drinks

Enjoy Tribeca Film Festival at Home

Filed under: Spirits

2010 marks the eighth year running that Robert De Niro brings his sweeping film festival to the island, and the first year you can experience Tribeca Film Festival Virtual, where you can watch world premieres, shorts, live red carpets, panels and more all from your living room. To celebrate the 2010 Tribeca FF, Stoli, the official vodka and signature sponsor of the fest, has teamed up with B.R. Guest Restaurants to include a special "Leading Lady" Cocktail on the menu, designed by Master Mixologist Eben Klemm, featuring Stoli Vanil, crème de cacao, fresh Blackberries and Blackberry liqueur. The cocktail is available at all B.R. Guests restaurants including Dos Caminos, Blue Water Grill, and Blue Fin during the festival. If you're not in New York for the festival, or near a B.R. Guest restaurant, you can enjoy Tribeca Film Festival Virtual with your own Stoli cocktails at home.Mixologist Charlotte Voisey has designed a series of cinema-inspired cocktails to premiere throughout the festival at exclusive-after screening parties Luxist has the signature cocktail recipes to make at your own cinema events.

Stoli O Cameo
3 parts Stoli® Ohranj
2 parts fresh grapefruit juice
1 1/2 parts simple syrup
1 part fresh lemon juice
Dash of pomegranate juice or grenadine
Mix all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Tags: cocktails, drinks, stoli, Tribeca Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival 2010, vodka

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How to Stock a Home Bar

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

Those who enjoy having friends over and entertaining guests know that having a well stocked home bar is essential. There are no hard and fast rules for what to have in a home bar and most people simply build a collection based on what drinks they and their guests most often enjoy. But if you're starting from scratch and are looking to create a well-rounded bar ready for any occasion here's what you'll need to get started.

Equipment
Bottle opener
Wine Key
Cocktail/Martini Shaker
Ice Bucket
Jigger
Blender
Cutting board
Paring knife
Coasters
Napkins
Drink straws/stirrers
Dishtowels
Toothpicks

Glassware - How many to stock of each depends on usage and personal preference, but the list is generally ordered from most frequently used at the top to least frequently used at the bottom.
Highball glasses
Pint glasses
Rocks glasses
Wine glasses
Martini glasses
Brandy snifters
Shot glasses

Mixers - Most mixers are best stocked in small or single-serve sizes so they stay fresh for long periods and limit waste when you open one for a single drink.
Club soda
Tonic water
Cola
Diet Cola
Lemon/Lime soda
Orange juice
Tomato juice
Cranberry juice
Margarita mix
Bloody Mary mix

Tags: alcohol, bar, cocktails, drinks, entertaining, entertainment-pedia, home bar, main-pedia, mixing drinks, stocking a home bar

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Paul Smith Makes 'Statement' Bar Set for Stelton

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Spirits, Men's Style

Arne Jacobsen's Cylinda-Line bar accessories have been around since the 1960s and the latest incarnation of the design is courtesy of iconic British designer Paul Smith, who has turned the classic set into "a gorgeous fantasy in black." Titled simply 'Statement,' Smith gave the steel a black titanium finish and accented it with his own personal statements, engraved so the letters shine through the titanium in contrasting steel script, that say inspirational things like "take pleasure seriously" and "start something new." The Statement bar set is available in limited edition and includes a cocktail mixer and spoon, shaker, ice bucket with tongs, a two-liter pitcher with strainer, small glass coasters and a serving tray.

Via Acquire

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Tags: arne jacobsen, ArneJacobsen, bar, bar accessories, BarAccessories, drinks, paul smith, PaulSmith, stelton

Casa Dragones Sipping Tequila

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

When searching for the perfect gift for the person who has everything, consumables are always a good bet. And when it comes to consuming tequila Casa Dragones Sipping Tequila is a great choice for more than one reason. Handmade in small batches using a special distillation technique that gives it a clean, extra soft flavor, each bottle is then hand finished by the Maestro Tequilero for the perfect balance of platinum tequila and hints of añejo. The result is so smooth it would be wasted as a mixer, with aromas of citrus and florals and flavor that includes notes of vanilla, undertones of spice, and a hint of pear. In addition, the tequila comes in an individually handcrafted pure lead-free crystal decanter that can be reused when the tequila is gone. $274.99

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Tags: alcohol, casa dragones, CasaDragones, drinks, liquor, tequila

Website Seeks To Lure Drinkers To Sherry

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Can 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?

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Tags: advertising, drinks, sherry, wine

Tasting the Mount Gay 1703 Rum

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

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.

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Tags: aged rum, AgedRum, cocktails, drinks, mount gay, MountGay, rum

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US Airways Brings Back Free Beverages

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

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.

Tags: airlines, airplanes, beverages, drinks, free, travel, US Air, US Airways, UsAir, UsAirways

SUSHISAMBA 7 Shares their Valentine's Day Cocktail Recipes

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits, Events

SUSHISAMBA 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.

Tags: cocktail, cocktails, drinking, drinks, entertainment-awards, sushi, sushi samba, sushisamba 7, valentine, valentines, valentines day

PX, Elegant Drinks In D.C.

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

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.

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Tags: bar, drinks, lounge, px, washington dc, WashingtonDc

Griottines Cherries

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

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.

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Tags: cherries, cocktails, drinks, griottines

Tasting Cointreau Noir

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

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.

Tags: cointreau, drinks, liquor, spirits

Florida Gets An Icebar

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

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.

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Tags: drinks, florida, icebar, orlando

Stock Your Home Bar with Ralph Lauren

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

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.

Gallery: Ralph Lauren Home Accessories

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Tags: 007, bar, decor, drinks, glassware, home, home bar, HomeBar, martini, Ralph Lauren, RalphLauren

Kanye West Spoofs Self in Absolut Vodka Ads

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

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.

Tags: Absolut, Absolut Vodka, AbsolutVodka, beverages, booze, celebrities, celebrity advertising, CelebrityAdvertising, drinks, Kanye, Kanye West, KanyeWest, liquor, Vodka

Dr. Dre Set To Market Vodka, Cognac

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

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]

Gallery: Celebrity Liquor