT THE CANADIAN EDITION OF NOLA'S ANNUAL BASH Danielle Tatarin of the Keefer Bar makes drinks at Campari's Bitter 100 / the tasting panel / april 2012 Bash at Tales of the Cocktail Vancouver. PHOTO: CAMERON SMITH