Another annual event we’ve missed is Art Beyond the Glass where local teams of bartenders show their talents, with the help of some amazing spirit sponsors, in LA’s only killer daytime cocktail party with live music, art and food! This year’s event was held at Catch One nightclub in Los Angeles, and who wouldn’t love to party in a nightclub in the daytime? Too much fun!
Art Beyond the Glass (ABTG) was founded in 2011 by Daniel Djang and Zahra Bates as a special event for bartenders to showcase their artistic talents when they’re not behind the bar. From cocktails to paintings, photography, live music, DJs, spoken word and more, ABTG is a celebration of bartender artistry inside and beyond the glass. Proceeds from every ABTG event are donated to a local arts-based nonprofit – to date, ABTG has donated more than $210,000 to these vital community organizations.
What We Discovered
If you just want the story in photos and videos go here. This is what we enjoyed the most: the bartender teams this year really outdid themselves, there was a foggy tent with even foggier-seeming bartenders from Empirical Spirits, the Fernet Branca people made several cocktails – I liked the Pink Negroni – and also cheerfully offered to water gun drinks directly down your gullet; the Drifter Cocktail Company/Drifter Spirits table was set up like an airport check in complete with a TSA agent, boarding passes and a computer to order your cocktail; SelvaRey Rum was poured through an ice sculpture filled with fruits, bottles and cans, before the drink landed in your ice filled glass; then the Birds and Bees booth, sponsored by Patron and Grey Goose, served Espresso Martinis to Vespers in mini Martini glasses, with lots of fruity concoctions in between.
Taking a break between drinks there was plenty of framed art and a silent auction to peruse, guests partaking in karaoke, and live bands in the multi-level venue. Also munched on fresh pizza, empanadas and street corn.
Going back to sample (or just look at) more drinks I enjoyed the bourbon and rye from San Francisco-based Bespoken Spirits; a popular “Jack Daniel’s Stage”; from the “Disco Sucks Forever” group I sampled their Fizzy Melon Disco Balls with Ford’s Gin at its base; the “Hymns” table had Bib and Tucker and Redemption whisky-based drinks served up by a priestly bartender; the Diplomatico Rum group made popular pineapple, passion fruit and coconut Mojitos; Johnnie Walker had their “high rye” blended scotch whiskey on hand; Chareau, an aloe-based liqueur, was very popular; Amaro Montenegro in Italian inspired light libations; the “Outta This World” table made a fine Makers 46 based cocktail and more; Mulholland Spirits served up a fruity snow cone with their whisky, vodka or gin at its base; I loved the Americano made with Noilly Prat Rouge Vermouth and Topo Chico – and a huge shout out to Topo Chico for supplying lots of icy cool mineral water to keep guests hydrated and drinks cool.
Sponsors
Patron, Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire, Beam Suntory, SelvaRey, Fernet-Branca, Garrison Brothers, Illegal, Jägermeister, Back Bar Project, Bespoken Spirits, Bond & Royal, Callisto, Chareau, Chinola, CNI Brands, Copalli, Cutwater, Diplomatico, Dirty Sue, Dos Hombres, Drifter Spirits, Fords Gin, Gray Whale, Haus, Hera the Dog, Herradura, Johnnie Walker, KIN, Liquid Alchemist, Mulholland Spirits, Redemption, Slane, Silvergrin, Spiribam, Tanteo, Three Spirits, Woodford Reserve, Yola, Amaro Montenegro, Eastern Imperial Mixers, Livewire, OM Chocolate Liqueur, Select Aperitivo, Topo Chico and Ventura Spirits.
This year’s teams can be seen in single posts here: https://www.facebook.com/ArtBeyondTheGlass
http://www.artbeyondtheglass.com/
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
