NEW ORLEANS, LA (January 8, 2026) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation invites the New Orleans spirits community to Halfway to Tales on January 26, 2026, for a dynamic day of education, connection, and celebration marking the halfway point to Tales of the Cocktail®. Hosted in partnership with Turning Tables and Sazerac at The Sazerac House, the complimentary event brings together bartenders, hospitality professionals, and industry leaders for forward-looking conversations, innovative seminars, and meaningful community engagement.
Halfway to Tales offers attendees the opportunity to explore what’s trending in bars globally while connecting with peers through free educational programming, cocktails, and time together. Admission is free, with limited capacity.
The program opens with a welcome and overview of how to get involved with Tales of the Cocktail 2026, followed by the seminar “Current Global Bar Trends,” led by Charlotte Voisey, Executive Director of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. The session highlights the bars, bartenders, cocktails, and movements shaping the global drinks landscape, with additional perspectives from Foundation Board Members Sandrae Lawrence (Cocktail Lovers, London) and John Gakuru (Coruscent Co., Los Angeles).
Attendees will then have the opportunity to select from two concurrent educational sessions from Turning Tables. “Storytelling Through Service: Creating Memorable Guest Experiences,” presented by Abigail Gullo, focuses on crafting compelling cocktail narratives, connecting ingredients to culture and place, and strengthening guest engagement behind the bar. “Flavor Architecture: Building Blocks of Balance & Complexity,” presented by Touré Folkes, explores how flavor, history, and geography intersect to create thoughtful, well-balanced cocktails and confident presentation. The day also includes opportunities to connect with peers and explore the Sazerac House through a self-guided experience.
Halfway to Tales will take place alongside The Great Shake Up, a celebration of the artistry, creativity, and culture of Black bartenders from across the nation. The Great Shake Up includes both an Elevation Culinary Experience and a high-energy cocktail competition, where craft meets culture through music, mixology, and movement. Tickets for The Great Shake Up events are available separately from Halfway to Tales.
Together, Halfway to Tales, Turning Tables, and The Great Shake Up create a full day of inspiration, education, and celebration honoring the drinks community while building momentum toward Tales of the Cocktail 2026.
Admission to Halfway to Tales is free, with space limited. Advance RSVP is required by January 23, 2026: https://talesofthecocktail.org/events-halfway-to-tales
Tickets for The Great Shake Up Elevation Culinary Experience and The Great Shake Up Competition are available for purchase separately: https://events.eventnoire.com/e/the-great-shakeup
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About Tales Of The Cocktail Foundation
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the global hospitality industry through education, advocacy, and community support. As the world’s leading spirits education platform, the Foundation provides year-round programs and initiatives that foster professional growth and drive meaningful change. Each July, the industry gathers in New Orleans, the beating heart of cocktail culture and hospitality, for a one-of-a-kind conference that blends education, networking, and celebration like no other. Guided by its core pillars—Educate, Advance, and Support—the Foundation’s impact extends far beyond the U.S., reaching professionals and communities around the world. Tales of the Cocktail will take place in New Orleans July 19-24, 2026. #totc2026
ABOUT SAZERAC HOUSE:
Located at the corner of Canal and Magazine Streets, and near the original 1850s Sazerac Coffee House where the Sazerac Cocktail was popularized, the Sazerac House is an immersive museum inviting guests to explore the cocktail culture of New Orleans. Housed within a historic, 48,000-square-foot building, the three-story experience blends interactive exhibits, storytelling, education, and tastings to bring the city’s cocktail heritage to life. Guests can explore an on-site Micro-Distillery crafting Sazerac Rye Whiskey, witness production of Peychaud’s Bitters, and enjoy private event spaces, all while discovering how New Orleans shaped modern cocktail culture. For more information or to plan a visit, visit www.sazerachouse.com.
ABOUT TURNING TABLES:
Turning Tables is changing the current face of hospitality by providing mentorship, cultivating leadership, and creating career pathways while advocating for equity in the hospitality industry.
Our vision is to create a hospitality industry in New Orleans and beyond that is a model of inclusivity, diversity and equity.
ABOUT THE GREAT SHAKEUP:
The Great Shakeup, presented by Festival Noir, gives homage to Black Cocktail Craftsman and their talents. Black Cocktail Craftsman make up less than 6% of all mixologist in the US.
Today these creatives have limited opportunities to showcase their talents or be celebrated for them, until now. This competition is bigger than having a winner or a loser. The Great Shakeup creates space for Black Cocktail Craftsman in an industry where they are commonly overlooked.
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