Real Mezcal

So after that Mezcal Video I posted a few days ago, I decided to try to find some better info.

Lo and behold, Ron Cooper (aka, Mayor of Awesometown) has his own 10 minute inspirational here.

Crap!?!

Who knew?

This from bartleby.com and the American Heritage Dictionary.

crapulence

SYLLABICATION:
crap·u·lence
PRONUNCIATION:
krpy-lns
NOUN:
1. Sickness caused by excessive eating or drinking. 2. Excessive indulgence; intemperance.
ETYMOLOGY:
From crapulent, sick from gluttony, from Late Latin crpulentus, very drunk, from Latin crpula, intoxication, from Greek kraipal.
OTHER FORMS:
crapu·lent —ADJECTIVEcrapu·lous —ADJECTIVE

Prohibition Isn't Over

I've said it before inreference to the Three Tier System of alcohol distribution in the US that means up to half the end price of a bottle of hooch is pure tax. But this piece from the Salt Lake Tribune talks about liquor laws that read like medieval religious law more than contempory commerce guidelines.

From page 3 of Virginia Elliot's 1933 recipe guide, Quiet Drinking.

Selecting the brand of beer you like best is more important than selecting your brand of coffee. Most people drink coffee because it is hot, but they drink beer because they love it.

Word.

Mezcal on Wine Library TV

The host is a goof.

The show is decent.

The guest is great.

The product....well, I do think it has a place in the world, but not my favorite for sipping.

watch here.

Sent using only the power of my mind.

Another Sherry Cocktail Contest

I was just alerted to De Maison's 2009 Cocktail Contest theme and it's Sherry!

Get your recipes in.

Go Go Diageo

My disdain for 'big booze' is a poorly kept secret. Every once and awhile though, I too fall for the marketing. Gary Regan of Ardent Spirits linked this video today.

I just watched it 3 times in a row.

WTF!!

Look what the Alembic is trying to hide on their back bar. Hard to see, but that is definately a bottle of Midori.



Sent using only the power of my mind.

WTF!!

Look what the Alembic is trying to hide on their back bar. Hard to see, but that is definately a bottle of Midori.



Sent using only the power of my mind.

Ed Hardy's vodka

Crazy bad bottle...and only $35 each!



Sent using only the power of my mind.

Beautiful beautiful beautiful

Chow.com posted a great little piece starring two of my favorite people and one of my favorite cocktails.

I plan on watching it every night before I go to sleep...twice.

Quantitive Analysis Gone Wrong

I was kind of interested in this article by the title, but it sure got dumb as it went on. I am particular fond of the stated fact that a rum and coke has twice as much alcohol as a gin and tonic.

Interesting world this writer lives in.

Sherry Competition Video

A video of the recent Sherry Competion in New York showed up on youtube. It was nice of the editors to cut me off before my drunken ramble.

Oooooo, Beverage Scientist Stuff.

I got a press release today and felt as though I should share in the silliness.

WORLD’S FIRST COMPLETE RECOVERY BEVERAGE LAUNCHES
Code Blue Hydrates, Replenishes and Detoxifies to Help You Feel Better Faster

New York, NY – January 15, 2009 – Code Blue™, the world’s first complete recovery drink, launched today and is available for purchase on www.drinkcodeblue.com. Designed by beverage scientists to revive your body, Code Blue’s powerful ingredients help you feel better faster by combating dehydration, replenishing vital nutrients and removing harmful toxins.

Code Blue was created for people who enjoy going out at night but need to wake up feeling refreshed the next morning. Code Blue can be consumed before, during and after a night out to speed the recovery process and bring the body back into balance.

Michael Sachs, former brand manager of Grey Goose Vodka, joined brothers Jeffrey Frumin and Steven Frumin, who led winning beverage campaigns with their marketing company UCG, to found Code Blue. The founders combined decades of experience in the beverage and nightlife industries to develop the concept, filling a need in the marketplace for a complete recovery beverage.

“We’ve seen people turning to any beverage available hoping for a complete recovery solution, from sports drinks to vitamin-infused waters to Pedialyte®, but nothing is as effective as Code Blue,” said Michael Sachs.

Code Blue’s revolutionary formula is backed by some of the biggest names in the beverage industry including: Jack Belsito, Former CEO of Snapple; Hank McInerney, Former CEO of Tetley Tea; and David Kanbar, Former EVP and Director of Skyy Spirits.

“Every ingredient in Code Blue performs a specific task in restoring the body to its natural condition and promoting healthy liver and kidney function,“ said Sumner Katz, the Tufts University scientist behind Code Blue’s formulation and a veteran in the food science industry.

Code Blue is the first ready-to-drink beverage to include Reduced Glutathione, one of the most powerful antioxidants available. Reduced Glutathione helps to neutralize free radicals and is a key mechanism in the body’s purification process.

Code Blue is also the first beverage to contain a proprietary blend of Prickly Pear Juice and Agave Nectar. Prickly Pear acts as a natural anti-inflammatory that boosts the immune system. It has been used for centuries by indigenous Mexican tribes to treat a variety of ailments and conditions.

The drink is sweetened with natural Agave Nectar, which also serves to replenish the body by providing essential vitamins and minerals. Natural citrus flavors combined with Agave Nectar and Prickly Pear Juice create a great tasting, functional beverage.

Code Blue contains the optimal amount of electrolytes to help consumers stay hydrated and a potent vitamin and mineral complex, including high levels of Vitamins B12, B6 and Vitamin C, as well as Vitamin A, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium. Code Blue has only 60 calories, contains no caffeine and is low in sugar and carbohydrates.

Code Blue is packaged in a fully recyclable 12 oz PET opaque blue bottle. Its cutting edge design utilizes “LiquidMetal” technology to replicate a polished metal look, and a 3D Holographic Ink label which provides a strong shelf presence.

The recovery beverage will be available in select nightclubs, restaurants and hotels beginning in September 2008, with retail establishments to follow.

Chugging a MGD with a few aspirin always seems to work for me.

Flame up on Bauer's Blog

Yes, I read Michael Bauer's blog.

No, I have never and probably won't ever comment on it.

Holy Schnikies, did cocktail culture catch some flames on the most recent post

Another Completely Un-Booze Related Post

I love San Francisco.

Someone took it upon themselves to relabel most of Bush Street last night in honor of our new President.

I thank them...hilarious.

I wish Mr. Obama the best of luck, this ain't gonna be easy.

Glorious, Digital Cocktail-Geekery

The right proper Mr. Simon Difford of the eponymous guide sent a release today unveiling his new iPhone Ap, Cocktails Made Easy.

I pronounce it good. Very good in fact. But as with the original Difford's Guides (actual paper is so 2006) the real value for me is not the spot-on recipes and meticulous technique. It's the pics.

Absolutely beautiful, clinically clean images of pristine cocktails.

Inspiring.

Also, the shaking option which just brings up a random drink his a blast.

I Thank You V.

One of the truely great things about being a bartender, or more specificly, running a bar program to be proud of, is the chance to turn deserving and appreciative guests on to special products. My bar is lucky in that we have more than our fair share of foodies, wine geeks, spiritists, hop-heads and mixies that are quite happy to listen to us when we are jazzed those beautiful things that make our world fun.

One of our favorites in this area is V. (he happens to be a doctor, but we just call him by his first name.) V. is game for anything, as long as we believe in it. I have poured him everything from aged Chacaca, to the Brora 30, to Scaldis Prestige. On top of this, his wine knowledge is vast and regularly shares the most serious bottles on our wine list with the staff. I used to feel guilty about drinking these quater glasses he would pour for me until I realized just how important it is for him to share. I believe that have the enjoyment he gets out the good stuff is knowing that others are enjoying it as well.

V. went over the top this month.

Our Wine Director loaded up on some incredible bottles from Heredia Reserva line. Most notablely a 1970 Todonia, a 1976 Todonia and a 1976 Bosconia. V. Jumped at the chance, bought a 76 Bosconia (Tempranilio, Grenache, Graciano & Mazuelo) and shared it. I was stunned at how lively and bright a 3 decade old wine could be. I will not review it more than to say this was a wine I could easily drink every day...a friggen miracle.

Well, a couple of days after this, I had 3 guys wander in kind of late and ask for the bottle list. I sell them a mid-priced Rhone I am fond of, they dig it and it is gone in about 20 minutes. They look over the list again and ask about the reserve section with the Heredia Reservas.

"It just so happens that I got a half glass of one of the 76's a few nights ago," I say and I relate to them the experience and my surprize at how lively it was. I am little stunned when they say 'let's go for it.'

They love it so much they follow it with the '76 Todonia and share some with me. This one tasted much more mature (as weird as that it is to say about such equally old bottles) and was the prefect follow up.

The next week when V. comes back in, I tell him that I owe him a thank-you for the initial tasting he shared with me as it allowed me to sell two more bottles and I give him my notes on the Todonia. He immeadiately orders our last remaining bottle of that vintage and shares it again. As a matter a fact, he is so happy with it, that he buys our last 1970 Todonia ($325) to lay away so that it didn't get bought before he had a crack at it.

We opened it tonight.

Amazing.

I thank you V.

Shot of Hope

One of my very generous regulars dropped one of these guys off for me last week.

I love it.

Get one.