The Intoxicologist

Cognac, France - The Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) will be sponsoring a Tasting Room and Seminar at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans (July 8-12). The BNIC will then bring a taste of New Orleans to France, hosting a special conference during the Blues Passions festival in Cognac (July 21-26), featuring Ann and Paul G. Tuennerman. Ann is the founder of Tales of the Cocktail and Paul is the Executive Director of the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society.

Cognac has had an important place in U.S. cocktail culture from the beginning. It was stirred into Mint Juleps in the early 1800’s and integral to the development of many cocktails. The Sidecar, created c. 1920, “could be the drink that launched a thousand classics”, claims Gary Regan.

Quite naturally, Walter Bergeron, the head bartender at the Monteleone Hotel in New Orleans, used Cognac when he created the emblematic Vieux Carré cocktail, named in honor of the Quarter, in 1938.

Today, Cognac is experiencing a resurgence as an important component in the bartender’s arsenal, used in both classic and innovative new cocktails.

The Cognac Tasting Room will run on July 10th from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste a broad selection of Cognacs from several producers. Upon entering the room, they will be greeted with a Summit cocktail made by Jim Meehan of PDT in NYC. The Summit was created by a group of top international bartenders during the 2008 International Cognac Summit in Cognac www.cognacsummit.com.  Acclaimed spirit writer Jack Robertiello will also be on hand to answer questions, and we expect attendance from other renowned Cognac aficionados.

Iberville Room (Hotel Monteleone)

On July 11th, the seminar, “Cognac, From Vines to Shaker,” will run from 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM. Jack Robertiello, Jim Meehan and Jean-Louis Carbonnier of Cognac USA will lead the educational seminar, focusing on tips for creative ways that bartenders can use Cognac. Freshly distilled eau-de-vie, as well as several styles of Cognac will be tasted, along with two cocktails, the Summit and the Vieux Carré, prepared by Jim. Attendees will also receive a copy of the new educational DVD developed by the BNIC.

Riverview Room (Hotel Monteleone)

Cognac’s connection to New Orleans will continue on July 23rd in Cognac, France, when the BNIC will host a special conference titled “Cognac and New Orleans, The History of Cocktails” during the Blues Passions festival.

Ann and Paul G. Tuennerman will be in attendance as keynote speakers invited by the BNIC, along with Fernando Castellon.

Cognac Blues Passions is an annual festival started in 1994. It includes a series of concerts with some of the top names in blues music. Last year Joan Baez was among the stars participating in the festival, and the likes of BB King–who is coming back this year -, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ray Charles, Mavis Staples, Joe Cocker, Willie King and Otis Clay have participated in past years.

·         For more information about Tales of the Cocktail, visit: www.talesofthecocktail.com

·         For more information about Blues Passions, visit: www.bluespassions.com

·         For more information about Cognac and mixology, visit: www.cognacsummit.com

Jean-Louis Carbonnier

Carbonnier Communications

Cognac@carbonniercommunications.com

212-216-9671

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