TALK DRINKS

L.A. Happenings - Art of Mixing Academy

Hello,

Thank you Jacques for that introduction and it is my pleasure to be a part of the Partida Tequila family and this great blog.

It was my privilege to attend last night's cocktail centered bash sponsored by Hennessy. The presentation and the cocktails were courtesy of Chad Solomon, Christy Pope and Ryan Magarian hosted in the penthouse of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel by my homeboy Marcos Tello. The event centered on the history of the cocktail from the perspective of Hennessy and ran a timeline from the 1600’s to present day. For a long time, Los Angeles has been deemed to be a cocktail wasteland. However, it was fantastic to see the turnout and the concentration of bartenders that think otherwise. We’re on the rise, we have a lot of catching up to do but with more of these community activities we’ll be there soon enough. We have a great pool of talent, but more importantly, enthusiasm. I knew half of the people in the room and it was great to meet the rest, swap horror stories and business cards and plan a visit to their spots.

Look forward to more entries from L.A. Cheers - Damian

Photos and story courtesy of Caroline on Crack.

Welcome MORE Bartender Bloggers

I am pleased to invite a few more talented bartenders to Talkdrinks.com. Recently, at Partida Tequila we had some Tequila Ambassadors join our team to help us with the on-going Tequila and Cocktail education that we have undertaken around the country.

Los Angeles - Damian Windsor

Fort Lauderdale - Bill Turner

Miami - Marita Leonard

We all recently took an intense Tequila Immersion seminar in Las Vegas conducted by B.A.R. (Beverage Alcohol Resource) and came away with a new depth of knowledge into this wonderful Spirit of Mexico. Look out for the Tequila crew from Partida as we are all eager to spread the word about 100% Agave Tequila and Partida. They will also be sharing their endeavors around the country on Talkdrinks.com Salud - Jacques

Welcome Bartender Bloggers

I would like to welcome 3 very talented bar chefs to our blog. Alex Fowler works at Moonshine Bar in Chicago. He comes from a small restaurant family out of Pennsylvania and appreciates good customer service. He likes the interacting with customers, mixing their favorite drinks and surprising them with signature cocktails. "Bartending allows you to express yourself while developing personal relationships with thirsty patrons."

  Willie Shine & Aisha Sharpe of Contemporary Cocktails are very well known for their mixology skills. They have worked closely with bartending legends such as Dale DeGroff, Steve Olsen & Paul Pacult. They have a unique understanding of the modern day art of cocktails. Their mission is to raise the cocktail bar to new heights through spirit education and combining innovative ingredients into a perfect balance of flavors.

Cheers - Jacques

On the Tequila Trail: There Is No Worm (Video #4)

Testing people on their Tequila IQ and confronting stereotypes about Tequila.

On the Tequila Trail: Sip It, Don't Slam It (Video #3)

Jennifer and Chef Mark meet Bar Chef Julio In Tommy's, San Francisco and talk about how to taste Tequila.

On the Tequila Trail: Rocks, No Salt (Video #2)

Jennifer and Chef Mark meet Jacques in Tommy's, San Francisco and talk about the Perfect Margarita & Luscious Tequila Cocktails.

On the Tequila Trail: The Soul of Tequila (Video #1)

Hi,

Check out this great podcast series about Tequila shot by Chef Mark and Jennifer of Culinary Media Network.  This episode talks all about the history, traditions and process of making Tequila.

Tequila Confessions & Re-Education

Wow, Partida Tequila has just re-launched their website with lots of interesting stuff on it. We all know that Tequila has gotten a bad rap and Partida addresses that head on in their Tequila Confessions videos and their Re-Education podcasts. They are really funny, but educational at the same time. Cheers - Jacques

Tequila and Mexican Food Pairing

Over the weekend, I hosted a Mexican food pairing with Partida Tequila at Crema Restaurant in Chelsea, NY. Crema is one of the best and most authentic Mexican Restaurants in New York. We were served a fantastic 5 course meal. After each dish was served and before we began eating, the chef came to our tables and explained what each dish was how it was prepared. A special Partida Tequila cocktail complimented that specific  dish. As everyone was enjoying their courses, I explained the cocktail and answered questions about Mixology and premium Tequila. Not only did everyone have a wonderful evening, it was an educational experience in Mexican culture and our national spirit of Tequila. Salud – Junior