WASHINGTON, May 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Tonight, more than three hundred cocktail enthusiasts and local fans came together in celebration of historic Black bartenders at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. Cocktails were made by acclaimed local and national bartenders while guests and notables enjoyed the sounds of D.C.'s famous Go Go music performed by The Chuck Brown band.
Ann Tuennerman, Founder of Tales of the Cocktail, was presented with the prestigious "D'USSE Cognac Tom Bullock Award for Service and Leadership" which honors exceptional members of the spirits and bartending community who,throughtheir service and leadership, have reached beyond their bar or brand to effect the greater community. Just as Tom Bullock, who was the first Black bartender to write a cocktail book prior to Prohibition, was able to create a lasting impression of excellence in bartending despite the many barriers he faced,this person must prove that their impact will outlast their impression and influence future generations of people in the spirits and bartending community.
The award was presented by Tom Bullock's grand nephew Darryl Bullock and Richard McLeod, Brand Director D'USSE VSOP Cognac.
Upon receiving the award Ann noted, "It's one of the great honors of my life to be mentioned in the same breath as Tom Bullock a man whose talents with the shaker and the pen opened the door for so many spirits professionals. It was with pioneers like Mr. Bullock in mind that we created Tales of the Cocktail. Every year we seek to connect cocktail trailblazers with the next generation of mixologists so that anyone with a passion and talent for making drinks will have the opportunity to succeed."
Throughout the evening, cocktail stations were helmed by the District and Nation's top bartending talent, serving historic recipes and telling the story of bartenders like Dick Francis. Local and national cocktail personalities in attendance including Dale Degroff, Colin Asare-Appiah, Jim Meehan and Duane Sylvestre shared historic and personal tales of Black bartenders with guests.
Richard McLeod, Brand Director D'USSE VSOP Cognac said, "D'USSE was thrilled to participate in this event with so many exceptional members of the spirits and bartending community. We felt strongly about Tom Bullock's story and the remarkable way he impacted the spirits industry so we're honored to be part of this monumental evening and to celebrate Ann."
A portion of the ticket proceeds from the event benefit The Museum of the American Cocktail.
ABOUT DC Toasts
DC Toasts was founded with the goal of promoting excellence in bartending through diversity and education, by celebrating those who have made significant contributions to bartending but whose stories have gone virtually untold. Research on historic Black bartenders was conducted in conjunction with our research partner, the DC Public Library Special Collections, and led by David Wondrich, award winning author of Imbibe and Punch, along with historian Garret Peck, author of How Dry We Weren't: Prohibition in Washington D.C. and writer Derek Brown.
ABOUT D'USSE® Cognac
D'USSE [dew-say] is a bold new expression of Cognac that dares the palate like never before. Born from the prestigious Chateau de Cognac, France, D'USSE blends over 200 years of tradition with the inspiration of a passionate Cellar Master who set out to create his own legacy. The result is a uniquely powerful, authentic Cognac that starts off with distinguished intensity and then gives way to a pleasantly smooth, balanced finish.
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