Tales of the Cocktail, in its on-going effort to support and cultivate the international bartending community, has established a new scholarship program that will allow 10 former apprentices to complete the prestigious Beverage Alcohol Resource (B.A.R.) Program. Each of the ten recipients will receive a scholarship valued at $3,800 and a $500 travel stipend to attend the 11th B.A.R. Spirits & Mixology Certification Program, at the Astor Center in New York City, September 23–27.
Tales of the Cocktail will also make available an additional $10,000 in funding for those who want to attend the program and further their education.
"We're very excited to be able to provide this educational opportunity to the Cocktail Apprentice community,” says Paul Tuennerman, Chief Business Officer, Tales of the Cocktail. “There's probably no better, single classroom achievement to document one's capabilities behind the rail than the Beverage Alcohol Resource Educational Program.”
Founded and run by six of the biggest names in mixology—Steve Olson, Dale DeGroff, Andy Seymour, Doug Frost, David Wondrich and F. Paul Pacult—the B.A.R. Program has become one of the most revered mixology training programs in the country. This scholarship is open to those who apprenticed at Tales of the Cocktail in the past five years.
Applications will be available online at TalesoftheCocktail.com this month, and recipients will be announced in the spring.
"We are delighted to join with our friends and colleagues at Tales of the Cocktail,” says F. Paul Pacult, co-managing partner, B.A.R. LLC. “This is an unprecedented teaming of two compatible organizations for the express purpose of providing spirits and mixology education at what we believe to be the highest level. We look forward to welcoming the scholarship winners into the B.A.R. five-day circle of professionals.”
Sharing his personal experience with B.A.R., David Delaney, Jr., global brand ambassador for Angostura Rum and Bitters, says, “I was accepted to the program in 2010 and again in 2011 but couldn't afford the cost. When Tales of the Cocktail announced its scholarship applications, I thought it would be a great opportunity to apply for help in funding this education. After all, Tales of the Cocktail has proven to aid in just that, the education and awareness of our industry to bartenders and consumers alike.”
The new B.A.R. scholarship program joins the already established Cocktail Apprentice Scholarship program, which is now in its third year. This program was established to give former apprentices the opportunity to pursue educational opportunities and research projects that help them further their own cocktail knowledge and benefit the cocktail industry as a whole.
