Louisiana Eats: Getting Into the Spirit at Tales of the Cocktail

Host Poppy Tooker and Bols Around The World Champion Kate Gerwin

JOE SHRINER

It's that magical time of year in New Orleans when cocktailians and spirits experts from around the world come together in the blazing heat for the world's pre-eminent cocktail festival, Tales of the Cocktail. On this week's show, we're giving you an insider's view into the Crescent City’s most spirited gathering. 

Adam Seger's Truffe Amère Perigord Truffle Bitters

CREDIT JOE SHRINER

We begin with Kate Gerwin, the first American and first woman to win the Bols Around The World championship in bartending. Kate discusses her career owning and operating award-winning establishments, and the story behind Girls With Bols, her game changing mentorship program for female bartenders.

Then, we take a virtual trip through the highball bars of Japan with Gardner Dunn of Suntory Whisky, who explains Suntory's vivid history and the inventive drinking culture in Japan. 

Next, we learn about one family’s spirits legacy from Leonardo Vena of Lucano 1894. Leonardo's family has been making their amaro, an Italian herbal liqueur, from a secret recipe for over a century. 

We also get a lesson in artistic mixology with Adam Seger of the Art Institute of Chicago. The Louisiana-born mixologist reveals one of the newest ingredients in his culinary cocktail bag of tricks — Perigord Truffle Bitters — something he’s dubbed Truffe Amère.

Finally, we share a magical encounter with Josh Beckerman, a New York-based blogger, comedian, and self-proclaimed foodie magician. Josh showed off his slight of hand and we found ourselves spellbound.

It's bottom's up on this week's Louisiana Eats!