Yesterday we hosted our second annual Tales of the Cocktail Bartender Sendoff Party for the folks heading off to New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail this week. When Tipsy and I first went to TOTC in 2007, we were a two-man Texas delegation. Over the last few years it is amazing how much the cocktail movement in Austin and in Texas has grown, and how our representation at Tales has grown accordingly. This year there are dozens of Texans going, with a number of Texas bartenders participating in competitions and tastings, and there is even a Spirit of Texas Luncheon on Friday afternoon, celebrating the growing industry of distilled spirits in Texas.

I am not sure what this huddle was for, but I think I recall them claiming to pick each other up should they find a member of the delegation crawling around drunk in a French Quarter gutter, or something like that

Adam Harris of Maker's Mark (and USBG Austin Vice President)

Adam's mise en place was bigger than everyone else's, as he made the ambitious decision to serve not one but four unique cocktails at the event

David and Bill checking their sources before preparing for the Ramos Gin Fizz shake-off

The shakers start to get passed around the room for the shake-off

Addie Broyles (Austin American-Statesman) and Jenna Noel (Edible Austin magazine)

Graham Wasilition previewed his Tenneyson Absinthe Royale, which should be hitting the shelves Fall 2010

Lara and her golden jigger preparing a Balcones Baby Blue cocktail that will be featured at the Spirit of Texas luncheon

See you in New Orleans!

Representative as it was of the type of tomfoolery that I don't usually enjoy in bartending contests, there was somehow something endearing about the Cabana Cachaca Olympics, held on Royal St down the block from the Hotel Monteleone.

Thanks to Zach Rose for taking pictures on behalf of Tipsy Texan so that I wouldn't have to walk around with a camera pretending I knew what I was doing

I didn't know many of the folks on the other team, but my colleagues Jeff Boley (Paggi House) and Bill Norris represented our fair city on the Red "Home" team of New Orleans and Texas.

Bill is shouting something very important right here but I don't know what the hell it was. I was drinking cachaca.