What is the Tales of the Cocktail ?

Tales of the Cocktail is an internationally acclaimed festival of cocktails, cuisine, and culture held annually in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event brings together the best and brightest of the cocktail community — award-winning mixologists, authors, bartenders, chefs, and designers — for a five-day celebration of the history and artistry of making drinks.
Each year offers a spirited series of dinners, demos, tastings, competitions, seminars, book signings, tours, and parties all perfectly paired with some of the best cocktails ever made.
Tales of the Cocktail 2009:
Wed, July 8th – Sun, July 12th

Special Guests and Presenters
Since 2003, Tales of the Cocktail has hosted the top mixologists, bartenders, chefs and authors of the cocktail and culinary industry, resulting in the most influential gathering of mixologists in the world year after year. Over the last five years, these special guests have traveled from across the country and the world (such as Australia, Holland, Russia) and have included:

Ted Allen, Emmy Award winner and star of Bravo’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and “Top Chef”
Kevin Brauch, host of “The Thirsty Traveler”
Dale DeGroff, “King Cocktail” and author of The Craft of the Cocktail
Tony Abou-Ganim, The Modern Mixologist
Audrey Saunders, owner, of The Pegu Club, New York
Charlotte Voisey, award-winning international bartender
Julie Reiner, co-owner and creative director of the Flatiron Lounge, New York
Georg Riedel, tenth generation glassmaker and president of Riedel Crystal
Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, James Beard Book Award-winning authors
Ted Haigh, “Dr. Cocktail” and cocktail historian
Robert Hess, creator of Drinkboy.com
Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown, co-founders of The Museum of the American Cocktail

Tales of the Cocktail 2009 is scheduled to take place July 8-12 in New Orleans. Now in its 7th year, Tales of the Cocktail is the world’s foremost spirits, cocktails and mixology-related event, and this year Tales returns to the Hotel Monteleone and other nearby hotels, bars, restaurants and establishments for five days of seminars, dinners, special events and assorted revelry.
Guests attending Tales of the Cocktail are eligible for special room rates at participating hotels. These rates are available now, but the rooms don’t last long, so it’s a good idea to make your reservations right away — visit the Tales of the Cocktail website for links and more information.