Spirited Cocktails

The fact is, there’s so much going on here at Tales of the Cocktail that I barely have time to blog (at least not in a way that will do the event justice.) So here’s the deal: I’ve decided to provide regular updates via Twitter (which will constrain my thoughts to 140 characters each), and I’m going to share initial impressions here with you now. Then when I get back to New York, I’m going to write up a detailed post that covers all of the nitty-gritty, and highlights the best of what I’ve seen. Read More

As with many of my inebriated brethren, I’m packing up this week and heading to New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail for what’s sure to be five days of unbridled debauchery; the way New Orleans should be.

So for those of you who have been before, or those who are just smarter than I am: as I pack, what am I forgetting?

@Mr_Cocktail, an organizer of the conference, tweeted a few suggestions the other day: sunglasses, business cards, and extra suitcase for swag – all good ideas. But what else am I missing? For those of you who have already landed in NOLA – what should I know?

This is going to be fun. Next message from the site of Tales of the Cocktail 2009. See you there!
-Josh

I had the extreme pleasure this past July 4th weekend to journey 90 miles north of New York City to visit Tuthilltown Spirits – the home of one of my all-time favorite whiskeys, Hudson Baby Bourbon.

Physically located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, near New Paltz, NY, Tuthilltown Spirits is the spiritual center of a revival that has been a long-time coming. Humility takes over when distillery partner Ralph Erenzo talks about his craft. He says, “There’s nothing magic here – It’s just whiskey. Really good whiskey.” But one need only set foot on the grounds of Tuthilltown Spirits to know differently, and none other than the New York Times agrees. Read More