For those heading to Tales of the Cocktail, one of the must-go-to events has to be the 3rd Annual Viva Sangrita Competition with Tequila Ocho and the Bon Vivants. On Wednesday, July 17, the regional winners from around the country with compete to win a trip to the Tequila Ocho distillery in Mexico. I’m […]
The last time I was at Blackbird, I was fascinated by Shawn, the fasted bartender I ever saw. He’s still there and as quick as ever. We stopped in for a drink one night I was in SF last month. I normally try to avoid cash-only places but cash-only spots are great because you usually […]
At the recent Manhattan Cocktail Classic, I was invited to attend the Diageo World Class Happy Hour which happened nightly for 3 nights of the Industry Invitational. For the first time, the United States was invited to compete in the international bartending competition. Tanqueray Gin Global Ambassador Angus Winchester and Peter Dorelli of the Savoy […]
Check out The Minty’s article about MCC for Tasting Panel Magazine May 11-15, 2012 Speed Rack Finals Mandarine Napoleon The Gala Tanqueray Ginstitute Ron Zacapa Cooking with Angostura Bitters Haus Alpenz Tasting Don Q Mix It Up Finals High West Distillery Oxley Gin Cocktail Books Left of Center Beverage Programs Diageo World Class Happy Hour […]
Before heading off to the Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala, I was invited to try Mandarine Napoleon at the Napoleon Pop Up Bar. Each night, Mandarine Napoleon had guest bartenders serving cocktails. The Bon Vivants poured the first night. Soho House (LA, Miami, London) and Broken Shaker (Miami) also presented cocktails for Mandarine Napoleon. Mandarine Napoleon […]
At Nightclub and Bar, I attended a lecture by Bar Magic‘s Tobin Ellis. It was entitled Drink Engineering. I didn’t really know what to expect as the title just sounded like how to make cocktails. But as it turned out, it was so much more. Tobin should really teach a whole class on how […]
Shake it Up is not just any cocktail competition, it’s the cocktail competition of the Nightclub and Bar convention in Las Vegas. Last month, 30 bartenders competed for the chance at the top prize, $15,000. The 30 competitors were selected from hundreds of submissions. I had a hard time deciding who to root for- Cooper […]
When I heard the pop up Social Mixology was throwing their third year anniversary party with the theme “Blowout,” I immediately checked my calendar. I had so much fun at their Repeal Day party last year and knew this would be even bigger and full of more surprises. It was then a happy coincidence that […]
Listen up LA Bartenders! You have until April 7 (12 AM PST) to submit a sangrita recipe to Tequila Ocho. The regional winner will compete against the other finalists from San Francisco, New York, Boston, Chicago and Miami at Tales of the Cocktail this July. The Viva Sangrita National Champion will be escorted south […]
With only 40 available seats, one of the hottest seminars at Portland Cocktail Week was the Bon Vivants‘ Indie Tequila Roadshow. Luckily, I RSVP’d, arrived early and snagged a chair. We were greeted with a Paloma and for the most part, it was assumed that everyone has had tequila before and knew how it’s produced. […]
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