Booze News: Boston's Schuyler Hunton Named the Northeast's Most Imaginative Bartender

Cheers and Congrats

USBG & Bombay Sapphire's Most Imaginative Bartender Competition Participants - Courtesy Image

A few days ago, we attended the United States Bartenders' Guild's finals for the 10th Annual Most Imaginative Bartender Competition, sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin in Manhattan. Held at Pier A, the competition challenged 10 of the top bartenders from New York, Boston, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia to create cocktails that made memorable first impressions, not only in flavor, but also presentation.




















There was a cocktail inspired by one contestant's recently-deceased Kung Fu master, which featured tea as a main ingredient and was presented in a beautiful mini garden. Another bartender created a cocktail to help "reduce the ethanol footprint of the alcohol," with raw honey and bee pollen among its ingredients. Then there was the cocktail that infused manzanilla sherry with seaweed. We think they were all amazing. However, the judges were apparently blown away by Schuyler Hunton's presentation, which was inspired by a classic English breakfast and featured toast and jam with his "Breakfast in Bombay" cocktail taking the place of the egg. Here's the cocktail and its recipe.

"Breakfast in Bombay" by Schuyler Hunton

Breakfast in Bombay
2 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
¾ oz Grapefruit Earl Grey Oleo Saccharum
½ oz Lemon Juice
½ oz Egg White
Tea Pot Bitter Spritz

Hunton will move on to the North American Finals in England, where he'll face off against 9 of the top bartenders across the U.S. and Canada. That batch of candidates will get visit the Layerstoke Mill Distillery— the brand home of Bombay Sapphire Gin, where they'll compete for the 2016 North American title. The grand prize winner will get a trip to Tuscany to learn about the special blend of botanicals that make up Bombay Sapphire's recipe and will also be featured on the cover of GQ Magazine's December issue.

We salute all the entrants and look forward to seeing who wins. Cheers!

Cutesy Tuesday: Floral Steve Madden Pumps & Hibiscus Cocktails

Pretty is as Tipsy Does

On Your Feet

Temps are rising outside, and it's starting to feel like spring. Embrace the changing seasons (and give yourself the bouquet you deserve anyway) in a floral pump, like the Varcityy from Steve Madden ($99.95 at amazon.com). Painterly blooms brighten your day, while a trend-right d'orsay silhouette elongates legs. The black trim nods to the facth that while it's almost spring, we're not quite there yet. It adds a pretty pop to all black and dresses up denim.

In Your Glass

Since you're giving yourself flowers today, you might as well sip something floral at happy hour. Meet Sorel, a hibiscus liqueur that's slightly sweet, a bit spicy and quite tasty. If you're going to a bar, ask for it with gin and a splash of elderflower liqueur (like St. Germain). If you're going home to unwind, make yourself a Sorel Submerge. (It requires freezing 2 cubes of sorel in an ice tray, so do that part, then change clothes, start cooking, check previous posts from this blog, etc.)

Ingredients
2 cubes Sorel
2oz NY Distilling Navy Strength Gin
1oz St. Germain

Method
Place frozen cubes of Sorel into a highball glass. Add gin and St. Germain. Since Sorel cubes don't float, they'll sit at the bottom of the glass and dissolve slowly.


If you're interested in more shoe options:



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Cheers to a Cause: Negroni Week

Did you know that Negroni Week starts tomorrow? For the third consecutive year, Imbibe Magazine and Campari are joining forces to raise money for charities around the world while also celebrating a popular cocktail. June 1 - June 7 participating restaurants and bars will donate $1 from the sale of every negroni or negroni-themed item to a charity of their choice. Campari will also donate $10,000 to the charity chosen by the bar or restaurant that raises the most money.

If you've never had a negroni, it has a strong flavor that's a little sweet, a little bitter (like grapefruit) and a bit spicy. It's often consumed as an aperitif, but it can be enjoyed anytime. This year, there are There are more than 3000 participating locations across the country with some pretty creative options available, like Negroni Popcorn (Perbacco, SF), Negroni Creamsicle Ice Cream (Tipsy Scoop, NY) and Negroni Mignonette with oysters (Cockscomb, SF).

For a complete listing of participating locations check HERE.

While you decide which item you'll try first, here's how you make a basic Negroni (via Imbibe Magazine):

INGREDIENTS

1 oz. gin
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. sweet vermouth

METHOD

Stir ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass (or ice-filled double rocks glass) and garnish with orange peel. 

Spot-Light: Cocktail Classes at Harding's in NYC

 A Reason to Toast Tuesdays

Imagine walking into a room and seeing a spread like the one above on your table. If you're like me, you get extremely excited. So. Many. Spirits! And they're for my tablemates and I to mix cocktails? Yes please! Well, this was exactly the scene at Harding's NYC recently when I attended their "First Tuesdays" mixology class. 

Lead by Derrick Turner, master mixologist (but don't dare let him hear you use that word) and lead bartender at Harding's, the class took us through the preparation of three amazing cocktials featuring artisanal offerings from St. George Spirits. Derrick eases participants' inhibitions with humor, charm and an interactive style. Or maybe it was the fact that started the class with shots for everyone. Actually, I'm almost sure it was a combination of both. 

First, we made The Rockerfeller, a cocktail that combines St. George Spiced Pear Liquor, rye whiskey, and bitters. It was smooth, balanced and just strong enough for me. If you'd like to try it at home, here's the recipe:
The Rockerfeller
1 oz St. George Pear Liqueur
2 oz rye whiskey
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
1 dash simple syrup (if you prefer sweet drinks)
Blend ingredients over ice in a shaker or mixing glass and stir with a bar spoon. Rub orange peeal around the rim of a coupe glass. Strain ingredients into the coupe and garnish with rolled orange peel. 

Next, we mixed apple cider, bourbon and St. George Raspberry Liqueur to create the Blood of the Woods.  I thought this drink would be super sweet because of the liqueur, but I was delightfully surprised to find that I was wrong. Unlike many of the other liqueurs I've tried, this one tasted like the actual fruit instead of tasting like syrup. In this cocktail, it added depth, complexity and a bit of tartness. Per-fect for for fall. At-home bartenders, here's the recipe: 
Blood of the Woods
1 oz apple cider
1 1/2 oz bourbon
1 charred cinnamon stick (broken into small pieces)
1/4 oz maple syrup (if you want it sweet)
Top with St. George Raspberry Liqueur
Mix bourbon, cider and cinnamon in a shaker over ice. Shake and then do a loos strain into a rocks glass. Top with liqueur and watch it settle to bottom. 

Our last cocktail, the "Simply Wicked", was inspired by a Broadway musical we all know. "According to 'Wicked', the good witch was kinda an A-hole. That was my inspiration," said Derrick before instructing us to mix St. George Absinthe, gin and agave syrup to create this cocktail.  I must confess that I made a wicked F-up because I somehow ended up pouring my ingredients into the leftovers from the previous cocktail (blame it on the...). Derrick made a note of it after sampling the mixture and said it might get added to the lineup at the bar. Luckily, a tablemate let me take a picture of her cocktail for the sake of this post. Here's the recipe: 
Simply Wicked
1 1/2 oz gin
1/4 oz St. George Absinthe
1/2 oz agave syrup
pinch of watercress
Blend gin, absinthe, watercress and agave in (empty) shaker over ice. Shake and then strain into a coupe. Garnish with watercress. 

I'm a whiskey girl, but apparently my business card prefers gin cocktails. Ha!

Ready to join in the fun? Here's the scoop on the next class:

Location: 

Harding’s

32 East 21st Street (between Broadway & Park Ave. S.)

New York, NY

Date / Time/ Concept: 
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Get the Party Started: Champagne Cocktails

Cost: 
$35 per person
Tickets:  www.hardingsnyc.com / 212.600.2105
Space is limited, tickets strongly recommended.

No Mess Monday: Monika Chiang Aramid Sandals

 

You Knotty Girl, You…

 

Am I the only one who often feels an odd knot at the pit of my stomach on Monday morning? You too? We’ll call it go-getter anxiety. Turn angst into sartorial achievement in a pair of knotted rope sandals, like these Aramid sandals by Monika Chiang. The feminine spin on this season’s nautical trend shows you’ve got your sea legs and can weather whatever waves come your way- even in skyscraper heels and platforms. The fact that you can tie them at the ankle or lace them up the calf nods to your appreciation of versatility in your life. Depending on where you live, it may rain today, so be sure to carry a back up pair… the cream suede on the platform won’t do well in nasty weather.

 

This evening at happy hour enjoy a drink that looks and tastes as fun as your shoes look. I suggest a Sapphire East Dragon. It’s bright, complex and just sweet enough- like you.

Recipe:

1.5 oz Bombay Sapphire East
1 oz fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz cinnamon simple syrup
Dash of Bittercube Bolivar bitters
Float of POM dragon fruit pomegranate juice
Dragon fruit slice garnish

 

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Cutesy Tuesday- BCA Month: Milk and Honey Breast Cancer Awareness Shoe

 

Cutesy for A Cause

 

You’ve always been known for your compassion, and because you realize how many women are affected by Breast Cancer each year, the cause is near and dear to your heart (literally and figuratively). You’re also quite the girly girl, so it’s no surprise that pink is a staple color in your closet. Well, here’s a chance to put the two together. When you buy Milk & Honey’s Breast Cancer Awareness shoe, 100% of profits go to the Karen Dove Cabral Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation dedicated solely to helping young women with breast cancer as they struggle to coordinate the daily challenges of their treatment and their “real lives”. Designed by MarieClaire.com site director, Abby Gardner, the “Pretty in Pink” leather shoe has a raspberry suede 4 inch heel, half inch platform, cap toe and T-strap. They’re about as classically feminine as a work shoe can get.

Since you’re feeling prim today, sip a Pink Lady (image & recipe via The Hostess with The Mostess) at happy hour. Cocktails featuring egg whites and other classic ingredients are increasingly popular these days, so you may get a cool point or two from your bartender. If you happen to be placing your order with a newbie, sweetly instruct him or her to shake and strain 1.5 oz Beefeater Gin, 1 teaspoon grenadine, 1 teaspoon light cream and 1 whole egg white into a chilled cocktail glass. Don’t forget to wink when you tip.

 

Technorati Tags: Breast Cancer,pink shoes,pink cocktails,Milk and Honey Shoes,Marie Claire

Don't Mess With Me Monday: Pierre Hardy T-Strap Platform Sandals

Seeing Through it All

Why do people seem most likely to try and pull the wool over your eyes on Mondays? Luckily, you've always had a strong sense of discernment, and that's part of what's made you successful. Acknowledge that characteristic today by wearing a pair of see-through shoes (PVC panels and uppers on shoes are a huge trend this season). Pierre Hardy's T-strap platform is the quintessential version. It's multicolored purple, blue and brown PVC panels speak to your multi-faceted personality. The multiple metallic straps create a gladiator sandal effect and acknowledge your inner soldier. Meanwhile, the double platform and approximately 5.5 inch heel mean you'll stand tall no matter what. 

When it's time to unwind after work, ask your bartender for a "Stiletto" (Recipe & image via Marie Claire) The intoxicating brainchild of mixologist, Darren West, it combines RIGHT Gin, pomegranate liqueur, pomegranate blueberry juice, blueberry syrup, orange bitters, lime juice and sparkling wine. It's a sweet-but-tart treat with a bubbly finish. The ingredient list is a long one, though,so give the bartender some creative license. Also, no one respects the authority of a drunk person, so mind your intake.

Yours Shoely,

Me

Fun Friday: Luchiny Many Moons Sandals

With Flying Colors...

This week has taken you "there" and back. You made it through, though, and as always, you did it in stilettos without missing a step. Celebrate that accomplishment in a pair of festive, multicolored sandals, like Luchiny's "Many Moons" (available for $79.99 at dnafootwear.com- use code SandB to let them know I sent you and to get 10% off any purchase over $50). The bright stripes indicate a happy mood, the gold platform and heel accent add a luxe touch and the ankle strap amps up the sexiness. Plus the raffia upper and cork heel serves a bit of seventies chic. They're not the most office-friendly shoe, but they'll look great with jeans or maxi dresses now and a cute romper in the summer.

Tonight at happy hour, get the party started with a "Blue Sky" (recipe & image from in-the-spirit.co.uk). The recipe calls for Hendrick's Gin, Dekuyper Blue Curacao, and egg white and a splash of lime juice, but I'd probably ask for it sans egg. It'll lose its creaminess, but it will keep its kick. That means you should consume it with caution. Also, please remember to drink this one with a straw to avoid unsightly blue lips.


Yours Shoely,

Me