Tales of the Cocktail celebrated 10 fabulous years on Thursday, July 26, with “A World Class Affair” Diageo Happy Hour at the Old U.S. Mint.
World Class U.S. invited 800 guests to celebrate the art of the cocktail while experiencing international mixology. Special guest world-class mixologists included: U.S. winner and New Orleans Native Ricky Gomez; Australia’s 2012 winner Tim Phillips; Japan’s 2011 winner Manabu Ohtake and London’s 2010 winner Erik Lorincz. The winners were selected as Diageo’s World Class competition winners at the international bartending competition. Members of the United States Bartenders Guild were also in attendance. USBG members included Jim Meehan, Tony Abou-Ganim, Steve Olson and USBG president Dave Nepore.
The theme for the event was a Brazillian-inspired oasis, and New Orleans Catering provided the food. Guests had the opportunity to sample some of Diageo’s “cocktail classics with a twist” incorporating gin, tequila, whiskey, vodka and rum. Dan Dunn of “Dan Dunn’s Happy Hour” on SirusXM radio broadcasted live, and DJ Erock came down from New York to spin. This year’s happy hour was a celebration of Diageo World Class, the largest international bartender education program in the world.
Event at a Glance
What: “A World Class Affair” Diageo Happy Hour, benefiting Tales of the Cocktail
When: Thursday, July 26
Where: Old U.S. Mint
