Tales of the Cocktail 2015

For the latest installment of this interview series which brings together leading figures in our industry for candid, informative discussions and creative exchanges, we ask you to consider this Awesome Threesome: Claire Smith-Warner, Head of Spirit Creation and Mixology, Moët Hennessy; Lorena Vásquez, Master Blender, Zacapa Rum; and Ann Tuennerman, Founder and Executive Director, Tales of the Cocktail.

All three panelists are innovators in their fields with a vast amount of experience between them. These trailblazers have a great deal of knowledge and perspective to impart about their various areas of expertise and the business in general.

We'll examine what it takes to create a new spirit. How to make it good enough to stand out above the others. How to make it desirable, how to make it sell. We'll discuss what it's like to blend one of the most iconic rums in the world. How to innovate, adding your own mark, while still respecting tradition. What qualifications and training are actually needed to become a Master Blender? We'll delve into how and why Tales of the Cocktail first came to fruition. What it takes to run an event of this scale, and how to go about making it economically viable. We'll talk about its influence, and how it became the premiere cocktail festival in the world today. We'll also chart each Pro's individual trajectory and hear about their experiences along the way.

Join us as these three impressive, talented women: a creator, a blender, and an enabler, share their insights into their careers and our industry. Perhaps they'll inspire you to follow a similar path, or carve out one of your own!