Tales of the Cocktail Vancouver is days away and we’re thrilled! This, of course, speaks volumes about the magic of Vancouver’s mixology scene — it’s only the second time Tales has been held outside of New Orleans, and the second time in Van!

We have been invited to pour and will be there with bells on.  Join us!   February 12th-15th at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel.  Tickets are still available here!   Come meet (makers) Peter and Phil at the “Meet the Makers” pouring on February 13th.

Distillers Phil & Peter: Brothers-in-law, partners in crime (& housemates!)

Our barkeep in shining armour, Solomon Siegel, will be there with us as well, making his West Coast Cocktail, which debuted at our first Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.  Here it is again to whet your palate:

West Coast Cocktail

2 oz Victoria Gin
3/4 oz Martini Bianco vermouth
4 dashes liquor Strega

Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with smoked salmon lox and smoked applewood cheddar. Dip the garnish in the drink before you eat it.

Mr. West Coast, Solomon Siegel, stirs the pot

We know Jacob Briars’ bitters seminar will be fascinating and if that’s not bitter enough, Tales Vancouver 2012 will climax with a Valentine’s Day Bitter Bash, which reads like a film noir femme fatale:

Are you in love with Bitters? Or are you Bitter that you’re not in love? [...] You don’t need romance on Valentine’s Day– you need bitters! Let go of sugary traditions in favour of bitter ones and lose yourself in Campari, Aperol, Cynar and more. Allow the bitterness to wash over you in contagious cocktails created by your all-star bartenders, inspired by these classic spirits that are anything but sweet.

Hear, hear.  And on this bitter topic, all Tales Vancouver attendees will be going home with a bottle of our bitters in their prize pack — bottles which will soon be collectibles cause we’re revamping the whole look for the next batch.

Love her and leave her, we need a new muse

Vancouver, you are pretty special, we gotta love ya… ’til the bitter end.