I experienced my first proper whisky tasting at Tales of the Cocktail in 2008. As I recall, the tasting mat featured six Maccallans, and they were excellent. Two other very important points: F. Paul Pacult of The Spirit Journal fame led the tasting, and it took place at 10 AM. That’s what I call a baptism by fire. This year’s Tales of the Cocktail is happening right now, and I wish I could be there! Twitter makes it both super fun, and utter misery to miss out, since so many people I follow are lighting up the ‘tubes with their…
Category: Cocktails and Spirits
Tangled Up in Tales
Posted in Cocktails and Spirits
Ah, well. No blogging from me during Tales of the Cocktail. A quick look at my favorite “booze blogs” lets me know that I am not the only one who found events on the ground more compelling in real time than going back to the room to write. I also find it a bit difficult to focus (with or without cocktails) on writing while I’m in the midst of a whirlwind trip, hunched over a laptop. tiny screens, squirrelly keyboards, and flaky Internet, y’know? So today I do my penance, writing for you, and for The Spirit World. I’m also…
Tales Bound
Posted in Cocktails and Spirits
Well, it’s finally here; Tales of the Cocktail week. I’m headed to New Orleans to watch and learn, and cover a tremendous event for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Did I mention sampling spirits and cocktails of all varieties? I’ll be filing posts for The Spirit World, as well as offering observations and photos right here. So watch this space.
How to Really Cover Events, Social Media Style
Posted in Cocktails and Spirits, New Media and Tech, and Podcasting
I’m a big ol’ critic of the current frenzy for social media. That is, I’m critical of the “social media can do EVERYTHING, replace ALL mainstream media, CURE CANCER, etc. school of thought. But I am not critical of the tools that make it possible to exchange information, or add deeper meaning to the content of media. Platforms like Twitter, podcasting, uStream, and Facebook, to name just a few, can unleash not only creativity of content-makers, but the imagination and enthusiasm of content consumers. I’m thinking about this today because I’m working on a plan to cover a conference I’ll…
In the past couple of years, I’ve become a spirits and cocktails enthusiast. I’ve toured distilleries in Kentucky, sought out great bars when I travel, and collected bottles of spirits, liqueurs, and assorted drink-making stuff. As some of you know, I’ve been writing for a blog called The Spirit World, and I’ve added a mixology segment to Shelly’s Podcast. Last week’s Tales of the Cocktail absolutely filled my brain with information and inspiration. And it filled a couple of bags with mini-bottles, recipes, books, and bar tools. It’s going to take me weeks to sort it all out. And since…
Blogging in New Orlenas
Posted in Announcements, and Cocktails and Spirits
This week, I won’t be so much blogging against social media orthodoxy, or political silliness as I will be blogging for the pure joy of doing it. I’m attending Tales of the Cocktail this week in New Orleans. I’ll be filing dispatches for The Spirit World on all things booze-y, and sending observations here, too.