How Many Seattle Bartenders Can Fill Up Tales of the Cocktail 2010?
There is no event that brings together such talent in one industry as the Tales of the Cocktail. Held in the firm grip of summer in New Orleans, at the legendary Hotel Monteleone, Tales is a frat party for cocktail geeks, a platform for new and interesting spirits, a culmination of the great minds in the industry, and an excuse to drink cocktails in class. Seminars range from "Creativity and the Power of Brainstorming" (our own contribution) to "Old Tom Gin," "Self-Publishing," and the "Fine Art of Negotiation." The subject matter covers professional series and introduction for newcomers, but all are geared toward the spirit soaked, and the spirit forward.
Seattle, few can argue, has one of the most thriving cocktail scenes in the country, but it’s banishment to the far northwest coast leaves it forever in the shadow of New York. While the mammoth city will forever drive trends in food, fashion, and now cocktail, here right under your nose, where sourcing fine spirits is far harder than anywhere in the country, there is a revolution stirring with no sign of dilution. it a resurgence in class and taste, barmen and woman, revitalizing the dignity of a craft that we’ve not experienced in roughly 100 years.
This greatness is exemplified by Seattle’s representation at Tales. You can’t flick a cold draft cube without hitting a bartender, blogger, author, or ambassador who hails from the Emerald City (pictured to the left, Evan Martin, Jim Romdall and Thomas Bondesson … good NW boys!). Throw in Portland and we could take the entire east coast for a bar crawl of no comparison. And for the record, we always throw down for Portland.
Representatives of nearly every great cocktail bar in Seattle were in attendance at Tales, and not merely as attendees, as panelist, experts, contest winners, brand representatives, bloggers, media and honored guests. Roberts Hess, author and cocktail historian, and "Drink Boy", a great resource for anything cocktail was honored at the opening reception and presented at more than a couple seminars.
Andrew Boeher, writer of Cask Strength and barman at Mistral Kitchen carved 600 ice balls with Anu Apte and Zane Harris of Rob Roy for the Mad Men themed awards party.
Anu, Andrew and Zane carving like mad!
Ted Munat launched Left Coast Libations, a beautiful cocktail book featuring "the Art of West Coast Bartenders," and Small Screen Networks, a webisode network based out of Seattle was on hand to document the event, taping the highlights of the conference.
“Drink Boy” – Robert Hess holding up a copy of Left Coast Libations
Kathy Casey Food Studios® and Liquid Kitchen™ returned to Tales to present a pro-series seminar “Creativity and the Power of Brainstorming.” We outlined the creative nature of developing drinks for menus, brands, or contests - to a room full of already creative individuals and then we challenged them on the spot, to create a great cocktail with whatever was on their table. (Pictured to the right, seminar participants develop a drink with the ingredients found on their table.)The winning cocktail was aptly named "Morris Day and the Thyme," there were a few explicative’s thrown in as well, so be creative with your own version of the name. The drink included Hendricks Gin, Catdaddy Moonshine, fresh lime juice, cucumber, honey and fresh thyme. The winners took home a great bar roll kit from UberBartools.
--Kathy Casey and Cameo McRoberts
© Copyright 2010 by Kathy Casey Food Studios®
For more Dishing with Kathy Casey and recipes visit www.kathycasey.com/blog. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kathycaseychef. Become a Facebook fan at Sips & Apps.
hanklbutler on August 18, 2010 at 08:40 PM
remember when we depended on legendary distillers to make great whisky that didn't need to be perfumed? america is more effete than i care to admit...
Jason on August 19, 2010 at 10:29 AM
Well the cocktail did originate in the US, back sometime in the early 19th century, I think, as a breakfast drink.