Drinking The World

It's been awhile since I last wrote anything here. I got a new laptop from DELL before going to Tales of the Cocktail, and it was a lemon. First the touchpad was broken and kept making the cursor arrow jump all over the place and click on things and close programs. Then the tech breaks the motherboard when trying to fix it, then comes back with a new motherboard and breaks the top of the case, but it's the evening before my early morning flight to tales and I need the laptop, so I take it with me.

On the plane I rough out several articles about seminars I plan to attend, thinking I'll get a jump on them, but the laptop starts acting up. The new touchpad is closing programs and deleting what I am writing. I finally get everything saved and close up the damn demon possessed machine.

My seminars that I a planned to write about were in the first day or so of tales, and I write up the stories. I go to post them here and can't get an internet connection in the hotel. I finally do and just as I am about to post them the laptop has a fatal, catastrophic failure. I try to get it back up an dafter two days I manage it, but everything is gone. At that point I gave up and just dived into the crazy days of Tales. Ouch.

When I am over the agony of the demon machine I will try to re-write about Tales. Or maybe just a few of my adventures. But don't hold your breath.

Tales of the Cocktail is just days away. I'm trying to get ready, new seersucker suit, vintage 1920's boater hat, bottling up a few cases of prototype products to hand out, and putting together my schedule for the seven days I'll be in New Orleans. Like usual, my schedule is way overbooked; and some really great events, dinners, etc. aren't even scheduled yet. But here is my schedule to date. It looks like over 50 items are on the list so far, just for one week. I hope I survive. Schedule after the jump.

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It's just 14 days until Tales of the Cocktail 2010. For the past few weeks I thought that I might not be able to make it due to business conflicts, but I'm back on track and raring to go. I even have a new collection of Tiki shirts and Panama hats, a seersucker suit, and a vintage Boater hat from the 1920's, so I can look my best while I handle the summer heat.

Check out the line-up of seminars and events. As well as the spirited lunches and dinners, competitions, and tasting events. Make sure you get your tickets before they are all sold out. I recommend one of the packages to get the best deal.

I'm signed up for some interesting seminars like: From Convicts to Cocktailsians, A Shot of the Black Stuff- Amazing Amaros and Brilliant Bitters, Science of Stirring, Techniques and Problems of Historical Cocktails, and The Julep Story from 1488 to Present. And I'll also be attending some great VIP events like: The Drambuie @ The Rusty Nail, Grey Goose Behind the Bar, Beefeater Gin's Welcome Reception (guaranteed to be an amazing event), William Grant and Sons - Promenade of Jubilation, Diageo's cocktail Hour, Ricard's Midnight Petanque (I have to brush up on my game), Grand Marnier's Bar Room Brawl, Plymouth Gin's Bartender Breakfast, and of course the Award Ceremony (If I can get a seat at a table from someone, since the tables are all sold out.)

See you in NOLA!

It's just 75 days until Tales of the Cocktail 2010, which will be held in New Orleans, LA from July 21-25. This will be my third year as a contributing writer. I'm looking forward to covering the largest cocktail event in the world. This year there is an even better line-up of seminars than before. Also there are a ton of fantastic spirited lunches and dinners, competitions, and tasting events. Make sure you get your tickets before they are all sold out. I recommend one of the packages to get the best deal.