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Charles Joly named World Class Bartender of the Year

Catching Up with Charles Joly, World Class Bartender of the Year

By thirstyinla On August 13, 2014 · Add Comment · In Interviews, Stories
Charles Joly from The Aviary in Chicago has been named the 2014 Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year. Joly is the sixth bartender and the first American to win the World Class title, which featured 48 of the best bartenders from around the world competing in the five-day final.
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Thirsty in Seattle: Battle of the Sexes at Liberty Bar

By thirstyinla On December 22, 2013 · Add Comment · In Events, Reviews
Just before the 2013 edition of Portland Cocktail Week, eight of LA’s top bartenders stepped behind the stick for an epic Battle of the Sexes at Liberty Bar in Seattle.
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Tiki Night at 320 Main: LA vs. OC Throwdown

By thirstyinla On August 11, 2013 · Add Comment · In Events
A Southern California cocktail tradition returns on Monday, August 19, when 320 Main presents Tiki Night: LA vs. OC Throwdown.
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Thirsty in NOLA: Tales of the Cocktail 2013 Part One

By thirstyinla On August 6, 2013 · 2 Comments · In Events, Stories
Last month, industry professionals and sturdy livers from around the world gathered in New Orleans once again for Tales of the Cocktail (TOTC). Following last year’s massive 10th anniversary celebration, this year’s Tales was only slightly less epic in scale. From the opening Toast to Tales, to the Spirited Awards and Pig & Punch, read [...]
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Naomi Schimek and John Lermayer

Tales of the Cocktail 2013: Mandarine Napoléon Battle of the Sexes

By thirstyinla On July 30, 2013 · Add Comment · In Events, Stories
On the first day of Tales of the Cocktail 2013, the Napoleon House was the site of the inaugural Mandarine Napoléon Imperial Battle of the Sexes.
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Four Roses Bourbon Magic City Cocktail Competition

By thirstyinla On June 9, 2013 · Add Comment · In Events
Eveleigh’s own Kiowa Bryan will represent Southern California in the finals of the Four Roses Bourbon Magic City Cocktail Competition.
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Blue agave field in Los Altos

Call for Entries: Viva Sangrita!! Viva Tequila Ocho!! Numero Tres

By thirstyinla On March 8, 2013 · Add Comment · In Events
Entries are now being accepted for the third edition of Viva Sangrita!! Viva Tequila Ocho!!, the annual nationwide competition that challenges bartenders to create “original, thought and palate-provoking” sangritas to pair with one of Tequila Ocho’s current releases.
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Yael Vengroff - Speed Rack National Finals 2012

Speed Rack San Diego, Ivy Mix at Sadie

By thirstyinla On February 24, 2013 · 2 Comments · In Events
Speed Rack, the first nationwide competition created by and for female bartenders comes to San Diego on March 3, 2013 for an extraordinary event that combines world class bartenders, spectator sport and fundraising to fight breast cancer.
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Duggan McDonnell & Lindsay Nader

Encanto Pisco Launches Second Annual Search for the Distiller’s Apprentice

By thirstyinla On January 8, 2013 · Add Comment · In Uncategorized
The award-winning Campo de Encanto Pisco has launched its Second Annual Search for the Distiller's Apprentice. From March 16-24, 2013, the chosen bartenders will travel to Pisco, Peru and be fully immersed in the production of Encanto Pisco.
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Christopher Day at Cole's

Christopher Day Wins 4th Annual Jimmy Barella Bartending Competition

By thirstyinla On December 11, 2012 · 1 Comment · In Events
On the eve of Repeal Day, Christopher Day wins the 4th Annual Jimmy Barella Bartending Competition at Cole's with a two-part, deconstructed cocktail.
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    [2/2] In "A Sense of Place" - Part One of his supe [2/2] In "A Sense of Place" - Part One of his superb "Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey" - @risenc writes: "Nostalgic types insist the golden age of Kentucky distilling was long ago; some say the late 1800s, others the 1960s. But most of them also recognize that we are living through another golden age today - perhaps THE golden age." Risen takes readers on a 288-page journey through this new golden age, from the oldest, largest distilleries to the next generation of craft distillers. The heart of the book features several sections that cover individual Kentucky distilleries: “The Old Guard,” “The New Establishment,” “Craft Whiskey” and “Non-Distilling Producers.” The final section, “Beyond the Bourbon” showcases several companies that are integral to the story of bourbon: @independentstavecompany @kelvin_cooperage @petersonfarmsky @vendomecopper "Spotlight" profiles range from foundational figures like Colonel Edmund H. Taylor Jr., one of the driving forces behind the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897; to Marianne Eaves @mariannebmd, the first female master distiller in Kentucky since Prohibition. In the Spotlight on @peggynoestevens, Risen notes: "No person has played a larger role in shaping modern whiskey tourism." Stevens set the standard with the @woodfordreserve distillery experience, and has since co-founded the @kentuckybourbontrail and established her own consulting firm, Peggy Noe Stevens & Associates. For newbies, "Bourbon" is a fantastic, approachable primer on what would be a daunting subject for the average consumer to tackle. Longtime aficionados and collectors will find "Bourbon" a worthy addition to their libraries. Cheers @tenspeedpress for the review copy! Gorgeous 📸 by @howdyluke 👏 🥃 four of the many brands affiliated with @buffalotrace: Taylor, Old Stagg Special Reserve, Old Charter, the original O.F.C. 🥃 two views of stills at @castleandkey: the copper whiskey still (top) and the stainless steel gin still 🥃 @pepperdistillery Old Pepper Single Barrel Rye 🔥 barrel charring at Kelvin Cooperage 💥 still construction at Vendome Copper & Brass Works #thirstyinla #bourbonheritagemonth #kentuckybourbontrail
    [1/2] With the blistering heat of summer (hopefull [1/2] With the blistering heat of summer (hopefully) behind us and fall on the horizon, there's no better time to celebrate #bourbonheritagemonth 🥃 Published in December 2021, "Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey" by @risenc is a must-read for numerous reasons. 🗺 Let's start with the "Ephemera Set" - a pull-out drawer that holds beautifully reproduced distillery maps and blueprints, rare bottle labels, and historical photographs. 📖 Next up, the main tome itself 👀 Thank you for the review copy @tenspeedpress 🙏 #thirstyinla #traveltuesday
    Finally got my hands on a copy of the @discoverla Finally got my hands on a copy of the @discoverla x @atlasobscura LA OVG collab! 🗺 I’m a longtime fan of Atlas Obscura, so meeting co-founder @dylanthuras and @arielazoff was just one of many highlights from this week’s Market Outlook Forum. (the welcome 🌮🌮 from @leostacostruck were a close second 😂) It was so great to re-connect and catch up with the extended LA Tourism family at MOF and Global Team Meeting - not just our first in-person events since the Before Times, but my first with the organization since returning full time. (I was getting more verklempt with every “Welcome back, Daniel” 😭) 🥂 Such a treat to take a private @unistudios tram and stroll the actual set from @jordanpeele’s “Nope” (champagne flutes in hand) which is now a permanent addition to the Studio Tour 🤠 🧟‍♂️ Our dinner companions reminded us that Halloween is just around the corner 😱 #discoverla
    Another legend gone too soon 😞 I first met @ Another legend gone too soon 😞 I first met @brothercleve after @anguswinchester’s marvelous “Godfathers” seminar at @tales_of_the_cocktail. We chatted about music and DJing, which was pretty much all we would talk about in subsequent convos. Cleve graciously contributed to the first Booze & Vinyl post (link in bio) - he wrote the liner notes for the Sun Ra @recordstoredayus release that he paired with a Saturn 🙏 Our DMs on IG were likewise music related - I would send links to articles like @questlove’s massive record collection, or @gillespeterson DJing on @kcrw Morning Becomes Eclectic; and he would message back about Combustible Edison playing MBE, or send awesome DMs like this: “I imagine you’re familiar with songwriter Allee Willis (Boogie Wonderland, Friends, Neutron Dance, etc). I got to be good friends with her starting in the mid 90’s. She basically spent every weekend at the Pasadena swap meet starting in the mid 70’s. Her Valley Village home was loaded with mid century treasures and junk, along with her platinum records, keyboards, etc. My eyes would pop out every time I was there. Amazing woman RIP. I worked a Fluffernutter Festival here with her around 7 years ago! She had Fluff glasses, coat etc 🤪” RIP Brother Cleve 📸 Michael Piazza, @imbibe #thirstyinla
    I don’t know how much longer I can endure this t I don’t know how much longer I can endure this torment 🏖
    Jury duty in Santa Monica has its upside: @chachac Jury duty in Santa Monica has its upside: @chachachickensm Jerk Chicken Enchiladas with Fried Plantains, Dirty Rice & Black Beans #discoverla #dinela
    @lawrystheprimerib has been a family favorite for @lawrystheprimerib has been a family favorite for decades - my dad has been going since the 50s! 😱 We hadn’t been to Lawry’s since the Before Times, and while there have been pandemic adjustments (currently the famed silver carving carts aren’t roaming the restaurant), our dinner was wonderful and the service was impeccable as always. 🙏 Happy Birthday, dad! #lawrys #discoverla #dinela
    My poor attempt at a #simonstares in honor of toni My poor attempt at a #simonstares in honor of tonight’s @bettercallsaulamc finale 🥮 So excited, see y’all on the other side 😬 #bettercallsaul #saulgone
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