Oval TDN Cocktails: Don’t mind if I do

Last Thursday’s TDN was sponsored by OVAL vodka and I had a great time trying out new cocktails in Atlanta. Jon Flowers and Rob Chen of Drink Planner joined me at Beleza, where mixologist Adam Fox helped us out by making the fabulous new cocktails (submitted by participants online) and even threw in a few of his own new creations.

The result was a great evening with delicious drinks—my personal favorite of the night was a bit of a shocker. I’ve got to admit when I first read the recipe (submitted by Cass McClure) I thought it was a little bit crazy-I mean, four ounces of vodka! Wow! But if you too are a doubter, whip this sucker up stat and you’ll find it’s deceptively smooth (thanks in part to the use of OVAL) and terribly tasty. Here she is:

Perfumed Beauty by Cass McClure of Junk Hauler’s Junk

4 oz. OVAL vodka
½ oz. Sloe Gin
½ oz. Lime Juice
1 ½ oz. Simple Syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 wedge pineapple
4 mint sprigs
¼ tsp. ground cardamom

In a snifter, muddle a large wedge of pineapple with three mint sprigs, 2 dashes bitters, and ¼ tsp. Cardamom. Fill glass with crushed ice. In a shaker, combine vodka, sloe gin, lime juice, and simple syrup. Shake and pour into glass. Garnish with a bunch of mint sprigs, lime wedge, and a rim of cardamom mixed with simple syrup.

I’m telling you, delicious! And if for some crazy reason, this drink isn’t your style, go check out a few more featured recipes (and some lovely drink photography by Rick Stutz) on the Mixoloseum blog. Big thanks to all the participants who joined us in the Mixoloseum chat room, to the Drink Planner dudes, Adam Fox, & the rest of the crew at Beleza! Cheers!

OVAL Vodka sponsors Thursday Drink Night!

I’m taking off tomorrow, in the wee hours of the morn’ for Atlanta, where Beleza lounge will be hosting a live Thursday Drink Night event, sponsored by OVAL vodka. Jon Flowers, hilarious writer of Drink Planner, will be joining me, as mixologist Adam Fox shakes (or stirs) up your fantastic new idea for an OVAL vodka cocktail. All you have to do is join us in the Mixoloseum chat room at 7pm EST tomorrow night with your brilliant idea. We’ll even have a webcam set up at Beleza so you can see us “ooo” and “ahhh” over (or spit out and criticize) your cocktail. Just kidding—we’ll play nice!

I like the way Rick Stutz of Kaiser Penguin sets up this challenge. Check it out and make sure to stop in and say hi tomorrow:

Vodka alone accounts for over 20% of spirits sales in the U.S. yet gets not play with the cocktail snobs. Think you're so cool only working with ingredients that taste like tree bark and gasoline? How about mixology where you are in charge of all the flavors? No chance to rest your ass with a delicious Gin. No aged whiskey to do your work for you. Want complex flavor? It's up to you captain. Join us and Oval Vodka for this week's TDN.

Absinthe Mata Hari on Wall Street!

If you didn't already catch it, please check out Eric Felten's Absinthe article, which appeared in the Wall Street Journal weekend edition (May 9-10). He rated Absinthe Mata Hari good/very good and picked up on the brand's point of difference, it's more subtle flavor and mixability. See for yourself:

Good/Very Good

Mata Hari $52.99 A distinctive and appealing alternative for those of us not quite so ambitious in the absinthe department. Light on the licorice with a muted and subtle herbal complexity. Can be drunk, with ice water and a little sugar, with something resembling pleasure.

You can read the whole article here: Sampling Absinthe’s Dubious Charms

Cheers!

Show Your Mom Some Love!

This Sunday is Mother’s Day which means you should be spending the day cooking, cleaning, and pampering your mama (unless, of course, you’re a mama yourself—in which case, leave that to the guys).

There are few things my mother enjoys more than a tasty cocktail with dinner, so I’m serving up the Happy Mom along with a nice home-cooked meal. Try shaking up this super simple drink for your madre and I guarantee you she’ll thank you for it. Cheers & Happy Mother’s Day!

The Happy Mom

1 ½ oz. OVAL vodka
½ oz. Hiram Walker Triple Sec
½ tsp sugar
1 ½ oz. Pom Wonderful
Fresh cherry for garnish

Shake first four ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry. Serve with a smooch for your mom!

Rob Cooper of St. Germain to Speak at USDC

As you may know, Brand Action Team is one of the organizers of the U.S. Drinks Conference, an event held annually in the past in London and this year will be in NY Oct. 13 and 14. I (Steve) was just at the WSWA (Wine and Spirit Wholesaler's Assn) meeting in Orlando last week and met Rob Cooper of St. Germain who graciously agreed to speak at the conference.

Check out the dets at www.USDrinksConference.com...other speakers committed so far include Ted Roman of Wm. Grant (Hendrick's, Sailor Jerry et al.), Steve Luttman of Leblon Cachaca. If you're interested in attending, give me a call, I know a guy who can get you a discount.