Inspired Sips with The Liquid Muse

At Tales of the Cocktail 2011 the parties, seminars and tasting rooms can be outrageous! Swing dancing, dancing girls, flight suits, enchanted forests?! Par for the course as far as the ambassadors of Hendrick's Gin are concerned. What will they come up with for the 10th year anniversary of Tales of the Cocktail in 2012? Ann Tuennerman sure has some ideas up her sleeve. After all this, no wonder, Natalie needs a relaxing moment lounging by the Hotel Monteleone rooftop pool!

Tales of the Cocktail 2011 started off right with great seminars, punch and parties with fancy pants. For Natalie, the day could not have begun better than with a stop at Café Du Monde, accompanied by Rocky Yeh, for beignets and coffee. Where did she end her day of tastings and seminars? At the Hotel Monteleone Carousel Bar of course!

A baby shower is a wonderful event for family, friends and the mom-to-be. When the mimosas begin to flow it is a great idea to have a non-alcoholic alternative for those who choose to abstain but want to feel included in the fun. In this episode, Natalie mixes up the Miami Mommy Mojito, originally created in honor of Jennifer Lopez and her twins. Utilizing Fre Alcohol Removed White Zinfandel, this delicious cocktail is refreshing any time of year. You can find the recipe in Natalie's book Preggatinis Mixology for the Mom-To-Be.

Washington is the second largest producer of wine in the United States. The premier winery in Washington was Chateau St. Michelle which has gone on to become a force in the wine industry. Most recently, Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 2006 Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon placed #38 on Wine Spectator’s list of the “Top 100” wines of 2009. In this episode, Natalie gets the rare opportunity to taste wine with Bob Bertheau, head wine maker at Chateau St. Michelle and taste some really great wines.

Natalie follows her muse to Celebration Distillation, home of Old New Orleans Rum.

What to do next? There is so much to choose from at Tales of the Cocktail! Natalie grabbed some lunch at the PIg and Punch fundraiser, then headed over to the LUPEC Dame Hall of Fame Awards. After a quick rest, she was off to chat with Gaz Regan as well as Tales Ambassador for 2012 and owner of CURE and Bellocq, Neil Bodenheimer. How do you cap off a day like that? Ogle some men at the Mr. Solerno Competition, that's how!

Natalie started Tales of the Cocktail 2012 at the William Grant and Sons 10th Birthday Bash. It was one amazing party! A new Mezcal, Montelobos, was tasted, birthday cake was eaten and fireworks were exploded! What a great start to Tales 2012!

The red carpet at the Tales of the Cocktail 2012 Spirited Awards was hoppin'! This year's celebration of cocktails, bartending and mixology was the biggest yet; no surprise seeing as it was the 10th anniversary of this global gathering of the best of the best in the world of spirits. Natalie had the privilege of interviewing so many who are at the top of their game.

Tales of the Cocktail 2011 finished off with an amazing Spirited Awards ceremony. Natalie had the red carpet all to herself and grabbed some great interviews with the best in the business.

Gaston Martinez of Milagro Tequila reveals a new product at the William Grant and Sons 1940's party and Natalie learns about the Hotel Monteleone renovations that will take the famed Carousel Bar from great to magnificent!

Tales of the Cocktail 2010 might have finished but the party continues here on Small Screen Network. From pétanque to bartender olympics there is no shortage of fun to relive. After cruising the sites Natalie headed over to the Bonefish Grill "Search for the Best Cocktail" and discussed the restaurants bar program with Leigh Merritt, Director of Bar Innovation for Bonefish Grill.

No one seems to be phased by the possibility of a tropical storm here in New Orleans at Tales of the Cocktail 2010; nothing gets this city down! After an amazing few days the drinks continue to flow and the nights keep getting longer. To freshen up a bit, Natalie invited Jon Santer and Jiim Ryan of Hendrick's GIn to the suite for a Pink Gin cocktail. As Jim says, it sounds light and fluffy but it tastes like candied barbed wire. Mmmmm, delicious!

Back in October Natalie had the chance to preview the Manhattan Cocktail Classic coming up in May. She met many great mixologists and bartenders working and attending the festivities. All of them were looking forward to the main event beginning on May 14th.

Some people won't, don't or can't drink alcohol. I know! I know! You thinking,"What!? How could that ever be the case?" Well, whether they are the designated driver or the mom to be, many patrons of your bar or restaurant are tired of Shirley Temples or soda and want to feel like they are part of the party. Why not create customer loyalty and good vibes by including non or low alcohol cocktails in your repertoire behind the bar? The unique line of Fre alcohol removed wines offer a broad palette that can be used in myriad combinations to enliven any concoction.

The stars of the bar were out this past July in New Orleans at Harrah's Casino for the 2009 Tales of the Cocktail Spirit Awards. Natalie was there on the red carpet to grab interviews with the nominees and elite of the industry.

The Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans has been an integral part of Tales of the Cocktail for the past seven years. At first a single day event hosted in the Carousel Bar featuring cocktail book authors, Tales of the Cocktail has grown into a multi-day, must attend event for spirit brands, industry professionals and cocktail enthusiasts that packs the hotel and four others. Of course, this is only a small part in the history of the hotel that continues to be operated by the fourth generation of the Monteleone family.