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| Mariena |
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| 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.
