For some, drinking in New Orleans means stumbling down Bourbon Street with a Hurricane in a to-go cup. But Tales of the Cocktail (July 16–20) is out to change that, inviting celebrants to revisit the city with a refined appreciation for its historic drinks – such as the Sazerac – and literary bar culture. Now in its sixth year, the festival has evolved into a weekend of seminars, parties and tastings based at the Hotel Monteleone, with world-class cocktailers leading classes on topics ranging from "green" bars to molecular mixology to shochu, along with cocktail-pairing dinners at a number of the city's top restaurants, including August, Commander's Palace and MiLa. Taking a cue from competitive cooking, there will even be a bar chef challenge orchestrated by master mixologist Dale DeGroff. The organizers are expecting a global crowd of bartenders, connoisseurs and other curious tipplers this year; tickets are on sale now at www.talesofthecocktail.com (events, $25–$75; seminars, $40; dinners, $65–$85).