Sip sliding away at Tales of the Cocktail

Next week, New Orleans welcomes back its annual celebration of spirits, Tales of the Cocktail—a premier festival for cocktail enthusiasts and industry professionals from around the world. The event features drinks, eats, tastings, competitions and seminars that allow you to get up to speed on the latest, from craft cocktails to local ‘shine. Sit in on sessions that explore everything from the exotic fruits used to enhance global drinks to paleo cocktails that existed before the wheel. Top-line spirit manufacturers will be there to demo their brands, including Louisiana Spirits based in Lacassine, which has just launched its high-end, locally made Bayou Rum. In the evening, watch international mixologists throw down in lively competitions. It’s not just wayward indulgence, though. Tales of the Cocktail is an annual fundraiser for the nonprofit New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society, which grants scholarships to bartenders. The event is held July 17-21 in New Orleans. For tickets and more information, click here. —Maggie Heyn Richardson