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Marc Becker, Area Director of Marketing
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Marc.becker@ihrco.com
NEW ORLEANS Feb 24, 2015 - The Bourbon Orleans Hotel‘s classy bar the "Bourbon O" located on one of the city's most famous corners, Orleans Avenue at Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter historic district was recently the recipient of an unprecedented honor. Here, for two consecutive years, the judges of the prestigious New Orleans Magazine have selected their "Mixologist of the Year" for the city of New Orleans.
In 2013, Steven Lemley Jr. a native of Bossier City, La was selected for his wizardry in crafting elixirs of delight. Steven's entry into the craft cocktail business began when he took a temporary job helping at a friend's bar in the French Quarter. His interest in what was in the variety of bottles at the back of the bar led him to be "amazed at all the chemistry that went into the construction of a good drink. Every ingredient had to bring something to the mix and every "something" had to remain in balance," says Lemley. He soon began creating new concoctions in his own time at home. Steven can be found mixing a combination of sweet, savory, sour; maybe even bits of fresh fruit or herbs and bringing about an enjoyable result in his positon behind the "freshest bar on Bourbon Street". "Balance with fresh ingredients is the achievable goal with everything I do," he says.
Following Steven's success this year, his own Bar Director, Miss Cheryl Charming earned the coveted title of Mixologist of the Year 2014 as announced in the December issue of New Orleans Magazine. The honor will stay with her and her bar through the entire 2015 year until a new winner is named, and for long after, as there is only one winner a year, in a city that boasts more than 6500 bars and some 25,000 bartenders!
Cheryl "is the consummate hostess, a master storyteller, a tour guide of drinks and a terrific mixologist!" according to local food and drink historian, journalist and radio host Tim McNally. Cheryl writes, edits, art directs and publishes a monthly newsletter that explains to Bourbon O bar patrons the current offerings of drinks, new creations and stories about origins and location, interspersed with trivia and facts. Cheryl has published more cocktail and bar related books that anyone else in the nation and regularly teaches cocktail classes for private groups. Most famous, perhaps is her book "Miss Charming's Book of Bar Amusements" by Random House. Cheryl's insistence on only the freshest ingredients is her guiding force, and has led to the Bourbon O's moniker in the industry as the "Freshest Bar on Bourbon Street". She likes to tie the local area into her drinks - and the Touchdown Jesus Bloody Mary is a nod to the Bar's proximity to St Louis Cathedral's statue of Jesus with arms raised.
About the Bourbon Orleans Hotel
The Bourbon New Orleans Hotel is part of the prestigious New Orleans Hotel Collection. Located on the most coveted corner of the French Quarter, the Bourbon Orleans Hotel features a rich history and opulent French styling reminiscent of the early 1800s. The hotel's ideal New Orleans location is just steps away from the famed St. Louis Cathedral, upscale shopping on Royal Street, local artists and performers of Jackson Square, and many restaurants, galleries and nightlife in between. The Bourbon Orleans Hotel is locally owned and committed to preserving the history and character of the hotel for generations. For more information, visit the hotel's website: www.bourbonorleans.com.
About the New Orleans Hotel Collection
The New Orleans Hotel Collection is a group of seven fine hotels in the New Orleans metropolitan region owned by local investors. Comprised of the Bourbon Orleans, Dauphine Orleans, the new Hotel Mazarin, The Whitney Hotel, Audubon Cottages, Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport and the trendy Hotel Le Marais, these are boutique and small upscale meeting hotels in prime locations throughout the city. Collection hotels are the official recommended hotels for the Southern Food and Beverage Museum and the Museum of the American Cocktail. For more information, visit the website: www.neworleanshotelcollection.com.