Highlights from ACSA and Tales in NOLA

Karen and friends having fun at the conference. Pictured from left to right: Dale DeGroff ("Cocktail King"), Tiffanie Barriere (Influencer and educator), Jack Summers (First black holder of distilling license in America), Mama D Mino (Brooklyn Speakeasy Owner), Karen Hoskin (Owner of Montanya).

Earlier this month, our founder and owner Karen was able to attend to the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) annual conference and Tales of the Cocktail, both held in New Orleans, Louisiana. Our head Distiller Megan Campbell also attended ACSA.

They had a grand time seeing old friends and colleagues after a long Covid pause, meeting new people, tasting spirits (Karen was a judge for the Tales of the Cocktail Spirits Competition) and talking business! We’ve listed a few of Karen’s highlights from the trip below!

Karen kicked off the ACSA annual conference by leading the opening session on Thursday. She spoke on a wide variety of hot topics including multi-entity collaboration, Women of the Vine and Spirits (WOTVS), the Women’s Distillery Guild, the Step Up Foundation, and the WOTVS Foundation. She was happy to see her session well-attended by one of the most impressively diverse crowds she has seen at a distillers’ conference in her 14 year history of attendance.

Karen also served as a judge at the New Orleans Spirits Competition (a huge honor), which is formally affiliated with Tales. She attended Tales of the Cocktail (affectionately known as “Tales”) - the largest bartender conference in the world, where she hosted several (small) bartender events at some famed NOLA bars like Latitude 29, Cure, and Cane & Table.

Using rum as a force for good

Supporting and advocating for diversity in the spirits industry has always been important for Montanya Distillers. This year, Montanya was able to host a dinner for indigenous female bartenders from all over the USA. Their seminar at Tales was one the most impressive ones of the cycle.

Karen also hosted a dinner with Shannon Mustifer, the author of the first black bartender’s cocktail book published in over 100 years and a brunch with Jackie Summers, the first black holder of a federal distilling license. Karen has been collaborating with Shannon and Jack for over four years. Shannon has been a leader in the spirits industry as an advocate for rum, tiki cocktails, and the bartender community. Jack has an impressive resume of brand building, venture capital and advocacy with his brand Sorel Liqueur.

What a wild ride it was! We already can’t wait for next year.