The Story Behind The The Monte + Mezcal “M + M” Mezcal Derrumbes Oaxaca’s minerality, delicate fruitiness, and light smokiness create the perfect foundation for this cozy cocktail. Combined with Amaro Montenegro’s bitter orange, clove, and nutmeg notes, you’ll be ready to ring in the season’s greetings. Garnish with lemon or orange peel and serve…
NEW ORLEANS, LA (November 13, 2025) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) announces the return of the Holiday Coquito Competition, presented in partnership with Bacardi USA. The national program spotlights Coquito, the creamy, coconut-based holiday staple beloved across Puerto Rico, inviting bartenders from 13 U.S. regions to craft their own innovative interpretations of the…
By Acadia Cerise I want to welcome you in. Cozy up at the bar. Let your feet touch grass. Stay for a little while. Long Day? Do you also wonder how we do better than survive, but thrive as a whole? Open your mind to the possibility that we are all, in fact, relatives here;…
NEW ORLEANS, LA (December 11, 2025) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is pleased to announce that applications for the 2026 Cocktail Apprentice Program® (CAP) Red Coat class will officially open on December 11, 2025, and close on January 29, 2026. Each year, this globally respected mentorship initiative welcomes 40 emerging bartenders into its…
The Story Behind The Brown Butter Rye Old Fashioned When it comes to the holidays, butter makes everything better — from mashed potatoes and fluffy dinner rolls to cookies and pie crust. And according to Ricardo Rodriguez, bar manager at Lita restaurant and La Otra bar in Aberdeen, N.J., even cocktails deserve the butter treatment…
Four members of the Foundation’s Cocktail Apprentice Program (CAP) have been awarded scholarships for BAR 5-Day Spirits & Mixology Certification Program. Each year, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) offers members of its Cocktail Apprentice Program (CAP) exclusive opportunities, such as applying for the Maison Ferrand Rocky Yeh CAP Bar 5-Day Scholarship to participate in…
NEW ORLEANS, LA (December 18, 2025) – Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is proud to announce Will Thompson, representing Sunny’s Miami as the winner of Pour of Couture presented by Johnnie Walker, the inaugural continental U.S. bartender competition inspired by the worlds of haute couture and Scotch whisky blending. Launched earlier this year, Pour of…
The Story Behind The Safecracker First stirred up by Matt Piacentini, owner of NYC cocktail bar The Up & Up, the Safecracker gets its name from Gian Maria Volonté’s character, El Indio, in the 1965 Western, “For a Few Dollars More.” In the film, Volonté — an Italian actor — portrays a Mexican outlaw who…
The Story Behind The RumChata Spiced Nog You’re just a few ingredients away from a festive cocktail perfect for serving at any holiday gathering. Cream of coconut, spiced rum, and RumChata come together harmoniously when topped with freshly grated nutmeg. Sip in glassware of your liking, or add an extra touch of elegance by breaking…
