During Tales of the Cocktail, I’ve seen a lot of great sessions and tasted a lot of great spirits. But I’ve most enjoyed the chance to meet some really great people.
Sure, I got to shake hands with Danny DeVito, who was hand at the Drink Italy session. But even more exciting to a cocktail geek like myself was the chance to have drinks made by many of the great bartenders I’ve heard about. The Cocktail “Carnival” Happy Hour at the Presbytere was one of the best staffed bars of all time. I had drinks made by Angus Winchester, Jim Romdall, and some guy named Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Also manning tables were the likes of Wayne Curtis, author of …And a Bottle of Rum and Tales Blog’s own Paul Clarke.
Tastings were another great place to meet favorite bartenders and other experts in the cocktail world. I had several rums poured for me by Ed Hamilton, administerer of the Ministry of Rum. His table at the Raw Session: Producers Pet Projects tasting room was next to that of Eric Seed, a man much beloved in the cocktail blogosphere for bringing us spirits like Batavia Arrack. Eric let us taste Cocchi Americano, an apperativo that I can attest tastes great in a Corpse Reviver #2. He also previewed a much anticipated Swedish Punsch.
Another great place to meet people was at the bookstore run by Octavia Books. Several authors had signings. I truly enjoyed meeting the lovely ladies of LUPEC Boston, there to sign their little black book of cocktails.
And of course, there is the Carousel Bar. My first time in the bar, I met the ever entertaining Cheryl Charming. I found myself talking to cocktail historian David Wondrich one afternoon, and a day later, had a long conversation with Jay Hendrickson about his work with Sazerac to bring back the original formulation of Legendre Herbsainte.
Everybody I’ve met has been friendly and approachable, happy to share information and of course a drink. This will be the hardest part of leaving Tales, losing this fantastic concentration of like-minded cocktail lovers, ever in search of a great drink.
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I certainly wish that I had more time and more sobriety walking into the event at the Presbytere. After a full day of 4 seminars (the last of which overlapped with the said event), we only got to sample a half dozen of the 39 tables.
It was great meeting you this week! Finally home and my bed beckons…
Fredric — really enjoyed meeting you and Andrea! And great job at the bitters contest!