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Website Seeks To Lure Drinkers To Sherry

Filed under: Wine

sherry casksCan sherry be made cool? Advertising Age says that a Seattle ad agency called Creature has been given the task of bringing a drink more seen in classic literature than in local bars back into the spotlight. Creature has created a website called the Secret Sherry Society for The Sherry Council of America. The site includes a digital castle for visitors to explore. Rooms contain videos and information on types of sherry, sherry cocktails and the history of sherry. The hope is that the site will acquaint the uninitiated with sherry in a new fun way.

Sherry isn't exactly trending hot with younger drinkers. The Sherry Council has been hosting dinners for the media and key influencers to try and create a sherry buzz. The Ad Age article makes reference to the connection between hip-hop and cognac. The sherry website is well-designed but websites alone don't usually drive a person to purchase a product. The site doesn't quite bridge the gap between information and action by defining what occasions might call for a glass of sherry. While it has a sense of the old much like absinthe does, there is no similar sense of mystery behind it. When is the last time you drank sherry? Does sherry need a celebrity spokesperson or a big ad campaign to help it gain traction in the marketplace?

Tasting the Mount Gay 1703 Rum

Filed under: Spirits

mount gay 1703
I tend not to think too much about rum. While other spirits are often showcased through martinis or meant to be sipped straight, rum is often swimming with fruit juice. It would be sacrilege to do that with the 1703 Old Cask Selection rum from Mount Gay. This latest treat from the world's oldest distillery deserves respect and earns its place with the growing coterie of fine aged rums. The 1703 Old Cask Selection comes in an elegant oval bottle with the Mount Gay seal embossed on it and could sit nicely behind the bar with cognacs, bourbons, brandies and other slow sippers.

The rum itself, made of golden sugar cane and the clean water of Barbados, is aged in former bourbon casks. Master blender Allen Smith has used rums aged for 10 to 30 years and his own experience of nearly 20 years to create a rum that has a cognac-like appeal. It is rich but also soft with a hint of something tropical, just a touch of sugary white flower and banana on the nose. The rum has a silken flavor with notes of dried mango and caramel grounded in the spiced earthiness of wood. It calls out for a late evening sunset, a fine cigar and the sort of lazy, meandering conversation that arises when no one needs to wake up early for work the next day. The 1703 will be rolled out next month for around $100 in major markets.

US Airways Brings Back Free Beverages

Filed under: Dining, Journeys

Just seven months after US Airways began charging customers $2 for sodas, coffee, and other beverages, it is reversing its policy and will now serve drinks for free.

MSN Money analyzed the situation and noted, "What happened? Well, in this airline's case, it was more about what didn't happen. First, other airlines didn't follow US Airways' lead. Sure, they were fine with fees for checking bags and other things, but they drew the line when it came to charging for drinks. Second, passengers didn't accept the fee. It became about more than a soda."

If you normally fly first class and don't ever pay for beverages, this won't affect you. But if you are watching your money a bit more and may now fly coach, at least you'll have a few extra dollars to spend on other things.

SUSHISAMBA 7 Shares their Valentine's Day Cocktail Recipes

Filed under: Dining, Spirits, Events

Sushi Samba 7SUSHISAMBA is a staple restaurant for many New York sushi lovers. Though Japonais normally has my vote for best sushi, SUSHISAMBA 7's Valentine's Day plans look amazing.

SUSHISAMBA 7, at 87 Seventh Avenue South, will be featuring a number of delicious dinner specials, including Maine Lobster Taquitos, Tuna Tataki, Lobster & Palmito Salad, Oysters & Pearls, Pan Seared Foie Gras, Austrialian Wagyu Beef Tataki, Kobe Gyoza, Japanese Style Salt & Pepper Mongo Ika, Broiled Alaska King Crab, Seared Muscovy Duck Breast, and Braised "Bone In" Short Ribs. Yum!

Best of all, they're featuring Naughty and Nice Valentine's Day Cocktails, and we have the recipes. Here you go:

Naughty
3 strawberry halves
1 piece of watermelon rind
Muddled jalapeño peppers
1.5 oz tequila
0.5 oz creme de fraise des bois liqueur
0.5 oz sweet and sour

Muddle fruit and jalapeno peppers in glass until pulverized. Add liquor, shake vigorously and strain. Serve in martini glass and garnish with a pierced strawberry and jalapeno.

Nice
3 strawberry halves
1 piece of watermelon rind
1.5 oz tequila
0.5 oz creme de fraise des bois liqueur
0.5 oz sweet and sour

Muddle fruit in glass until pulverized. Add liquor, shake vigorously and strain. Serve in martini glass and garnish with a pierced strawberry.


You can keep those delicious drinks on the books all year! If you haven't finalized your Valentine's Day plans yet and are in New York, call 212-691-7885 for reservations.

PX, Elegant Drinks In D.C.

Filed under: Dining, Spirits


If you are wondering where to find a good drink in the Washington D.C.area, the Washbiz blog has a piece on the lounge, PX, that will make you want to sidle up to the bar. PX seats just 32 people, eight seats at the bar are for walk-ins and the rest must be reserved. Drinks are steep too, $11 to $19 for a cocktail. But what you get is the equivalent of fin dining in a glass. Bartender Todd Thrasher makes even the simple sublime, using home-made cola for your rum and Coke, quinine is shipped in weekly from a health food store in Nevada for his homemade tonic. Juices are fresh squeezed and only top shelf liquors are used. Thrasher even makes his own bitters which change seasonally. The bar is small and intimate with a speakeasy vibe featuring warm wood and twinkling chandeliers.

Griottines Cherries

Filed under: Dining


The gift giving season may be over but the drinking season continues. Instead of showing up at a New Year's Eve party with yet another bottle of champagne how about a jar of brandied cherries as a champagne accompaniment. Griottines are wild Morello cherries macerated in Kirsch liqueur. They come in a pleasingly squat jar and offer a nicely sour alternative to other garnishes and drink additions. Drinkhacker recommends them as a garnish to a Kir Royale and they are also really good over ice cream. An 11.8 ounce jar sells for $25.

Tasting Cointreau Noir

Filed under: Spirits

If regular Cointreau is just a bit too orange-heavy for you to drink by itself you might want to taste Cointreau Noir. The tagline for the drink is "nothing to add," highlighting the fact that Cointreau on its own is a ubiquitous mixer.

The new Cointreau Noir is a blend of Cointreau liqueur and Remy Martin cognac meant to be sipped neat over ice or straight. The bottle is almost identical to the regular Cointreau bottle's squared shape except this bottle has a bright copper coating and a bold black label. But it's what inside that commands attention. The pairing of Cointreau and Remy Martin has resulted in mellowing out Cointreau's sweet orange flavor and adding soft vanilla and nut notes, as well as a golden amber color It's a natural for pairing with fall desserts like pumpkin, apple or pecan pie. It also turns a cup of coffee into a deliciously decadent drink Were I headed to an outdoor fall event, this would be a wonderful warmer to keep in my flask. It can be found for around $63.99 for a 750ml bottle.

Florida Gets An Icebar


Orlando, Florida might the the last place you'd expect to find an Icebar but if you need a place to be the heat you can step into the Icebar Orlando where the temperature is a chilly 27 degrees. You need to make a reservation but for $35 you can put on a warming cape and gloves and enjoy vodka in a glass made of ice while sitting in a room where the chairs, bar and even the fireplace are made of ice and the drinks are served by tanned ladies in snowsuits and fur hats. Because of the chill visits are limited to 45 minutes and the staff has a 30-minute in, 15-minute out rotation.

It takes a lot to keep this place cool. The International Herald Tribune reports that the projected average monthly electric bill is $3,500 but the bar has LED lighting, which uses less electricity than traditional lighting.

Stock Your Home Bar with Ralph Lauren

Filed under: Decor, Spirits


No home bar is complete without stylish glassware, trays, and other accessories (like this leather-bound martini shaker, $295) to enhance your presentation and round out the mood of luxurious relaxation. Ralph Lauren has quite the collection of home accessory items for the kitchen or home bar that utilizes classics like crystal and stainless steel and modernizes them with the rugged and sophisticated masculine energy of leather accents. Serving trays, glassware, decanters, a lead crystal ice bucket with leather handle ... there's something for everybody. $195-$395

I agree with what acquire had to say -- very 007.

Kanye West Spoofs Self in Absolut Vodka Ads

Filed under: Spirits

Endless self-promoter Kanye West -- who proves he has a sense of humor about himself after all -- spoofs his persona in a new line of Absolut ads. The first time I saw the print ad (which looked like, but didn't have the Absolut references, what you see here), I didn't get it at all, and I had no idea what was being advertised. A little research showed me the light. I can't show you much here, since you need to be 21 to get into these sites. Log on and check them out for yourself. And don't lie about your age -- it's bad karma.

Dr. Dre Set To Market Vodka, Cognac

Filed under: Spirits

About six months ago Deidre noted that Dr. Dre announced a new beverage venture. And just a few days ago the official announcement was made that it's come to fruition. Dr. Dre's cognac and vodka brands will hit liquor stores in the next 60 days, according to celebrity liquor marketer Drinks America Holdings Ltd. The products are the fruits of a joint venture between Wilton, Conn.-based Drinks America and Dr. Dre's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label. The marketing for the beverages will be tied in with the release of Dr. Dre's long-awaited "Detox" album. In late July, Dr. Dre told USA Today that the album would be out in "November or December." Aftermath Congac will come out first, followed by an 80-proof flavored and unflavored sparkling vodka.

[Via The Washington Post via Reuters/Billboard]

Maestro Dobel Diamond Tequila

Filed under: Spirits


Maestro Dobel, just launched this month, is the first ever diamond tequila. What does that mean? Apparently it means that it's incredibly clear, incredibly strong, and incredibly expensive. It's a blend of 3 different types of tequila, and in keeping with the diamond theme the creators of Maestro Dobel measure its superiority according to 4 C's: clarity, complexity, crispness, and craftsmanship.

Look for Maestro Dobel starting this month in select establishments in Los Angeles, Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta with a suggested retail price of $74.99.

Belvedere Launches Online Drink Buying Program

Filed under: Spirits

Belvedere Vodka has been trying to go for the cutting edge lately. First there was the racy ad campaign with art photographer Terry Richardson, shown at left, now the company is launching a new branded gift card program with BuyYourFriendADrink.com. This is the first time that a spirits brand has offered a branded gift card for on-premise purchase through the company. The way it works is that you visit the BuyYourFriendABelvedere.com website and purchase a gift card for any dollar amount. The recipient can redeem the gift card or a Belvedere drink at participating bars and restaurants. Of course it does require knowing the email of the person you want to give the drink to so it's not so great for sending a drink to that hot stranger across the room.

[via Wine & Spirits Daily]

Vignette Wine Country Soda

Filed under: Wine

Can you have a wine spritzer without the booze? Last October I tried First Blush Varietal Grape Juice for the first time, now Vignette Wine Country Soda combines the he juice of California varietal wine grapes with the fizz of soda. The drink is made from 50% varietal juice with no added sugar or colors. It comes in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rose. You can buy it online through Hello Delicous for $35 for a 12-pack.

A New World's Most Expensive Beer

Filed under: Dining

We've seen some pretty expensive beers before (the sippable Sam Adams Utopia springs immediately to mind) but the new brew from Carlsberg is now the proud owner of the title of world's most expensive beer. The Carlsberg Vintage No.1 costs close to $400 a bottle (2,008 Danish kroner or $396.47 to be exact). The beer will be sold in just three Copenhagen restaurants. Why so expensive? The 10.5 percent proof beer is a very limited edition of just 600 bottles. It has been stored in French and Swedish wooden casks and has a deep brown color. The tasting notes reveal prune, caramel and vanilla flavors making it a natural pairing for cheeses and desserts. So far there are no plans to export Vintage No. 1.



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