Tweet-Up at Bar Tonique – New Orleans
Though my visit to Bar Tonique was short and sweet, it gave me the opportunity to finally meet Lindsey Johnson from Lush Life Productions. Lindsey has been high on my list of Twitter personalities to meet, greet and ‘follow’ for quite some time. Tales of the Cocktail ’09 provided the opportunity to do just that.
Bar Tonique is a small bar with large horseshoe shaped bar taking center stage. The cocktail, wine and spirit menus hanging upon the wall may or may not change frequently since they are all chalk written with some listings rubbed away, no doubt as supply has dwindled due to popularity. Chartreuse was definitely in the air as the Brand Ambassador and others mixed up specialty delights with the bartender with jiggers set afire. Only in specialty bars such as Bar Tonique will patrons wait fifteen to twenty minutes for a cocktail to ‘brew’ and ooh and ahh over how grand it tastes. Any other night in practically any other bar in main stream American patrons want their ready to serve cocktail and they want it now…dammit! But during Tales of the Cocktail week in New Orleans everything is specialty driven and quantified by the savory peculiarities of each individual cocktail. Experimentation is the name of the game.
No. Not really. I’m making all that up. Tales of the Cocktail is really about the character of the spirit, highlighting the cocktail, educating consumers, bartenders and marketers alike, and a above all else, Tales of the Cocktail is about playing and having fun with the spirits for more enjoyment – responsibly of course.
My drink of choice at the Bar Tonique Tweet-Up – Side Car. Classic.
Side Car – Tales of the Cocktail Stir Your Soul Recipe Book
Featured at: Spirit Awards
Presented by Pernod Ricard USA
1 part Martell VS
1 part Cointreau
3/4 part Lemon Juice
Orange Zest for Garnish
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
Bar Tonique – 820 N. Rampart Street, New Orleans, LA
Follow Lindsey on Twitter at http://twitter.com/livethelushlife
Follow The Intoxicologist on Twitter at http://twitter.com/intoxicologist
Copyright 2009 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved
Photos from Tales of the Cocktail ’09:
- Tasting the Experience Le Nez de Courvoisier
- Square One Organic Spirits presents Square One Botanical — Eden in a bottle
- Cocktail Photography: On Ice
- 21st Century Gin Q&A: Tales of the Cocktail ’09
- Photo Essay: Mischieve in the Garden of Agave
- American Whiskey Legends: Q&A at Tales of the Cocktail ‘09
- Bloody Mary and Popping Balloons with 42Below Vodka at TOTC ‘09
- Beefeater Welcome Reception Photos
- Tasting ‘The Ring of Fire’
- Seven steps to tasting spirits with Paul Pacult
