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Tales of the Cocktail

It’s a new year, and you’ve been fasting and cleansing right? Well January is over, and it’s time to get decadent again -- and what better way to break promises and resolutions than with Tales of the Cocktail, happening in our fair city February 12-1

It’s a new year, and you’ve been fasting and cleansing right? Well January is over, and it’s time to get decadent again -- and what better way to break promises and resolutions than with Tales of the Cocktail, happening in our fair city February 12-15.

It’s the 2nd year for the New Orleans-based booze-fest to hit our city, and local mixologists are getting ready to put their own twists on classic cocktails. The event, in many ways, is a preview of what’s to come at this summer’s Tales of the Cocktail main event in New Orleans. Lucky for Vancouverites, we’re getting an early nip.

With seminars celebrating the classic Canadian Ceasar to tea-based drinks, the festival has something for every imbiber. I’m particularly looking forward to “Around the World in Whisky Days” where Eddie Russell will walk participants through Wild Turkey’s newest whiskeys that are making their Canadian debut this year. Also on my agenda is “Born to Mix” where Dushan Zaric gives a beginner course in the creation of the cocktail using Aperol and Campari, as well as SKYY Vodka. If you’re used to just knocking them back, you’ll learn to slow down and savour as sugar content, place of origin, aging and infusion, distilling and filtering are all explored.

Oh…and there are parties too. If you aren’t staying at the Fairmont, where it’s all taking place, it would be wise to set up shop nearby for the suggested costume changes (30s themed party, red Valentines themed night), naps and maybe just a quiet corner to sober up in.