Museum of the American Cocktail

Soda's Influence on Cocktails of the Big Easy

Darcy S. O'Neil — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Museum of the American Cocktail
New Orleans,LA

Prior to the invention of the pop can and efficient refrigeration, soda was served at drugstore fountains that were the alter ego of the saloon. During the heyday of the soda fountains in the 1800s, New Orleans was a center of creativity for soda recipes much like cocktails. The obvious soda examples were drinks like the Roffignac and Ramos Gin Fizz, but other soda drinks evolved from the shakers of soda jerks. For example, root beer was known as New Orleans Mead prior to its more generic designation and the popular Nectar soda were created in New Orleans, plus many more. The Big Easy Soda session will take a look at the techniques and recipes of some of New Orleans soda drinks and how they influence cocktails today.

Benefit at ELIXIR!

Elixir — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

San Francisco,CA
Join us at one of San Francisco's oldest and coolest saloons, ELIXIR on March 15th at 8pm for a benefit for the Museum of the American Cocktail and the Barbary Coast Conservancy. Popular proprietor H. Joseph Ehrmann will be joined by award-winning mixologists Dale DeGroff and Tony Abou-Ganim to feature some amazing Latin cocktails. Saloon artist Jill DeGroff will also be there to sign copies of her book. "Lush Life; Portraits from the Bar". A portion of all drink and book sales, and tips will go to benefit MOTAC and BCCAC

MOTAC Presentation: "The Real McCoy": A Rum-Running Role Model

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

New York,NY
Presented by Jonathan Pogash:

William S. McCoy, an "honest lawbreaker," was one of the most well-known and infamous rum-runners in the United States during prohibition. Beginning with whiskies, and then moving on to sugar cane spirits, Captain McCoy traveled the eastern seaboard giving the kind folk exactly what they wanted: pure, untainted, uncut, clean spirit.

After a brief run-down of rum's history and how we got to prohibition, we’ll explore Mr. McCoy's life and times while sipping some classic rum cocktails using Depaz and Appleton rums.

Introduction to Cocktails - Mastering the Classics

Phil Greene, Derek Brown — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Occidental Grill & Seafood
Washington,DC

At this fun and informative seminar, you'll learn the general history of cocktails by looking at four classics, the Old Fashioned (which is simply a variation on the original "cocktail"), the Manhattan, the Martini, and the Daiquiri. From these four classics we'll look at variations on each one, how each drink and category evolved, historical anecdotes, pop-culture references, etc. Looking especially at the Daiquiri, we'll see how this drink is one of the many "sours," and to master one is to master a concept that allows you not only to make other classics (Sidecar, Margarita, Whiskey Sour, Aviation, White Lady, Pisco Sour, Jack Rose, and many others), but to invent your own variations, as well. You'll also learn many basic cocktail making tips throughout this event. All the while, you'll enjoy tasty appetizers created especially by the Occidental's acclaimed chef.

Spice: The Fennel Frontier

Tad Carducci — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Darlington House
Washington,DC

From 2500 B.C. to 2010, a look at the importance of spices and herbs; as medicine, as currency, as foodstuffs, and, most notably, as flavoring agents for spirits, liqueurs and cocktails. Join us on a whirlwind journey back in time and around the globe to shed light onto an exotic and illuminating topic that most of us take very much for granted, while, of course, we “spice it up” with cocktails.

World Cocktail Week at the Museum of the American Cocktail

Dale DeGroff, Chris McMillian — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Museum of the American Cocktail
New Orleans,LA

The Museum of the American Cocktail® will celebrate World Cocktail Week™ 2010 from May 6 – 13. Celebrations will be held in cities around the world. This year’s museum celebration will be held on Thursday, May 13th from 5 to 8 pm. Fabulous food, cocktails, music, and Chris McMillian and Dale DeGroff will again make the largest Fire & Ice Mint Julep in history! Proceeds will go towards supporting the Museum and its mixology program.

World Cocktail Week

Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

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More details to come.

THE SUFFERING BASTARD: JOE SCIALOM, INTERNATIONAL BARMAN OF MYSTERY

Jeff "Beachbum" Berry — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Occidental Grill & Seafood
Washington,DC

Washington DC, Cairo, Havana, London, Paris, Rome, Istanbul, New York -- from the 1930s through the 1960s, legendary mixologist “Joe The Bartender” was everywhere and nowhere, always one step ahead of governments who suspected him of espionage because he served so many heads of state, generals, and journalists. This seminar reveals the untold story of the trained chemist who spoke eight languages and survived two revolutions, imprisonment, and exile to create such infamous exotic drinks as the Suffering Bastard. Presented by Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, who spent two years tracking down his elusive subject.

The Social History of the Martini with Dale DeGroff

Dale DeGroff — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Crunkleton
Chapel Hill,NC

Did you know that the Martini started as a variant of the Manhattan?

Join us at The Crunkleton in Chapel Hill, NC on Wednesday, April 7th, when Dale DeGroff, founding president of the Museum of the American Cocktail and author of "The Essentail Cocktail" presents The Evolution of the Martini. History comes alive in the glass in the form of the Martinez, the Knickerbocker, the cold war extra dry martini and a spectacular Flame of Love. Learn about the rich lore behind these wonderful libations while enjoying these variations from the King of Cocktails.

For tickets, contact Gary Crunkleton at 919-969-1125 or email Gary@TheCrunkleton.com.

10% of proceeds will be donated to the Museum of the American Cocktail

The History of Bar Tools and Bar Ware from the 1800s to Today

Museum of the American Cocktail — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

New Orleans,LA
Everyone knows that mixologists and cocktail historians are passionate about their tools and collectibles. Come view some of the most interesting specimens at this symposium on Shakers & Barware hosted by author and collector Jim Walker at the Museum of the American Cocktail along with noted collector Mark Bigler & Michael Silvers of Uber Bar Tools. You'll learn about their rich history while enjoying some delicious cocktails from Dale DeGroff. Jim will demonstrate some of the more eccentric makers and their products including spoons, strainers, shakers, corkscrews, bottle openers, soda siphons, and glassware. The talks will be accompanied by various pieces of bar ware from numerous collections, patents from the 1880's, the prohibition era, and even some modern ones. Learn about the mixologists who used these items and how they improved upon many of them. You'll come away with a new appreciation for the role that bar ware has played and continues to play in the evolution of the cocktail. Tales of the Cocktail will donate a portion of the proceeds of this seminar to The Museum of the American Cocktail.