Eve's Wine 101

The Hidden Spirit of Kyushu-SHOCHU-Kagoshima and Miyazaki Prefecture team up to unlock the 500 year old mystery of a Japanese Distilled Spirit

by

KAGOSHIMA, JAPAN (PRWEB)

Kagoshima Shochu Makers Association and Miyazaki Prefecture aim to promote Satsuma, Kokuto and Miyazaki Shochu and to grow shochu’s recognition in the spirits category internationally. Both prefectures are excited to release a short film about shochu, a first of its kind, featuring a few of the world’s best bartenders.

Kagoshima is the birthplace of Imo Shochu, which is Sweet Potato or Satsuma Shochu, while Amami Island produces only brown sugar shochu called Kokuto Shochu. Miyazaki Shochu produces Imo and Buckwheat Shochu. Shochu can be made from over 53 different ingredients and has a unique production process using with Koji. Both prefectures have over a 500-year history of making Shochu.

Currently over 150 distillers have been producing shochu and have used the same traditional method of production for at least 100 years. Such intensive craftmanship has been passed down from generation to generation, but not many people know about shochu today.

Three NYC World Class Bartenders – Don Lee, sprits educator recipient of 2020 Tales of the Cocktails American Best Bar Mentor Award, along with Dev Johnson, former principal bartender of Employee Only cocktail bar and Kenta Goto, Owner of Bar Goto, all who are well known for their extensive knowledge of sprits, have visited Kyushu to see the production process of shochu and are interviewed about their view of shochu for the future.

Mr. Hamada, Chairman Kagoshima Shochu Makers Association said “We believe Shochu has finally reached the spotlight, it’s the next new Mezcal. We are so honored to work with these high quality and knowledgeable bartenders. We plan on continuing to create more storytelling experiences for the US market. We feel the door has opened now and I hope American consumers enjoy this amazing new flavor of Japanese Spirits.”

Film link: Kagoshima & Miyazaki Shochu File

Producer: Chikako Ichihara, Azix, Inc.
Creative Director: Keith Bedford & Shiho Fukada

Shochu Cocktails are also available Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association http://www.shochu.guide

The Busker “Triple Cask Triple Smooth” Beats Established Competitors in Blind Tasting; Rated Best Irish Whiskey Blend

by

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – The Busker, a “new-to-world” Irish Whiskey, is proud to announce that it was named the top Irish Whiskey Blend in a blind, independent tasting of industry experts. The Busker “Triple Cask Triple Smooth” was blind-tasted against four leading Irish whiskeys in similar price points, including Proper Twelve, Jameson, Bushmills and Tullamore D.E.W. The panel consisted of five renowned industry experts, including Andy Seymour, Julie Reiner, Anu Apte, Sean Kenyon and Jackie Summers. The panel judged each spirit on appearance, nose, aroma and finish. Awarded the highest aggregate score, The Busker “Triple Cask Triple Smooth” was recognized as a standout among the judges for its distinctive taste in a world of similar-tasting Irish whiskeys.

“The Busker is unique, unlike any other of the whiskies we tasted,” said Andy Seymour, owner of Liquid Productions and partner in BAR. “All the others were going in the same direction, and this stood out right away. The Busker has a bolder and richer taste that we all immediately picked up on.”

“The Busker is an apple among oranges,” said New York-based Julie Reiner, known for her award-winning beverage programs at Clover Club and Leyenda. “This is a whiskey that bartenders will embrace because it will perform excellently in craft cocktails.” The panel noted that the bold flavors of The Busker make it suitable for sipping as well as for cocktails that might overwhelm less distinctive Irish whiskeys.

The Busker “Triple Cask Triple Smooth” combines the Busker Single Grain with a high percentage of The Busker’s Single Malt and Single Pot whiskeys. Matured and finished in three different casks (Bourbon, Sherry, Marsala), this whiskey brings a new definition of richness and smoothness to the Irish whiskey landscape. The flavor profile of The Busker “Triple Cask Triple Smooth” blend is ideal for multiple consumption occasions, from sipping neat or on the rocks to classic cocktails that don’t typically use Irish whiskey, like Manhattans, Sours, tiki drinks, Old-Fashioneds or even the Vieux-Carre. These are cocktails that craft bartenders embrace and cocktails that are trending at-home with consumers.

“Our team at The Royal Oak Distillery set out to make an Irish whiskey that would appeal not only to Irish whiskey drinkers, but also to bourbon lovers,” said Ignacio Llaneza, Vice President of Brand & Trade Marketing for Disaronno International in the U.S. “We’re able to achieve a fuller, rounder whiskey with a higher malt content in the recipe, and triple cask finishing in Bourbon, Sherry and Marsala casks. Ultimately, we want to provide a journey into Irish whiskey at an affordable price point. Based on the tremendous feedback from our esteemed judging panel, quite frankly we believe The Busker has the potential to become the preferred Irish whiskey in the United States.”

Jackie Summers, creator of Sorel Liqueur and named Drinks International’s “100 Most Influential Bar Industry Figures” (2020) and Imbibe 75 (2021), noted that “The Busker was the outlier, and the only bottle I would drink and buy again.” Denver-based Sean Kenyon, the person behind award-winning bars Williams & Graham, Occidental and American Bonded and recognized as Tales of the Cocktail’s American Bartender of the Year (2014), agreed, calling The Busker blend “a real stand out, something interesting in the Irish whiskey world where the others go in the same direction.” Anu Apte, behind a number of award-winning Seattle bars including Rob Roy, No Anchor, Navy Strength, Vinnie’s Wine Shop and The Bar Bazaar enjoyed The Busker’s round, soft and integrated notes. “The Busker brings an exciting and very different new distillate to market,” she said.

The blind tasting recognition follows The Busker “Triple Cask Triple Smooth” receiving a “Best Buy” rating and 94 points in the April 2021 issue of Wine Enthusiast. This impressive ranking outclassed the other major whiskey brands, and was the highest-rated Irish whiskey when measured against similar priced competitors.

About The Busker
The Busker is a “new to world” Irish Whiskey that is born out of a modern Ireland, where the contemporary and bold meet at the crossroads of tradition. The Busker is produced at the Royal Oak Distillery, in County Carlow, Ireland, located on an 18th century estate in Ireland’s Ancient East region. It is the only distillery in Ireland which offers all three classic Irish styles of whiskey – Single Grain, Single Malt, & Single Pot Still, which make The Busker Single Collection. The Busker portfolio also includes The Busker Blend which is a beautiful blend of The Single Collection. The Busker uses different casks during the maturation process of their whiskeys including Bourbon casks, Sherry casks and Marsala casks. Most recently, The Busker took home multiple top accolades at the 2020 LA Spirits Awards: The Busker Single Malt was awarded the 2020 Platinum Medal and Best Irish Whiskey, while the Single Pot Still and Blend were awarded the Gold Medal.

For more information, visit http://www.thebusker.com and join the conversation at @thebusker_official

Eve Tries THE BEST COCKTAIL SHAKER SINCE PROHIBITION?

by

Intrigued by the idea of “the best cocktail shaker since prohibition” I accepted an offer to try out the “Shaker 33”. The sleek-looking lightweight silver cylinder arrived, I washed all of the parts safely in my dishwasher, and was ready to try it out for a Martini! My review is below this news release:

The traditional cocktail shaker redesigned. The modern, sophisticated design of Shaker33 includes several new features that solve the woes of the classic cocktail shaker and lets users effortlessly create exquisite professional cocktails. Shaker33’s leak-proof, easy-to-open and smooth pour functions give amateurs and pros alike perfect cocktails, all the time, every time.  

The design features a top that locks into place, removes easily, and eliminates spills and leaks for easy one-handed shaking. The locking dual-flow strainer has larger holes on one side for a fast pour and smaller holes on the other for a finer strain. Each shaker has a nesting top that stores the strainer, which keeps the bar clean from sticky messes. In addition, its patented design keeps condensation low – chilling just the drink and not hands.

Shaker33 is available in black, frosted and stainless steel options. Strainer colors come in cosmo red, sunset orange, sky blue and lime green. MSRP $29.95-$39.95 and available at www.Shaker33.com.

Eve’s Review

As stated in the release, yes, the two parts – the strainer and nesting top – locked into place easily and prevented any spills. My usual complaint after making a martini in a traditional metal shaker is that the parts are hard to separate. Not the case with Shaker 33. I also could shake with one hand, the top was that secure.

Another complaint is that I sometimes have to use a towel around a shaker as it gets too cold by the time I’m ready to pour, yea I’m a wimp, but in case you are not happy with holding something really cold the “patented design” did keep the “condensation low” as promised as it wasn’t very cold to the touch at all.

The only thing I missed was the shot glass that sometimes comes on top of a Martini shaker; however, this part is usually where the spills come from and where things can get a little tricky when I try to remove it later for washing. So, all in all, this is a really great Martini shaker and I hope you check it out!

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.

Vintage Eve Circa 7/2018: The Seventh Art Beyond the Glass!

by

Art Beyond the Glass VII: L.A.’s Top Bartenders Come Together To Celebrate

Seven Years of Cocktails, Community, Women In The Industry and A Great Cause…Proceeds from ABTG VII will go to the Women’s Center for Creative Work, a vital arts nonprofit in Frogtown. Now in its seventh year, Art Beyond the Glass is L.A.’s premier cocktail culture festival, featuring more than 100 top bartenders making cocktails and showcasing their artistry, from painting and sculpture to photography, live music and more!

Yep, we did it again, covered three levels of mind blowing cocktail mayhem in the Los Globos nightclub in Silver Lake. The “mayhem” included a wide array of live music, a dj, burlesque, a tap dancer and wildly costumed bartenders as well as guests. There also was a raffle, art exhibit and “silent auction items such as artwork, photography, rare spirits and more.” 

As you know I was there to take it all in (photos here if that’s all you’re after) these are the spirit vendors I made sure to meet up with:

Jack Daniel Distillery Lynchburg Tennessee, The Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Ming River Baijiu and Teeling Whiskey – these were just part of the first floor of fun, and each spirits’ table offered more than one cocktail option so you could do them all or just select one that sounded good to you.

More from the first floor: Fun stewards (stewardesses, whatevers) from Aviation Gin sat guests in a mock airplane, served them cocktails and if you agreed to sit in the exit row you got a special treat! Loved the two cocktails – one with tea and another in a slush – I sampled from Pomp & Whimsy (remember them – hope they’ll be back for Cocktails on the Roof 2018!) and fun drinks from Fords Gin, Plymouth Gin, and Lillet.

The cutie pies at the Mulholland Distilling table were happy to sing for a photo on the second floor! Fun table, and the drinks were yummy. I had the Mulholland Mule and I swear there was another drink they made with Boba in it. I really loved the Edinburgh Distillery Rhubarb Ginger liqueur! Also enjoyed checking out Distillerie Clement rum.

And on the ground floor, an outdoor patio filled with happy smokers and vapers, had a cold brew coffee vendor, Colorado Common Hard Cider and Illegal Mezcal Joven cocktails in ice cube glasses that blew my mind – the one I tried was called “560 Shades of Greg”, while the other, which I didn’t try, had CBD in it!

Even more entertainment on the first and second floors: we got our VIP badges from Jack Daniel’s, sampled cocktails from Åhus Akvavit, Born and Bred, Domaine Combier, Partida Tequila and The Real McCoy Rum.

More About Art Beyond the Glass (ABTG): Art Beyond the Glass is a special event that showcases the artistic pursuits of top bartenders when they’re not behind the stick. ABTG began, as many things do, with a conversation in a bar. In the fall of 2011, bartender Zahra Bates and writer Daniel Djang were at Sunny Spot in Venice, discussing how so many bartenders in Los Angeles express themselves creatively through painting, photography, music, and other arts. But at the time there wasn’t a proper showcase for bartenders to share their artistic pursuits. To fill this gap, Art Beyond the Glass was born: uniting the bar community, which gives back to the art community, and strengthening the community in which we live.

At ABTG, everything from the cocktails to the art and music is created and performed by bartenders. Proceeds from every ABTG event are donated to a local arts-based charity. To date, Art Beyond the Glass has donated more than $98,000 to nonprofit organizations across the country.

The inaugural ABTG raised more than $6,000 for Inner-City Arts. In 2013, ABTG II raised $13,700 for Art Share L.A. and saved this vital nonprofit from closing. ABTG III raised $18,000 for the Mural Conservancy to restore Struggles of the World, one of the landmark Freeway Murals from the 1984 Summer Olympics. ABTG IV raised more than $20,000 for KCRW on behalf of its Capital Campaign to open a new Media Center and public event space in Santa Monica.

To celebrate its five-year anniversary in 2015, Art Beyond the Glass expanded to cities outside of Los Angeles for the first time. The fifth annual ABTG was the largest event to date and raised over $25,000 for Global Inheritance. In July 2016, the first-ever ABTG outside of L.A. took place in Oklahoma City and raised $7,300 for Arts Council Oklahoma City. ABTG Chicago took place in August 2016 and donated $8,450 to ArtReach.

Art Beyond the Glass will continue to grow into established and emerging markets that are eager to demonstrate the creative prowess of their bar community.

The Charity

This year we are honored to be raising funds for the Women’s Center for Creative Work, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Frogtown. Combining a co-workspace on the L.A. River, project incubation facilities, residency programs, a rapidly growing network of over 20,000 followers, and a full calendar of artistic and professional development programming, WCCW advocates for feminist-led creative businesses and projects in Los Angeles.

www.ArtBeyondtheGlass.com

Follow Art Beyond the Glass on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtBeyondTheGlass

Twitter: @ABTGLA

Instagram: @abtgla

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 15k 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.

All-New Spirits Tasting Competition Targets Fledgling Distilleries

by

SPOKANE, WASH. (PRWEB) – Distillery University, the long-time provider of online and hands-on education for craft distillers, announced they would be offering a new Tasting Competition for the industry with a unique twist. Unlike other similar competitions, entrants would be limited to those licensed distilleries that have been in business for five years or less (international entries are also permitted). Registrations are opening soon for a variety of competitive categories, with the Competition taking place in May 2021 in Spokane, WA.

“Our goal is to create a platform for new distillers to get the insight, promotion and exposure they might not otherwise have access to.” – Rockwell Rutter, CEO, Distillery University.

With other competitions, the winner’s circle is often dominated by big brands and deep pockets; they’ve had years with which to perfect their recipes and can afford top-quality ingredients. This can make it difficult for the startups and new operations to compete at the same level. Distillery University plans to level the playing field by offering the truly talented small distilleries a chance to show off their best products and get some well-deserved promotion. At the same time, this is a great opportunity for those same distilleries to get an unbiased critique and analysis of their spirits from a group of experts.

Providing that analysis will be a blind panel of approximately 15 judges, all hand-picked by DU as leaders in their respective fields. For example, the judging panel will include sommeliers, brewers, chefs, journalists, bartenders and more.
https://www.parkviewortho.com/wp-content/languages/new/symbicort.html

Over the course of several days in May 2021, these judges will critically sample each spirit submission and provide not only a rating score, but also tasting notes that will be released to the distillery. Distilleries will be awarded medals based on their resulting scores, while select winners will be offered a product placement meeting with a large spirits retailer.

“We believe the Next Great Distillery has yet to be found, and this is how we plan to do it.” – Rockwell Rutter, CEO, Distillery University

Distillery University is the premier provider of online and hands-on education for craft distillers. Since 2012 they have offered a fully comprehensive curriculum for those wishing to enter the industry, or those with a desire to broaden their existing skillset. Distillery University’s nearly 1500 students enjoy a wide range of course topics, covering everything from product development to business management. Students can choose to learn online through self-paced video courses, livestreaming webinars, or in-person at a multi-day Hands-on Workshop. Distillery University’s main goal is to make it as easy as possible for true craft distillers to realize their dream of making phenomenal spirits in a successful business.

Vintage Eve Circa 6/2018: A Gin Manhattan?

by

So this is what happened first: I was visiting my nephew Zack at Accomplice Bar in Mar Vista, working my way through Negroni Week with killer cocktails by Gaby Mlynarczyk aka Loving Cup (https://www.instagram.com/lalovingcup/) and Mitch Ono Bushell aka MitchOno (https://www.instagram.com/mitchono/) not only because they are great bartenders but also because there wasn’t a single bar or restaurant in my own Santa Clarita Valley doing a thing for Negroni Week – which not only celebrates a great cocktail but a percentage of the proceeds from the cocktail-inspired menus goes to charity. (https://negroniweek.com/)

So then this happened: Zack said, “Eve, have you ever had a Gin Manhattan? It’s <insert the topical adjective young adults – I refuse to use the word millennial – use>. They made me one at the bar, you have to get it next time.” To which I most likely answered, “What? How can you make a Manhattan with anything but a brown spirit? I’ve had versions with both rye and bourbon, but never gin.” To which he texted the recipe to me later as: Gin. Bitters. Simple. Stir. That just seemed too easy; what was the catch, would it be as good as Zack promised and could I really make it?

Lastly: I used Google to look over a few Gin Manhattan recipes. Pretty much the same mixings that Zack mentioned, some with Gin and some with Genever (Bols Genever: It is the high content of a unique grain distillate called malt wine that gives Bols Genever its characteristic smooth malty taste, making it perfect for mixing and making cocktails…read more.). The cocktail recipes also had different amounts of simple syrup (think one sugar cube to replace a teaspoon of ready made syrup you don’t have to mash with a muddler) and aromatic or citrus bitters. All were meant to be built over ice and poured on the “rock” (think large single cube that melts slowly) and then served with an orange slice or peel in a lowball/Old Fashioned glass.

Really last now…my recipe! Have I made you thirsty yet? I tried a couple of variations and my notes in the parenthesis are my end result after taste testing:

In a mixing glass with ice:

2 ounces Gin (I used Bols Genever)

½ ounce Simple Syrup (reduced to ¼)

2 dashes Bitters (I like Peychaud’s Aromatic Bitters)

Strain into a lowball glass, add orange peel or slice (I used a chilled couple and no garnish.)

Conclusion: As long as you reduce the syrup to taste this is quite remarkable. I’ve always been a fan of drinks with both sweetness and bitters, and this just hit the mark dead on for me in the flavor profile. I highly suggest you do a few taste tests of your own to get the best results. Finally, if you are a Gin fan or a Manhattan fan, this will be a cool new drink to add to your cocktail recipe book. It fit the bill for me, which is and will always be: no more than three ingredients, after that you have masked the root spirit so much that it’s all punch to me.

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 15k 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.

A.G. Perino Offers a Fresh, Approachable Take on Classic Italian-Style Dry and Sweet Vermouth

by

SEATTLE /PRNewswire/ — Precept Wine is proud to announce the launch of A.G. Perino Dry and Sweet Vermouths. Crafted by acclaimed winemaker, Hal Landvoigt, A.G. Perino is 15 years in the making. Inspired by late-night cocktails and conversation at a bar in Dusseldorf, Germany, Precept Founder and CEO Andrew Browne challenged Landvoigt to create a vermouth of exceptional quality and value. What followed was over a decade studying production methods; consulting with expert craftsman, winemakers, and bartenders; and tasting samples from around the world in an epic journey to create the best vermouth for everyday use.

 

Image from Yummly.com

A.G. Perino uses premium wines and natural flavors to produce a vermouth in classic Italian style. “While A.G. Perino is perfect in classic cocktails such as a Negroni or Manhattan, it was also designed to be outstanding simply on the rocks. Although many producers ‘back into’ vermouth using leftovers and what is at hand, I developed A.G. Perino from the ground up, similar in nature to the method of producing the world’s best gins,” remarked Landvoigt. “The base wine is equally as important as the additional layers of flavors captured by the herbs and botanicals. I wanted a vermouth with pronounced flavor.”

Landvoigt’s colleague, Alex Evans, Chief Marketing Officer at Precept, named the vermouth in recognition of the Perino family, longtime friends, who love to celebrate their family’s rich Italian heritage. “Every Sunday the Perinos come together and share great wine, great food, and great company including Anthony G. Perino’s delicious Negroni cocktails. It is a privilege to name this vermouth in their honor,” remarked Evans.

With fresh, modern packaging and an exceptional $9.99 SRP, A.G. Perino brings excitement and innovation to a growing category, up 35% in dollar volume over the past 26 weeks. (Source: Nielsen ending 11.28.20 Total US xAOC + Liq Plus & Total US Convenience)

A.G. Perino Dry Vermouth is fresh, bright, and herbal. It leads with notes of citrus zest, followed by flavors of bay leaf, lemongrass, cucumber, lanolin, grapefruit pith, and white pepper. It pairs well in bourbon, rye whiskey, gin, and tequila cocktails or on the rocks with a lemon twist.

A.G. Perino Sweet Vermouth is nuanced with layers of botanical aromatics. Golden caramel in color, it leads with woodsy notes of balsam and clove and follows with warm flavors of walnut husk, vanilla, honey, and Ceylon cinnamon. Enjoy on the rocks with an orange-peel garnish or mixed with straight bourbon, rye whiskey, and other full-bodied spirits.

“As more people experiment with at-home mixology, there has never been a better time to discover A.G. Perino. For on-premise accounts, no other vermouth can offer the value and quality of this vermouth. I challenge anyone to find a better-tasting vermouth under $20,” said Browne.

A.G. Perino Dry & Sweet Vermouths are distributed nationally and available online at www.AG-PERINO.com.

About Precept Wine:
Seattle-based Precept Wine is the largest privately held wine producer in the Pacific Northwest and a top 12 American wine producer. With deep roots representing more than 30 years of Northwest investments in the wine industry, Precept owns and maintains nearly 4,000 planted vineyard acres across Washington, Idaho, New Mexico and Oregon; such leading wine brands as Waterbrook, Gruet, Browne Family Vineyards, Canoe Ridge Vineyard, House Wine, Pendulum, Primarius, Washington Hills, Battle Creek Cellars, Callaway Cellars, Ste. Chapelle, Cense and A.G. Perino vermouth, plus tasting rooms and hospitality throughout the Pacific Northwest and New Mexico. Founded in 2003 by Andrew Browne and Dan Baty, the company’s wineries have garnered more than 800 combined best buys and critical scores exceeding 90 points. Learn more at www.preceptwine.com.

The Tio Pepe Challenge Takes Place in U.S.

by

CHICAGO (PRWEB) – Not even a pandemic can prevent the Tío Pepe Challenge from happening in the U.S. González Byass teamed up with Chilled Magazine to hold the Tío Pepe Challenge virtually on Facebook Live on August 17, 2020, resulting in a tie between Ricardo Acevedo from Le Sirenuse Miami in Miami, FL and Damian Langarica from A.bar in Philadelphia, PA as the winners of the 2020 U.S. Tío Pepe Challenge.

The Tío Pepe Challenge was created by leading Sherry producer, González Byass, to inspire mixologists from around the world to create original, great tasting cocktails using Sherry as their principle ingredient. Ricardo and Damian competed against four other bartenders from around the U.S. virtually. The six competitors were judged by their use of the venencia (the tool traditionally used to extract Sherry from the barrel) and by their cocktail mixed with a González Byass Sherry.

The judges received the cocktail recipes and ingredients prior to the Facebook Live competition and prepared the drinks in the same order as the competitors. They reviewed each bartender based on the creativity of using Sherry in his or her cocktail and the skill displayed with the venencia. The judges included: Alvaro Plata, Tío Pepe Brand Ambassador; Jeff Greif from Chilled Magazine; Daniele Dalla Pola from Esotico in Miami; and Valentino Longo from La Sirenuse in Miami Beach, FL.

In the past, the winner of the U.S. Final would go on to compete at the International Final in Jerez, Spain. This year, since the event will not take place, all participants receive a cash prize, with the tied winners sharing the first and second prize, each receiving $1,500.

Pioneered by González Byass, one of the world’s leading Sherry producers, the Tío Pepe Challenge allows aspiring Sherry experts to test their knowledge about this wonderful fortified wine. The Challenge is designed to inform, educate and instruct on crucial aspects of Sherry.
buy tadacip online https://www.facebeautyscience.com/wp-content/themes/twentytwentyone/inc/new/tadacip.html no prescription

In addition to Ricardo and Damian, the other competitors in the 2020 U.S. Tío Pepe Challenge were: Lance Bowman from Monnie Burke’s in Chicago, IL; Abigail Gullo from Ben Paris in Des Moines, WA; Trinh Quan Huy-Philip from The St Anthony Hotel in San Antonio, TX; and Sam Treadway from Backbar in Somerville, MA

For more information about the competitions, please visit: http://www.chilledmagazine.com/tiopepechallenge.
@tiopepewine @gonzalezbyassusa #tiopepechallenge #tiopepechallengeUSA

TÍO PEPE CHALLENGE WINNING COCKTAILS
When Worlds Collide
Created by Ricardo Acevedo, Le Sirenuse Miami
1 ¾ oz Tío Pepe
¾ oz Coconut vermouth
¾ oz Lemongrass sake
Saline
3 drops Ginger olive oil
Stir all ingredients except ginger olive oil. Strain into Nick and Nora the finish with 3 drops of ginger olive oil.

Legacy
Created by Damian Langarica, A.bar, Philadalephia
2 oz González Byass Alfonso Oloroso Sherry
¾ oz spiced demerara syrup
½ oz preserved lemon juice
1 egg white
½ oz González Byass Nectar Pedro Ximenez Sherry infused with cinnamon
Combine and dry shake all the ingredients except the PX Sherry, then add ice and shake again. Double strain into a chilled coupe, and slowly pour the PX through a barspoon to the bottom of the glass to create the layering effect. Garnish with an orange peel and grated cinnamon.

About González Byass USA
González Byass USA is a Chicago based importer for a strategically selected portfolio of fine wine and spirit brands from around the world including Spain, Chile, Italy and Austria.

González Byass USA is the US subsidiary of González Byass headquartered in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. González Byass is a family-owned, collection of wineries founded in 1835 which spans across Spain’s most important wine producing regions.
buy zoloft online https://www.facebeautyscience.com/wp-content/themes/twentytwentyone/inc/new/zoloft.html no prescription

From its foundation, the González family have been dedicated to making fine Sherries and brandies in Jerez, Spain, creating such well-known brands as Tío Pepe Fino Sherry and Lepanto Brandy de Jerez.

Today the fifth generation of the family are the custodians of these exceptional brands having built the company into a family of wineries which produces wine in some of Spain’s most famous regions; Bodegas Beronia (Rioja and Rueda), Dominio Fournier (Ribera del Duero), Cavas Vilarnau (Barcelona), Finca Constancia (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla), Finca Moncloa (Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz), Viñas del Vero (Somontano) and Pazos de Lusco (Rías Baixas). In each of these regions the family strives to make the best possible quality wines respecting the local terroir and the environment. At the same time the company has also expanded its interests further in the premium spirits business and has created pioneering brands such as The London No.1 and Nomad Outland Whisky to complement the Spanish brandies in the portfolio Soberano and Lepanto, as well as their Mexican brandies from Pedro Domecq: Presidente and Don Pedro.

González Byass USA also represents a number of international wineries in the US market including from Austria Domäne Wachau, and from Italy Pranza, Caldora, Cantine Cellaro, Vesevo, Vigneti Del Salento and Tenute Rossetti. In addition, Harveys Bristol Cream and Fundador Brandy de Jerez from Spain.

Vintage Eve Circa Jan 2018, “Wine 101: The Demise of the Dinner Party”

by

Cruising a foodie group on Facebook one member’s query kind of stuck out in my mind. It was something like, “Does anyone do dinner parties anymore?” About half of the comments, if not more, said no. Due to pets, small dining spaces, children, busy schedules and a lack of ideas.

Bushman Kitchen – overlooking our Napa Valley vineyard (We wish!)

That lack of ideas on what to do for a dinner party got my mind racing. I never run out of ideas. Granted we have a kitchen made for entertaining, and a home that has managed events for up to 75 people, but the size of our kitchen isn’t where our dinner party ideas stem from.

It stems from our interests not only in food preparation and presentation, but also with the wine and/or spirits we want to serve to complement our meals.

If we go back a few decades we began as young married couples often do: experimenting in the kitchen. I happened to share my kitchen with a firefighter that was used to cooking for a dozen or more crew members. Hence, we always had too much. (Truth be told this is still a problem!) We had pals that lived close by that were more than willing to come up for a ready made meal, bring wine, and our Thursday Night Dinners began.

Every other week we walked over to see the Andrews, and they came over to our house on the weeks when it was our turn. Eventually other friends got wind of our dinners and they grew – with more couples and more wine than we really wanted to partake in on a week night.

Fast forward to our third home in Awesometown. Our kitchen prep area is probably four or five times greater than the kitchen was in our starter home was. And now we knew that the kitchen was where the action was. Ed had become an excellent cook, as most fire fighters are, and I was happy to be his sous chef.

Now we plan monthly dinner parties, with a rotating set of pals (as we are all so busy everyone is not always free) and still enjoy the menu planning as well as pulling wines from our cellar to pair. Over the years I have also enjoyed hosting meetings for the different events I’m working on, as well as a monthly Brainstormer’s Group – and these are mostly potluck with some kind of wine or spirit tasting I throw in for fun.

These are the different ideas we’ve tried over the years:

  • We did a large wine event with five different tasting stations where guests moved from room to room, outside to inside, and returned to the kitchen for the final pairing.
  • Hosted a jam-making class!
  • The “Buck Bar” idea borrowed from Lesley and David Solmonson’s book “The Twelve Bottle Bar” where guests are prompted to replace the vodka in a Moscow Mule with rye, bourbon or scotch, and the lime with orange or lemon. Just crafting your own cocktail with all the bartender tools is fun!
  • Pot lucks with everyone bringing one of their prized homemade dishes – can’t ever go wrong with that.
  • Gin or vodka tastings – those are not so usual – after dining.
  • After dinner put on a movie like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that you can talk over.
  • I’ve done chocolate tastings where I’ve guided guests to go from dark to light, with some wine and port as well, to see how the chocolate flavors develop and change when we study them.
  • An adult Pinata with tiny plastic booze bottles.
  • Make friends with restaurant owners – they make you want to up your game!
  • Play Apples to Apples, or any easy to play game for families, after dinner.
  • Single malt scotch tastings, with minor pairings like grilled sausage and Snicker bars!
  • Wine and Junk Food pairing. We like popcorn and sparkling wine and chocolate candy with Zinfandel – with a lot in between. You have to do some experimenting before you plan this one.
  • After a dinner: blind wine tastings, single varietal tastings, aroma lessons…

So if you were on the fence about planning a fun dinner party I hope this article helped to get your creative juices working. And if you need more assistance, or a really fun guest, you know where to find me!

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, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Vintage Eve Circa Jan 2018: Call it What Happy Hour Really Is…A Precursor For Dining in Our Old Age (With new photo of courtyard at Salt Creek Grille!)

by

I was at one of my regular Happy Hour haunts, The Social in Newhall, when I noticed that the bar was completely packed at 5pm, much like it is at Olive Terrace Bar and Grill and Salt Creek Grille when we venture over to the other side of the valley and Le Chene when we want to go even further.

And then I noticed that the people that were packing these bars weren’t 20 somethings…not even 30 somethings…they were people that have “cultivated” their palates for a couple of decades longer than that.

There are lots of great Happy Hours all over Awesometown and we used to do a round-up of their menus annually just to share what they offer. (The last one is our 2016 version you can read here.) The four that I mentioned just happen to be the ones we have been going to of late…at least the past 10 years or so.

So why do we prefer these bars over others? They aren’t particularly loud or noisy, have comfortable seating and, as drinking at 5pm is a precursor to dining at 6 or 7, it seems to work for our seasoned age group.

Of the Happy Hours we go to – the ones that specifically were full very early in the evening – they also offer small bites for free or nominal prices, and some larger plates culled from the main menu. The libations extend from beer and wine to excellently crafted cocktails; one even doesn’t offer any kind of price deal on the drinks at all, just a Happy Hour menu of food. (And that one just happens to be our favorite. Why? Well we can walk there – we’ve said this many times, and yet we never actually have walked there! It’s the neighborhood bar and we often run into people we know. The owner gives us a welcome hug, maybe a peck on the cheek, and we know some of the servers and bartenders. Maybe at a certain age we just like to feel welcome…)

So, as we dined on dishes from appetizers to pastas we noticed how nice it is to dine early, have a well-made cocktail, linger a bit, then go home and…be asleep by 9pm. (And well on our way before the young’uns took over the bars.) However many younger people do go out to Happy Hour – when we were younger these were places with deep discounts, we could get a little rowdy with pals and we would end up staying for dinner as well. (Many were/are family friendly – we weren’t really hip on the idea of bringing our daughter to a bar or winery, but to each his own.) Back in the day that meant the party was to be found at places like TGI Fridays and El Torito. (The latter, if you stayed long enough even offered dancing in the bar. Anyone else remember the Discos of SCV? LOL.)

I feel like the next step for us will be the early bird dinners at iHop, and no cocktail at all…? I hope not. I do know that older friends of mine have pulled back from wine club memberships – at least from wines that are meant to sit in our cellars for 10 years or more – because my pals in their 70s are buying more splits (half bottles), trying to drink through what they already do have and/or are looking for wine brokers to sell their wines to. They do go out…or at least join us for wine on the porch sometimes!

Life is an every changing highway.

I’m hoping by the time we start dining at 4pm we’ll be in a place like Atria assisted living, where my mother has happily camped for nearly a year now, and be having cocktails by 2pm and up to two glasses of wine with dinner…now that doesn’t sound too bad does it?

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, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.