Tales of the Cocktail on Tour Vancouver 2012
byLast year Tales of the Cocktail (“TOTC”), the legendary New Orleans-based festival for bartenders, mixologists, and lovers of libations, went on tour for the first time and was hosted in Vancouver. It was such a success that it has returned for a second year to celebrate the city’s emerging cocktail culture.
Held once again at the stunning Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, the festival continues to grow with several new events including five tasting rooms, Meet the Maker, a specialty coffee bar and the Mott’s Clamato Caesar Bar.
Toasted at events throughout the four days will be Jacob Sweetapple’s Roaming Buffalo Punch, the official cocktail of Tales of the Cocktail on Tour Vancouver 2012. The Vancouver mixologist’s bourbon, Cointreau and cognac concoction was chosen by a panel of cocktail experts from more than 50 submissions by Canada’s most accomplished bartenders.
Last year I interviewed Jay Jones about TOTC coming to Vancouver. Jay is Consulting and Founding member of the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association and Lead Bartender at Market by Jean-George at the Shangri-La. He was also recently named Canada’s Top Bartender by EnRoute Magazine. He told me previously that hosting this smaller festival, based on the New Orleans event, reflects Vancouver and also Canada’s growing cocktail culture. “We’re known for our hospitality, natural beauty, restaurants, chefs, wine, and environment, and now you can add ‘great cocktails’ to form a complete package.”
Events
These are just a few of the events lined up each day:
Sunday February 12, 2012
Registration and Cabaret St. Germain Welcome Cocktails as well as the Hollywood North Official Party presented by PMA Canada and William Grant & Sons.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Coffee Bar presented by Amarula Cream, Frangelico, Irish Mist and Tullamore Dew.
Meet the Maker Tasting Presented by American Distilling Institute and Legacy Liquor Stores with 7 Tasting Rooms: DiSaronno & Tia Maria Tasting Room, Havana Cultura, A Mad Tea Party, 150 Years of Bacardi, Around the World in Whisky Days, Lifford Lounge, Hendrick’s Gin Tasting Emporium, Hendrick’s Monday Soiree
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Coffee Bar presented by Amarula Cream, Frangelico, Irish Mist and Tullamore Dew
Your choice of 3 Seminars: Born to Mix with Dushan Zaric, Punch and Beyond: Colonial American Drinks with Wayne Curtis, Bitter Not Twisted with Jacob Briars, Tequila Evolved with Eric Lorenz, Charlotte Voisey and Iván Saldaña
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Bartenders’ Brunch presented by Mott’s Clamato
Farewell Vancouver, Hello New Orleans Lunch presented by Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Fireball Whisky and Jazzmen Rice
Tickets
You can get a pass for all of these events, valued at $575, for $195.
Spirited Dinner Series
Not included in the pass price, you can choose from 8 separate Spirited Dinner Series events all happening on Monday night. Tickets can be purchased individually for these events if you’re not planning on attending the rest of the festival. Choose from East Meets West at Granville Room, Vodka’s Dead Long Live Belvedere! at Chambar Restaurant, Hendrick’s Gin Spirited Dinner at West Restaurant + Bar, A Spirited Affair at The Waldorf Hotel, Twisted Classics at The Refinery, Genever Say Never at MARKET by Jean-Georges, La Belle Époque at Kale and Nori, or Sazerac Southern Style at Hawksworth.
Follow @TOTC on Twitter for festival updates.
