By Annette Shailer
The seventh annual Tales of the Cocktail Festival kicks off in New Orleans this Wednesday (Jul 8).
The five-day event will combine cocktails, cuisine and culture, while the 2009 Cocktail Spirit Awards Dinner on Saturday (Jul 11) will reward individuals and establishments that have advanced the craft of the cocktail.
Pernod Ricard USA is the sponsor of this year’s awards dinner, with national and international winners receiving Riedel Crystal awards.
The Australian bar scene performed well last year with Melbourne bar 1806 taking out the coveted Best Cocktail List in the World award.
Over the five days visitors enjoy all things cocktail-related, including workshops, dinners, seminars, tastings and forums.