NEW ORLEANS, LA — January 3, 2017 – Tales of the Cocktail®, the world’s premier cocktail festival held annually in New Orleans, is proud to announce that Mark Brown, Global CEO of the Sazerac Company, will deliver the 2nd Annual State of the Trade address at Tales of the Cocktail 2017. During this complimentary event held on the Tuesday of Tales, Brown will discuss his perspective on the current state of the spirits industry and where he sees it going in the future. He’ll also share a bit about the Sazerac Company, where they’re headed and how he’s seen the business change throughout the course of his career.
“I am very much looking forward to participating in the 15th Tales of the Cocktail. It is remarkable to see what Tales of the Cocktail has grown into in fifteen short years and in turn has highlighted the incredible impact that the trade has had on consumers enjoyment of distilled spirits,” said Brown. “The event promises to deliver even more excitement as we continue to craft the future of our industry.”
Mark has spent the past 20 years as President and CEO of Sazerac Company, Inc., leading the company to become the largest distiller in the United States with some of the business’s biggest and most respected brands including Blanton’s, Pappy Van Winkle, George T. Stagg, Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, Sazerac Rye, Peychaud’s Bitters and, most recently, Southern Comfort. Brown got his start in the beverage alcohol business at a relatively young age when he began working in his family’s pub business in the U.K. in 1971. From there he went on to serve in a number of sales and operations roles for H.P Bulmer, Brown-Forman and The Sazerac Company before being named President in 1997.
“Mark has spent his entire career in the industry, from working at his family’s pub to leading one of the world’s most respected spirits companies. Few people know our industry better,” said Ann Tuennerman, Founder of Tales of the Cocktail. “We’re lucky to have him share his thoughts for our second State of the Trade.”
For more information and updates on State of the Trade as well as more than 200 other events that are in store for Tales of the Cocktail 2017, please visit TalesoftheCocktail.com.
About Tales of the Cocktail®
Founded in 2002, Tales of the Cocktail® has grown from a small gathering of cocktail lovers into the world’s premier cocktail festival. Each year the international spirits industry is welcomed to New Orleans for a week of seminars, tastings, networking events and much more. With 200+ annual events developed specifically for bartenders, distillers and other spirits professionals, Tales of the Cocktail is the industry’s annual meeting place for the exchanging of new ideas, products and techniques.
Tales of the Cocktail® also produces a number of other events and programs such as Tales of the Cocktail® on Tour, Tales 365, Tales of the Toddy® and Daiquiri Season, all to further the mission of supporting and growing the international cocktail community.
About the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society
Tales of the Cocktail is produced by the New Orleans Culinary & Cultural Preservation Society (NOCCPS), a non-profit organization committed to supporting, promoting and growing the cocktail industry in New Orleans and around the world. In addition to offering opportunities to learn and acquire new skills through Tales of the Cocktail events and Tales 365, the NOCCPS invests the proceeds back into the spirits industry. Since 2008, the NOCCPS has invested more than $886,000 into programs like the Cocktail Apprentice Program, a tuition reimbursement program, the Apprentice medical aid fund, educational scholarships and a new health and wellness program for members of the hospitality industry.
