Top Vegas Mixologists Take Talents To New Orleans For 5 Day Festival!

Mariena 

Tony 

Some of the world’s top mixologists are based in Las Vegas and more than a dozen of the city’s finest will take the cocktail stage at Masquerade Nightclub inside Harrah’s in New Orleans for “Las Vegas Invades Tales of the Cocktail” hosted by Back Bar USA on Thursday, July 17, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The evening is part of the 12th Annual Tales of the Cocktail®, a five-day festival held from Wednesday, July 16 to Sunday, July 20 featuring a jam-packed schedule of industry seminars, dinners, competitions, tasting rooms, product launches and more.

“Las Vegas Invades Tales of the Cocktail” will showcase more than a dozen of Las Vegas’ top mixologists and bartenders, including “Modern Mixologist” author and industry veteran, Tony Abou-Ganim; the creator of countless cocktails for many of Las Vegas’ best-known entities, Francesco LaFranconi of Southern Wine & Spirits; and Mariena Mercer, property mixologist of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, one of Las Vegas’ most stylish resorts. The event will bring the spirit of Las Vegas to New Orleans through Rat Pack-style entertainment, showgirls and more.

“Las Vegas is like New Orleans’ sister of the cocktail industry,” said Ann Tuennermen, founder and executive director of Tales of the Cocktail®. “We are thrilled to bring the Strip’s talented mixologists to our event; a group who shares our city’s passion for creating exceptional cocktails.”

Abou-Ganim, one of the top mixologists in the world, agrees. “We share this synergy with New Orleans in being a destination where people come to try new things and truly savor their cocktails. It creates a unique opportunity for us to take some time with our craft, and we look forward to having the incredible platform of this event, the top of its kind, to showcase Las Vegas’ cocktail industry.”

Other participating mixologists include:

·         Raul Faria, Gordon Ramsay’s Pub & Grill

·         Christopher Hopkins, Wynn I Encore

·         Alenrry Iniguez and Nectaly Mendoza, Herbs & Rye

·         Ricardo Murcia, Bellagio

·         Andrew Pollard, Wirtz Beverage

·         Michael Przydzial, Central Michel Richard at Caesars Palace

·         Travis Reel, Japonais at The Mirage

·         Patricia Richards, Drai’s Enterprises

·         Max Solano, Emeril Lagasse’s Delmonico Steak House at Venetian I Palazzo

The lineup is growing every day and new mixologists are being added. The latest information, photos, sponsors and tickets may be found at www.lasvegastotc.com. Tickets to “Las Vegas Invades Tales of the Cocktail,” are priced at $65 per person. The event is sponsored and coordinated by Back Bar USA, a Las Vegas-based wine, beer and spirits marketing, consulting and design firm.

“Tales of the Cocktail® demonstrates the power of bringing together great brands and top-tier mixologists to produce successful events,” says Tim Haughinberry, owner and founder of Back Bar USA. “It’s a premise we founded our business on; plus this event does an incredible job of showcasing what makes the cocktail culture of each region unique.”

Spirits participating in and sponsoring “Las Vegas Invades Tales of the Cocktail” include Absolut Elyx Vodka, Hennessy Cognac, Sauza 901 Tequila, Hangar 1 Vodka, Bacardi Superior and Bulleit Bourbon.

Tuennermen founded Tales of the Cocktail® as a celebration of cocktails in 2002, and in 2006, founded the New Orleans Culinary & Cultural Preservation Society (NOCCPS) along with her husband, Paul. With the introduction of the NOCCPS, Tales of the Cocktail® became a fundraising event for up-and-comers in the cocktail industry through grants, scholarships and other educational programs.

About Back Bar USA

Back Bar USA is a full-service marketing, consulting and design firm with more than 25 years of experience in the beer, wine and spirits industries. Specializing in corporate and national account beverage programs with an emphasis on gaming, resorts, nightlife and fine dining, the company provides services ranging from menu development to ground-up venue concept, design and execution. Back Bar maintains an impressive portfolio of clients and brands that include Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, Ketel One Vodka and Corona. For more information, visit www.BackBarUSA.com.

About Tales of the Cocktail®

Tales of the Cocktail® is the world’s premier cocktail festival, bringing together the international spirits community for five days of what’s now, what’s new and what’s next in bartending. Held annually in New Orleans, Tales of the Cocktail® has something for bartenders and spirits professionals with opportunities to mix and mingle with the brightest minds in mixology during an always-spirited schedule of seminars, dinners, competitions, tasting rooms and new product launches. For more information or to get tickets to “Las Vegas Invades Tales of the Cocktail” or any of the other seminars, tastings and special events, visit TalesoftheCocktail.com.