A $62,500 Relief Initiative for New Orleans Bartenders and Barbacks in partnership with Gambino’s King Cake Rum Cream, Gambino’s Bakery, Tequila Tromba USA, Republic National Distributing Company, Don Q Rum, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Rémy Cointreau, Edrington, and 375 Park Avenue Spirits
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (February 24, 2021) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce “Mardi Gras Gives,” in partnership with Gambino’s King Cake Rum Cream, Gambino’s Bakery, Tequila Tromba USA, Republic National Distributing Company, Don Q Rum, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Rémy Cointreau, Edrington, and 375 Park Avenue Spirits. The grant initiative will provide $62,500 in immediate relief funds to New Orleans’ furloughed and laid-off bartenders and barbacks affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On February 24, 2021 at 12PM CST, eligible bartenders and barbacks are invited to apply for first-come, first-served relief funds. To be eligible for a one-time, $250 grant, bartenders or barbacks must be working in Orleans Parish at a standalone bar or nightclub (not restaurant or hotel) and able to demonstrate loss of employment or furlough status between February 2020 and February 2021. At least 50% of the grant money available will be allocated to eligible applicants who identify as women, members of the BIPOC community and/or applicants over the age of 60.
“Mardi Gras is traditionally New Orleans’ largest revenue generating holiday annually,” shared Caroline Rosen, President of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. “We know our bartending community is feeling the impact of the lost revenue this year as a result of the pandemic. We are incredibly grateful to have incredible partners who are stepping in to help offset these financial hardships for our industry. This sense of community and taking care of one another is emblematic of New Orleans and the embodiment of the Mardi Gras spirit.”
“Being born and raised in New Orleans, a sense of community and hospitality is instilled in all of us at an early age” said Tequila Tromba USA CEO, John Eason. “I grew up in the city’s bar scene. Working in it helped put me through college and gave me an industry education that would benefit my entire career. As I walked through the French Quarter Friday, the severity of Covid and the Mardi Gras bar closings hit me hard. Our bartenders and barbacks are hit the hardest. Losing the Mardi Gras season is a crippling blow to so many service people. $250 for 250 bartenders and barbacks doesn’t begin to cover the loss or address the situation, but it does help some folks in need buy important things like groceries or pay a light bill. I’m grateful for the opportunity to give something back and to the companies that came together to help.”
Eligible applicants are invited to apply for relief funds via Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s website at tocstaging.wpengine.com/initiatives/grants beginning at 12pm CST on February 24, 2021. If you do not have access to the internet please call 504.948.0511 and a Tales of the Cocktail Foundation representative will help you fill out the application form.
Payments will be dispersed within a month of review of all application materials.
For more information on Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, please visit www.tocstaging.wpengine.com.
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About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization designed to Educate, Advance and Support the hospitality industry while creating a lasting impact in communities that host its events. Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is the global leader in spirits education and a platform to tackle issues facing the global spirits community. Tales of the Cocktail will be hosted digitally from September 20 – 23, 2021. For more information on Tales of the Cocktail®, please visit www.tocstaging.wpengine.com
About Sidewalk Side Spirits
Sidewalk Side Spirits is a spirit’s brand incubator founded in 2020 by friends in the spirits, cocktail, and hospitality industry. Gambino’s King Cake Rum Cream was born out of the New Orleanians’ love of Carnival and all it means to the hundreds of thousands of revelers who celebrate it across the country every year. For over a decade it’s founders could be seen celebrating Mardi Gras with their friends and family on “the sidewalk side” of Napoleon and Prytania. For more information go to https://sidewalksidespirits.com
About Gambino’s Bakery
With almost 100 years of tradition, Gambino’s Bakery has kept craftsmanship and quality as its hallmarks. To this day, Gambino’s bakes cakes and treats fresh daily. They have made New Orleans flavors and style accessible across the country and continue to bake with passion to make the best desserts possible. For more information on Gambino’s Bakery, please visit https://gambinos.com
About Tequila Tromba
Tequila Tromba, named for the intense rainstorms that rejuvenate the agave fields of the Jalisco Highlands, emerged when a group of young tequila lovers teamed up with the original Master Distiller of premium tequila. Building the brand out of their backpacks bottle by bottle, bar by bar, they remain uniquely Distiller-owned and have become of the of the world’s top craft Tequilas. Their entrepreneurial spirit, obsession for quality, and passion to change the way the world sees tequila has brought them to where they are today – and they look to celebrate their commitment to craftsmanship in every sip. For more information, please visit https://tequilatromba.com/
About Republic National Distributing Company
RNDC, a world-class distributor of fine wines and spirits in North America, has operations in the District of Columbia and 32 states across the United States. To learn more, visit www.rndc-usa.com
About Destilería Serrallés / Don Q Rum
Destilería Serrallés is one of America’s oldest family-owned businesses with a rum making tradition that spans 6 generations and 155 years. Based in Ponce, Puerto Rico, the distillery produces its flagship product, the award-winning Don Q rum brand, the #1 selling rum on the island. The Distillery has been awarded the “Green Award” from The Drinks Business, which recognizes leaders in environmental practices within the beverage industry, and more recently was recognized as “World Class Distillery,” by World Spirits Awards. For additional information, visit us athttps://donq.com/ and follow us on social media: Facebook.com/DonQ y @donqrum.
About Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Tito’s Handmade Vodka is America’s Original Craft Vodka. In 1997, Bert “Tito” Beveridge, now a 50-something geophysicist, obtained the first legal permit to distill in Texas and created Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Tito’s distills its corn-based vodka using old-fashioned pot stills and the vodka is naturally Gluten-Free. Tito’s Handmade Vodka is distilled and bottled by Fifth Generation Inc. in Austin, Texas, and is available in Liter, 1.75L, 750ml, 375ml, 200ml and 50ml sizes. For more information, visit www.titosvodka.com and https://www.titosvodka.com/donation/
About Rémy Cointreau
All around the world, there are clients seeking exceptional experiences; clients for whom a wide range of terroirs means a variety of flavors. Their exacting standards are proportional to our expertise – the finely-honed skills that we pass down from generation to generation. The time these clients devote to drinking our products is a tribute to all those who have worked to develop them. It is for these men and women that Rémy Cointreau, a family-owned French Group, protects its terroirs, cultivates exceptional multi-centenary spirits and undertakes to preserve their eternal faith. The Group’s portfolio includes 12 unique brands: Rémy Martin and Louis CIII cognacs, put on Cointreau liqueur, METAXA Greek spirit, Mount Gay rum, St-Rémy brandy, The Botanist gin, and four collection of single-malt whiskies (Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore from Islay, Westland from Seattle and Domaine des Hautes Glaces from the French Alps). Rémy Cointreau has a single ambition: becoming the world leader in exceptional spirits. To this end, it relies on the commitment and creativity of its 1,900 employees and on its distribution subsidiaries established in the Group’s strategic markets. Rémy Cointreau is listed on Euronext Paris.
About Edrington
Edrington’s ownership model is unique in its industry. The origins of our company stretch back to 1861, when William Robertson founded the Robertson & Baxter company in Glasgow. One hundred years later, his granddaughters formed a charitable trust to own the business. Elspeth, Agnes and Ethel Robertson wished to use the future success of the family business to extend the support they had given to charities in their lifetimes. Today, Edrington’s principal shareholder continues to be The Robertson Trust, and the Trust has given more than £283 million to charities in Scotland. The Macallan is our central focus, supported by Highland Park and The Glenrothes in the fast-growing Single Malt category, and Naked in the Blended Malt category. Our portfolio is completed with The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky and Brugal rum in the Dominican Republic. We have strategic partnerships with Tequila Partida and Wyoming Whiskey and Noble Oak Bourbon.
About 375 Park Avenue Spirits
375 Park Avenue Spirits specializes in the premium- to luxury-spirit categories and our portfolio includes numerous expressions from leading international & domestic producers. Founded as Luctor International, LLC in 1981, 375 Park Avenue Spirits joined the Sazerac Company in early 2015 to act as an independent, yet fully integrated sales and marketing affiliate. The company is known today for creating an environment of growth for supplier partners in the domestic market for renown brands like Van Gogh Vodka from Holland, Sobieski Vodka from Poland,
Cutty Sark Blended Scotch, J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whisky, Paul John Single Malt Whisky from India, Scapegrace Gin from New Zealand, Novo Fogo Cachaca and many others. For more information on 375 Park Avenue Spirits, please visit www.375park.com
Media Inquiries:
Gia Vecchio, [email protected], 917.280.5043
