Recent News

There's a new kind of pressure test coming to bars across America, and it has nothing to do with a Saturday night rush. The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, working alongside Absolut Vodka, has announced a nationwide bartender competition called Absolut Heat Streak — and it's designed to find out

The cocktail world's most respected honors return to New Orleans in 2026 with a list that spans six continents and leaves nothing on the table Every year, the drinks industry holds its breath. Not for scores or ratings handed down by some algorithm, but for a list that actually means something — o

A Puerto Rican distillery with 160 years of history just made a strong case for why rum deserves a spot on your shelf There's a quiet shift happening in the spirits world, and it has nothing to do with another craft whiskey release or a celebrity tequila. Destilería Serrallés, one of the oldest ru

The ready-to-drink cocktail market just got a major shakeup. Sazerac, one of the oldest and most powerful names in American spirits, has announced it is entering an exclusive distribution deal with SIPMARGS, a sparkling ready-to-drink margarita brand that has been quietly building serious momentum

The Spirited Awards Just Dropped Their U.S. Nominees — And the List Says a Lot About Where Cocktail Culture Is Headed Every year, the drinks industry has its version of awards season. And for anyone who takes their cocktails seriously — whether that means knowing the difference between a proper Sa

A New Class Steps Into One of Hospitality's Most Competitive Training Grounds Every year, bartenders from around the world send in applications hoping for a shot at one of the most respected training programs in the drinks business. Most don't make it. The ones who do spend a week in New Orleans w

The World's Premier Drinks Conference Is Back New Orleans has never needed much of an excuse to throw a party, but when Tales of the Cocktail rolls into town every July, it becomes something else entirely. The 24th annual Tales of the Cocktail is set for July 19 through 24, 2026, headquartered o

The bartender competition that refuses to die has returned — and it brought a 9-foot game master with it There are bartender competitions, and then there is Cocktail Fights. One involves careful judging, quiet deliberation, and polished presentations. The other involves a towering costumed figure

There's a familiar frustration that comes with wanting a solid cocktail somewhere other than a bar or your own kitchen. Hauling bottles, mixing tools, and the right ingredients to a tailgate, a beach, or a buddy's backyard has never exactly been simple. The Cocktail Collection thinks it has the ans

Louisville's April Tradition Is Back, and It's Bigger Than Ever Every April, Louisville transforms. The city that gave the world bourbon, the Kentucky Derby, and one of the most recognizable cocktails in American history shifts into a higher gear — and for the 13th consecutive year, Mint Julep Mon