Inspired Sips with The Liquid Muse

The word terroir is often used to describe wine and the region, land and soil in which its grapes are grown. Often, a wine’s terroir directly impacts its flavor profile. Tony Conigliaro, always on the cutting edge of bartending, cocktail creation and distillation, has taken terroir, quite literally, and distilled it. Blending three distillations of flint stone, clay and reindeer moss, Tony has created a “cocktail in a bottle” that tastes like nothing else on earth.

A few more sips and seminars, a bit of dancing and some great music capped off Natalie’s time at tales. Another wonderful time in the heart of New Orleans with great friends has come to an end. See you next year!

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.

Natalie had a wonderful opportunity to participate in the inaugural Arizona Cocktail Week put on back in February. Among the participants in this years festivities were Kim Hassarud, Dale DeGroff, Charlotte Voisey and many more.

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.

Who could resist a ride in a Morgan with two dashing young Scots? Natalie didn’t need anyone to twist here arm! Andrew Weir and Nicholas Pollacchi of The Balvenie have been traveling the country in style. Natalie was lucky enough to grab a ride after a visit with the TOC Apprentices and a sip from the world’s largest Negroni.

Tales of the Cocktail 2011 keeps rolling on as Natalie sips some rare 1982 vintage Lillet with brand ambassador Jackie Patterson. After milking a cow at the William Grant and Sons 1940’s party for a fresh off the farm Ramos Gin Fizz, Natalie hits Spa Aria at the Hotel Monteleone for a manicure and some delicious Solerno cocktails! It’s a tough life!

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!

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!

Serving up non-alcoholic drinks, such as the First Crush Cocktail made with Fre Alcohol Removed Merlot, is a great way to include everyone in your wedding celebration.

The Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards showcase the best of the best in the world of cocktails and bartending each year. Thanks to Pernod Ricard USA, Small Screen Network and Inspired Sips had exclusive access to some of the nominees who graced the red carpet. Everyone from Brian Batt of Mad Men to Salvatore Calabrese, world renowned bartender, took a moment to chat with Natalie Bovis, The Liquid Muse and our illustrious bartender, Simon Ford.

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.

The curtain has closed here at Tales of the Cocktail 2010 and the revelers have departed for their cities of origin. To celebrate the final days here in New Orleans, Natalie invited Jaime Salas and Gaston Martinez up to the suite to mix up a Milagro Tequila cocktail.

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!

It’s hot and sweaty down here in New Orleans and Tales of the Cocktail 2010 is in full swing! LUPEC ladies and scotch are the themes of our first episode from this must attend cocktail extravaganza. Join us as we sample the first few days of creations and indulge with master distiller for Dalmore Scotch, Richard Paterson. Cheers!

Two weeks ago cocktail and spirit industry professionals and consumers descended upon Manhattan for the inaugural Manhattan Cocktail Classic. Founded by Lesley Townsend, the Classic is billed as, “New York City’s first ever multi-day event celebrating the history, contemporary culture, and artful craft of the cocktail.” We can say first hand that MCC 2010 was firing on all cylinders. From the opening night gala to each individual seminar, cocktails were flying, business was being done and everyone was learning something new. Can’t wait until next year!Special thanks to The Balvenie for bringing you this video.

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.

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.

In this episode, Jim Romdall demonstrates how to carbonate a cocktail by using the Perlini System. This unique system, designed to work like a cocktail shaker, utilizes two sealed chambers to allow carbon dioxide gas to mingle harmoniously with your cocktails, creating an entirely new drinking experience. The particular cocktail Jim mixes up is his own creation, the Captain Handsome.

Gwydion Stone is a founder of the Wormwood Society and the owner and master distiller at Marteau Absinthe. His knowledge of absinthe history is second to none and he was glad to share some of that knowledge with us in this very special episode. For more on absinthe on Small Screen Network click here: ABSINTHE.

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.

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.

The Swedish Flag cocktail is inspired by the colors of the Swedish flag. Muddled blueberries and a touch of limoncello help to balance the earthy, tangy notes of the Karlsson’s Vodka that anchors the drink. Karlsson’s is a unique vodka made from new potatoes native to the soils of Sweden and touted for their robust flavor.

Anyone looking to keep their New Year’s resolutions will appreciate a healthful, nonalcoholic cocktail from time to time. The Apricot Gingerini is featured in Natalie’s book “Preggatinis™: Mixology for the Mom-To-Be” but it is tasty enough for non-preggos to enjoy. Are you a proud papa-to-be in search of a little liquid R&R? The book includes “De-Virginize for Dad” directions for this drink: “Reduce the grape juice by 1 1/2 ounces, then add 1 ounce gin and 1/2 ounce ginger liqueur.” Want to order a signed copy for the Preggie Party Girl in your life? Go to “Shop” at TheLiquidMuse.com. Enter “Inspired Sips” and get a 10% discount!

Natalie drops in on Kathy Casey at her food studios for the holidays. As America’s first female executive chef, Kathy has been working in the restaurant world for years. She was deemed the original “bar chef” by Dale DeGroff and has been instrumental in bringing fresh ingredients behind the bar. In this episode Kathy mixes up her very festive, and very Northwest, Douglas Fir Sparkletini from her ninth book, “Sips and Apps”.

Natalie’s new book “The Bubbly Bride™: Your Ultimate Wedding Cocktail Guide” features recipes for all stages of wedding planning… including the pre-wedding diets many brides take on before the Big Day. Natalie’s Missy Mule is inspired by the classic Moscow Mule - and has only 78 calories. (Now that’s something to toast!)

Seattle’s famous coffee culture inspired Natalie to create a coffee cocktail - perfect as a liquid dessert after the evening meal, or for a post-work pick-me-up.

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.

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

Natalie heads into the tasting room at Old New Orleans Rum with general Manager Ben Gersh.