Move over Tales of the Cocktail, there’s a new kid in town.

I couldn’t help but get excited when I heard about New York City’s first ever multi-day cocktail extravaganza. Planned for the weekend of October 3rd and 4th, the Manhattan Cocktail Classic 2009 Fall Preview is slated to feature a range of educational seminars. Taking place at Astor Center (located on Lafayette and East 4th Street) and inside a handful of the best cocktail bars, events will include an ultimate crash course in Cognac, panel discussions on agave-based spirits, a look into the city’s cocktail history and so much more. The best part is, it’s just a preview of what’s being planned for the first big annual event in celebration of World Cocktail Week in May.

New York’s greatest bartenders will be on hand crafting incredible cocktails all weekend long and you’ll have a chance to experience some of the most celebrated cocktail establishments in the world. Presenters include the likes of Dale DeGroff, Gary Regan, Dave Wondrich, Paul Pacult, Audrey Saunders and Steve Olson.

I’m sensing that the weekend will be part conference, part festival and a damn good time. Tickets are rumored to go on sale sometime around Labor Day and I believe you can buy them for individual sessions if you’d like. I’d imagine they’re going to sell out fast.

So, who’s behind this mother of all cocktail parties? Just thirteen of the world’s greatest bartenders, bar owners, writers, educators, critics, consultants and ambassadors. Trust me, they’re all people you’d be privileged to share a drink with. Learn more about them here.

Can’t wait until October? Stock up on incredible cocktail ingredients, make something spectacular and propose a toast to the finer things in life!

TAGS [ MANHATTAN COCKTAIL CLASSIC | COCKTAIL MIXERS | COCKTAIL EVENTS | COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS | COCKTAILS ]