Drinking The World

Where do you want to be on Friday October 14th? At the Ultimate Blast!

The Ultimate Beverage Challenge's second annual Ultimate Blast, a consumer, media and trade tasting event returns to New York City. Friday, October 14, 2011 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, 1535 Broadway @ 45th St., NYC.

Ever dream you could go to an amazing tasting where you would learn about the world’s best spirits, cocktails and wines? Where the host encourages you to try a little something from the rarest bottles on his bar – whether wine or spirits – AND he has trays of the most delectable specialty cocktails for you to sip and savor? That dream becomes reality when the second annual ULTIMATE BLAST consumer, media and trade tasting event returns this fall to New York City.

Hosted by Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC), the country’s foremost spirits and wine evaluation company founded by beverage expert and author F. Paul Pacult, this gala tasting event featuring spirits, cocktails and wines will take place on Friday, October 14, 2011 from 5:30pm - 9:30pm at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, New York City. Tickets to this can’t-be-missed event are available now at www.ultimate-beverage.com/blast-info. Through September 15, a 30% Advance Purchase Discount applies to all tickets.

This year at ULTIMATE BLAST, guests can once again look forward to not only being educated about the finest products the beverage alcohol world offers, but also a high-spirited party in a nightclub-like atmosphere. The famed Broadway Ballroom at the Marriott Marquis hotel will feature tables brimming with the best libations as well as branded lounges hosted by major spirits and wine companies that will be decorated to create special and unique ambiances – like a party within a party! Many of the beverages at Ultimate Blast are UBC Chairman's Trophy winners and finalists from the trio of Ultimate Beverage Challenges held earlier this year. All guests will enjoy:

o SPIRITS – hundreds of world-class whiskies, brandies, vodkas, tequilas, rums, gins and more, produced by the world’s finest mainstream and craft producers
o COCKTAILS – scores of thrilling cocktails, created by an array of the world’s best bartenders
o WINES – a bevy of the world’s most acclaimed Champagnes, wines and sparkling wines
o BOOK SIGNINGS – by some of the world’s pre-eminent spirits and cocktail authors
o LIVE MUSIC and FOOD

Says UBC founder F. Paul Pacult: “If you want to have fun this fall, you’ll come to Ultimate Blast and learn about world-class beverages. Period.”

As I ramp up for Nawlins I start thinking about the food. It's one of the top ten food cities in the world. The amalgam of cultures has created a cuisine unique and exciting. So when I read Chuck Taggert of The Gumbo Pages post on the Tales Blog, So where ya'll wanna eat? I just about drooled all over my keyboard.

If you want to know about just some of the tasty treats and exciting eats to be had when in NoLa, just read the post.

And if you want to know where to get a drink afterwards, read his follow-up, Where ya'll wanna drink?

Remember to stay tuned to Drinking the World and the Tales Blog to hear about the next exciting week as we cover the adventures of Tales of the Cocktail 2009.

Drinks in the 1600’s? I saw this seminar title on the list for Tales of the Cocktail 2009 and said to myself, what the heck were they drinking back then? It sure wasn’t whiskey, when was gin invented? Rum? Brandy? More probably wine or beer was the drink of choice because this was centuries before cocktails came about. Modern stills hadn’t been invented yet and liquor was more likely medicine or tonics… than libations. Spirits were hard to make, hard to get your hands on, and much was unknown about them.

I had to know more, so I got in touch with the presenter, Darcy O’Neil, and asked him what it was all about.

Read more