21 Oct, 2010

Happy Hour – America’s Best Cities

Posted by: admin In: Bartending 101

HAPPY HOUR –AMERICA’S BEST CITIES Did you hear about America’s best cities to visit for Happy Hour? Due to the recession many bars and clubs are offering great “Happy Hour” specials and some places offer daily specials; not just on Friday. The economy may be putting a damper on our pocket books but it is creating more opportunities for deep discounts for the social scene and the happiest Happy Hours! After a long and tedious work week, lots of people like to relax in a nice club or bar and indulge in the “Happy Hour” to have casual drinks with coworkers. Not only can ‘Happy Hour’ take the edge off, but socializing with coworkers after office hours can lead to improved team work with peers and coworkers, instilling mutual trust and communication between supervisors and team workers. Happy Hour is also a great time to network with industry leaders in your area of interest. Local pubs are not the only ones offering these Happy Hour specials. You can easily find 4 or 5 star restaurants offering fantastic deals as well. There has been a noticeable upsurge of venues offering delicious taster menus for the Happy Hour as well as fabulous new drink concoctions that make for a fun night out! Many Happy Hour specials around the country are featuring discounts on popular menu items and some establishments will offer a Happy Hour style dinner menu with delicious entrees and drinks. As the Happy Hour can be fun and enjoyable there are a few cities around the country that are well known for their great food and cocktail specials and relaxing ambiance. When asked which cities have the best reputation for the Happy Hour special, CNBC asked around and came up with a list of 12 cities who offer the best [...]

12 Apr, 2010

Bartend like a Pro

Posted by: admin In: Bartending 101

Being trusted to serve the magic drink perfect for an occasion, mood or season can be as challenging as it is gratifying. If you are serving your guest a delightful Pinacolada when he clearly needs vodka on the rocks, this article might just be what the doctor ordered! Champagne is unquestionably the official drink for celebratory events. While there isn’t a bubbly drink better suited for toasting, don’t forget the wines. The Californian Chardonnay never fails to lend elegance and exclusivity to a happy occasion. Even the sparkling variety can be quite livening. On chilly nights or snowy evenings, consider any whiskey, brandy or rum cocktails. My own personal favorite winter drink is the classic rum with coke. Take it a step further and rustle up a Long Island Tea, you can be sure to hit the spot. Feel like something spicy? Try a Bloody Mary. The hot pepper in the tomato sauce is bound to warm one up from the inside out. Drambuie is another option if one doesn’t mind the burning spells in the taste. If you want to go hot, add a dash of your favorite liquor to a cup of coffee. The Irish coffee is a great post-dinner beverage as well. Some of other after dinner beverages includes cognacs, armagnacs, fine whiskeys, fortified wine like port or Madeira. These drinks are traditionally served at formal dinners. Some of the popular summer-time drinks include Peach Schnapps with orange juice, Strawberry Daiquiri, Vodka with Lemonade or the standard screw-driver. The fruity nature of these drinks not only makes them refreshing but also hydrating. Of course, what can possibly replace a chilled Beer on a hot afternoon? Despite everything the book says, trust your gut. Intuiting a person’s mood and preference often times gives you the best shot at [...]

12 Apr, 2010

History in a glass

Posted by: admin In: Bartending 101

If you see a worm in a Tequila bottle, one of the following is true; either you are seeing things or it’s not Tequila! Perhaps the most potent of distilled spirits, Tequila has gained wide popularity over the years and is coveted as a collectors’ item today. The classic shooter spirit that has never failed to create colorful imagery and distorted mental perceptions with only moderate consumption has enjoyed a fascinating journey from the past- one that merits a read. Tequila was originally produced by Spaniards exploring Jalisco state, Mexico in the 17th century. They cooked and distilled the juice obtained from the Blue agave plant that grows in the region’s volcanic soil. Tequila was preceded by Mezcal, a beverage invented by the Aztecs and Mayans that was produced by fermentation of the Mezcal plant. Mezcal was routinely consumed by religious authorities during rituals and ceremonies. In 1758 Jose Cuervo, a Spanish entrepreneur was given full cultivating rights on the vast territorial extensions of Villoslada, Jalisco. One year later Jose Maria Guadalupe Cuervo, was given by the king of Spain the rights on the production of Tequila. During the 1850′s Jose Maria Castaneda established La Antigua, a mezcal and wine distillery. La Antigua was then acquired by Cenobio Sauza on September first, 1873. During the same year Mr. Sauza exported eight barrels to the United States.1 The introduction of the Mexican rail system opened up new markets for Tequila and marked the beginning of its uptake in the international arena. Contributing to the market’s growth were significant advancements in production technologies and agriculture. In 1950 the Second World War increased the market for the product, which in turn spurred production and global investment in the industry.1 [AD] Today, Tequila is produced in three different flavors- Blanco, Reposado and Añejo. The [...]

12 Apr, 2010

Bars that Rise above Others

Posted by: admin In: Bartending 101

While ambience, selection and service play into a bar’s popularity, it is the oomph factor that makes it a lightning rod to the chic and classy clientele. Let’s see what some of the world’s most famous bars tout that puts them several notches above the rest of the pack. Who hasn’t heard of the swanky Ritz hotel in Paris? Not only is it a magnet for the glitterati of the international global community, but also a coveted retreat for deep-pocketed patrons who value the extraordinary experience the hotel’s bar offers. The bartender is highly regarded for his innovative ability to rustle up drinks that perfectly match one’s mood and preferences. Entertaining conversations, jokes and world-class treatment are the hallmarks of this snazzy saloon. America’s very own Miami plays host to some of the country’s most glamorous bars. Purdy Lounge, Opium Place, Pearl and Nikki Beach are to name a few. The bars sport the trendiest of looks and style while they serve an array of popular drinks mixed to perfection.LA’s Rainbow Bar & Grill, SkyBar at the Philippe Starck-designed Mondrian Hotel and the hotel bar of the Standard, all located on Sunset Blvd., figure high on the list of hot-spots for bar-goers especially from the entertainment industry. Some bars have turned into cultural landmarks by becoming involved in historic events or hosting customers who went on to become famous. Harry’s Bar, Venice, Italy has been frequented by famous people such as Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote, Noel Coward, Orson Wells, Charlie Chaplin, and Peggy Guggenheim since its opening in 1931. The bar also claims credit for inventing the Bellini and Carpaccio1. The Blind Beggar in Whitechapel, London, built in 1894, is known as the site on which The Salvation Army started but became even more notorious when, in 1966, London gangster [...]

12 Apr, 2010

The Real, Real Expensive Pours

Posted by: admin In: Bartending 101

If you believe that the world’s most expensive gem stones and precious metals were created to embellish women, here’s a revelation- these elite trinkets constitute eye-popping centerpieces of some of the world’s most expensive drinks. Designer drinks, as they may be appropriately called, come in a variety of exclusive trimmings geared to woo opulent patrons. Let’s sample a few to find out what makes some of these $$$$-a-pour beauties upmarket. The Diamond Cocktail served at England’s London Sheraton Park Tower Hotel’s “Piano Bar” consists of 2001 Charles Heidsieck champagne, Remy Martin Lewis XIII cognac, three drops of angostura bitters, and is poured over a sugar cube and your choice of diamonds or rubies! Offered with a 0.6 carat diamond the drink costs only $43501. Vintage drinks are priced based upon their age, manufacturing process and packaging. The Remy Martin Lewis XIII cognac, for example, is manufactured using grapes from the Grande Champagne territory of Cognac, France. It is blended from eaux-de-vie, some more than a century in age, then it is aged in tier cons, barrels that are several hundred years old, in its own cellar. A 750ml bottle of Louis XIII comes in hand-blown crystal decanter and may be priced as high as $2,000(US)2. Diaka Vodka, the world’s most expensive vodka, is made with a filtration process that uses nearly one hundred diamonds of up to one carat in size, resulting in vodka with unsurpassed clarity and smoothness. It comes in a bottle made with crystals and is provided exclusively by TransBorder Spirits in USA3. Champagnes are divided into two categories- vintage and non-vintage. The vintage variety is made from superior quality grapes harvested from a single season in Champagne, France whereas the non-vintage champagnes use relatively low-quality grapes and therefore offer reduced flavor. For the same reason, they [...]

12 Apr, 2010

Know your Spirit

Posted by: admin In: Bartending 101

Be it Friday night or New-year’s eve, whether on vacation or simply chilling out with friends, you can never go wrong with a delightful daiquiri or a tangy tequila shot. It is no secret that distilled spirits have romanced mankind for centuries. Their ability to take on a variety of palate-pleasing avatars such as cocktails, deserts or simply hard-on-the-rocks makes them wildly popular with patrons. Are you one of them? If so, why not get acquainted with some interesting facts and history behind your favorite drink. Major spirits include gin, vodka, whiskey, rum and tequila. Spirits are classified by the fermented material that they are distilled from. Whiskies, Vodka and Gin are made by distilling a kind of beer made from grain, while Rum is made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses and sugarcane juice by the process of fermentation and distillation. Overall, the vodka category dominates the U.S. distilled spirits market with nearly 30% share of consumption. Vodka’s alcoholic content usually ranges between 35 to 50 per cent by volume; the standard Russian, Lithuanian, and Polish vodkas are 40 per cent alcohol by volume. It owes its popularity, among other reasons, to the fact that it leaves “no detectable smell on one’s breadth”. Its neutral flavor allows it to be mixed into a variety of drinks. Popular infusions include red pepper, ginger, fruit flavors, vanilla, chocolate (without sweetener), and cinnamon. Are Martini folk listening? Gin is a relatively dry spirit flavored primarily with juniper berries. It is often mixed with tonic water to balance out its dryness. Gin was popularized in England in the early 17th century. Its first American counterpart was distilled in 1870, under the brand name of Fleischmann’s Gin. The most popular version of gin used for mixed drinks is the London dry gin. What’s common [...]