Jennifer Lopez’s master mixologist talks summer cocktails at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The 22nd annual Tales of the Cocktail is officially underway, and events kicked off Monday at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans, where they are hosting seminars and tasting rooms.

The week-long celebration brings bartenders, liquor companies and cocktail enthusiasts from all over the world to New Orleans to get a taste of the latest and greatest in the cocktail world.

Free beer and cocktails every Friday at New Orleans record shop, Peaches Records

Melissa Townsend said, “This is the Super Bowl of cocktails. All these award-winning bars and bartenders are here, and we get to rub elbows and raise a toast to them.”

Visitors from nearly 50 different countries are in New Orleans for the annual Tales of the Cocktail. Last year, the event brought in $24 million to the city. There are over 400 events planned throughout the city to celebrate “Tales of the Cocktail.”

“We have massive international appeal. We get to be thought leaders, define changes across the bar, across the world and all that happens here,” said Tales of the Cocktail Foundation CEO Eileen Wayner.

One thing you’ll notice about this year is that women are at the forefront.

“We have a lot of women who are driving that positive change in this industry, and I’m really, really stoked,” said Wayner.

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Lynette Marrero, a master mixologist for Delola, is in New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail, and WGNO caught up with her at Loa bar in the International House Hotel.

Marrero is superstar Jennifer Lopez’s mixologist for her brand Delola.

“We are thinking of craft cocktails made easy. We have Delola cocktails that you can pick up and buy and pour over ice. Where the bartender isn’t, you can be the bartender with Delola. There have been a lot of trends, but there really wasn’t a point where you could get fully flavored, lower-proof, lower calorie drinks. So, it was really important to put out there,” said Marrero.

There are 400 events throughout the city for Tales of the Cocktail. The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans is the host hotel with several seminars and tasting rooms. Tales of the Cocktail runs through Friday July 26th.

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