FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tales of the Cocktail Releases 2015 Dining and Drinking Events

Some of the hottest and most legendary bars and restaurants in New Orleans will be hosting

special events throughout the 13th Annual Tales of the Cocktail. NEW ORLEANS April 3, 2014 Tales of the Cocktail is proud to announce its 2015 dining and drinking events that will give festival attendees the opportunity to sample the best of New Orleans legendary cocktails and cuisine. This wide range of events includes exclusive dinner and cocktail pairings, special fixed menus, bartending events and special luncheons, all hosted at renowned bars and restaurants throughout the city. Most events will feature local chefs and bartenders sharing stories and secrets of their craft as well as internationally renowned bartenders working behind New Orleans bars. I just love all the dining and drinking events we host during Tales of the Cocktail as it gives us the chance to put the food and drinks of our city on display, said Ann Tuennerman, Founder of Tales of the Cocktail. No matter how many times youve been to New Orleans for Tales, Im sure there will be something youll try this year that will surprise you. Dining and Drinking Events for Tales of the Cocktail 2015: The Spirited Dinner Series Thursday, July 16, 2015 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM Various Locations Presented by A. Hardy Cognac, Anchor Distilling, Angels Envy, Bacardi, Brooklyn Gin, Disaronno, the Florida Department of Citrus, Grand Marnier, High West Distillery, Hennessy, Hood River Distillers, Jagermeister, Leblon Cachaca, Makers Mark, Mezan Rum, Milagro Tequila, Old New Orleans Rum, Palm Bay, Pernod Ricard, Phenix Brands, Sandeman Port, Mezcal Silencio, Sugar Island Rum, Titos Vodka, Tres Agaves Tequila, William Grant & Sons, Wyborowa Vodka and Zacapa Rum. **Reservation required through restaurant. Over the years, Spirited Dinners have become a Thursday night tradition at Tales of the Cocktail. On Thursday July 16th, restaurants located throughout the city will welcome cocktail lovers to enjoy one-of-a-kind dinner pairings of cocktails and cuisine. Each restaurant will combine the talents of at least one of the worlds best mixologists with some of the citys most renowned chefs to create imaginative and innovative culinary pairings.

Tales Restaurant Week Monday, July 13 to Monday, July 20, 2015 Various Locations Presented by Absentroux, Angels Envy, Cathead Distillery, Chufly Imports, Domaine Select, El Dorado Rum, Knappogue, Louis Royer Cognac, Nonino, Pavan, Sazerac and Stolichanaya Elit. New Orleans has legendary cuisine. Thats no secret. But with five days in this gastronomic city, figuring out where to eat can be a little overwhelming. Well, we are making things a little easier with Tales Restaurant Week. Throughout the week youll be able to sample a special price-fixed tasting menu (with a recommended spirit cocktail, of course) at some of citys most legendary and talked about restaurants. Stop in for lunch or dinner and youre guaranteed the kind of meal that only New Orleans could produce. Dynamic Duos Tuesday, July 14 to Sunday, July 18, 2015 Various Locations Presented by 35 Maple Street, Balsam, Copper & Kings, Diageo, Diplomatico Rum. Domaine Select Wine Estates, Donner-Peltier Distillers, Flor de Cana Rum, HUM Spirits, Kinahans, Lairds & Company, Mandarine Napoleon, Monkey 47 Gin, Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne, Phenix Brands, Rums of Puerto Rico, Stolichanaya, Tequila Fortaleza, Torres Brandy, VEEV and William Grant & Sons. When cocktails are your passion, tending bar hardly feels like work. Thats why a handful of the worlds most renowned bartenders will be picking up extra shifts at bars around New Orleans during Tales of the Cocktail. But they wont be going it alone. Local bartenders will be joining them behind the stick to form dynamic bartending teams. Stop by for a drink to see these teams work their delicious magic as you drink in a bit of the local flavor. Dame Hall of Fame Friday, July 17 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM Ruths Chris Steak House, 525 Fulton Street Presented by Casa Noble Tequila **Reservation required through restaurant. Honorees Include: Melanie Asher, Pioneer, Anu Apte, Kate Gerwin, Claire Smith-Warner and Pamela Wiznitzer Ever since there were cocktails there have been dames. Strong, confident women that were happy to serve you a drink or kick you out if youve had too many. Today there are dames around the world that are shaking up the industry. At the Dame Hall of Fame luncheon, a new class of extraordinary and spirited cocktail women will receive the recognition they deserve. At the Dame Hall of Fame Luncheon Tales of the Cocktail and the Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails (LUPEC) will celebrate five women in the industry that are innovating and changing the way we view the craft.

The Breakfast Club Wednesday, July 15 to Saturday, July 18 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM Criollo at the Hotel Montleone, 214 Royal Street Presented by Hangar 1 Vodka and Tariquet **Reservation required through restaurant. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Well this one may be the most important meal of your week at Tales of the Cocktail 2015. The Breakfast Club is a new event that invites you to share breakfast with a leader of the industry as you discuss cocktail ideas, insights and techniques. Enjoy an elegant breakfast served by Criollos celebrated culinary team created specially for the event. Join us for a unique Tales of the Cocktail breakfast youll never forget. Prohibition Tea Saturday, July 18 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Le Salon at the Windsor Court Hotel, 300 Gravier Street Presented by Old New Orleans Rum **Reservation required through restaurant. Come enjoy High Tea Prohibition Style with Old New Orleans Rum in Le Salon at the beautiful Windsor Court Hotel in the heart of New Orleans. During prohibition, party goers often drank liquor from tea cups to fool law enforcement authorities. Throughout this special tea service, guests will sip craft cocktails in speakeasy fashion. The three course service will include hot and cold tea sandwiches, scones and desserts. Small brunch-inspired treats like house cured salmon on potato latkes and miniature huevos rancheros with quail egg will set the stage for a spirited affair. Specialty craft cocktails using Old New Orleans Rum will be expertly paired and served with each course. Madame Begues Butchers Breakfast Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18, 2015 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM Tujagues Restaurant, 823 Decatur Street **Reservation required through restaurant. Elizabeth Kettenring Dutry Begue was famous in pre-Civil War New Orleans for the meal she called the Butchers Breakfast. Everyday at exactly 11am, Begue served an elaborate five-course meal to exactly 30 people at the location that is now the legendary Tujagues Restaurant. To celebrate the publication of the Tujagues Cookbook, the Butchers Breakfast is being revived just for Tales of the Cocktail. The meal will feature many of Madame Begues original dishes along with the Grasshopper and Whiskey Punch, two award-winning cocktails created at Tujagues. New Orleans culinary historian, Poppy Tooker, host of public radios Louisiana Eats and author of the Tujagues Cookbook, Recipes and Lore in the Grand Creole Tradition will speak at the event.

For a full list of all the Tales of the Cocktail 2015 dining and drinking events and for reservation information, visit TalesoftheCocktail.com. About Tales of the Cocktail The Spirits Are Calling. Will you answer? Theyre calling you to New Orleans for five days of seminars, tastings, product launches, competitions, networking events and so much more at the world's premier professional cocktail event. By just being a part of this spirited gathering youll help your fellow cocktail professionals around the world. Funds from Tales of the Cocktail are invested back into the industry through scholarships, tuition reimbursements, training programs and financial aid. So join us as the international spirits community answers the call, returning for another spirited round of Tales of the Cocktail. About the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society The New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society (NOCCPS) is a non-profit organization committed to preserving the unique cocktail culture in New Orleans and around the world. Every year the NOCCPS produces a number of events including Tales of the Cocktail, Tales of the Cocktail on Tour, and Tales of the Toddy with proceeds being invested back into the international spirits community through scholarships, training programs and financial aid. SOCIAL MEDIA: WEBSITE: http://www.TalesoftheCocktail.com FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/talesofthecocktail.com TWITTER: @totc YOUTUBE: http://www.youbtube.com/user/TOTCNOLA CONTACT: Ann Tuennerman, 504-948-0511, Ann@TalesoftheCocktail.com

####