LOS ANGELES STAPLE, S BAR, ARRIVES TO MANDALAY BAY RESORT AND CASINO IN LAS VEGAS

December 21, 2021 by evebushman

Nightlife Destination to Feature an Elevated Cocktail Program by Renowned Master Bartender Yael Vengroff

Las Vegas, NV (December 20, 2021) – S Bar, a concept by visionary Sam Nazarian and sbe’s elevated dining brand Disruptive Restaurant Group, joins the Las Vegas nightlife scene by bringing a sensual and elegant social space to The Strip. Debuting New Year’s Eve, the venue will deliver a craft cocktail experience and lush lounge ambience along with high-energy entertainment to Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino guests and visitors from around the globe.

Celebrating the culture of mixology, S Bar will feature innovative libations paired with a tempting array of decadent shareable bites by sbe Director of Culinary Thanawat Bates. The concept also will offer an eclectic live entertainment experience by integrating classic instrumental sounds with modern tunes and unexpected DJ sets by west coast resident artists. Lounge enthusiasts will be welcomed by brass tones, luxe drapery, plush seating, and a polished black marble bar adorned by iconic art pieces from one of the world’s most collected photographers, Terry O’Neil.

S Bar’s focus will center around its curated craft cocktail program, designed by award-winning master bartender Yael Vengroff, who also is Head of Bars & Mixology Programming at Katsuya and S Bar. Named “American Bartender of the Year” by the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, Vengroff is dedicated to crafting visually stunning cocktails that combine simple spirits with unexpected ingredients such as aloe vera, yuzu tonic and umami bitters. Vengroff’s new S Bar Las Vegas menu cocktails will include:

Moonage Daydream, Pisco, Salted Honeydew Peanut Cordial, Tarragon, Lime, Egg White
Umeshu Highball, Ume Whiskey, Amaro Montenegro, Shiso Plum Wine, Bubbles
Palm Reader, Bourbon, Cacao Rum, Licor de Elote, Palo Santo, Bitters
Tiger Julis, Mandarin Vodka, Cognac, Campari, Cinnamon, Black Tea, Hazelnut
Starry Night, Pear Brandy, Lemon, Butterfly Pea Flower, Sparkling Rosé

S Bar has become a key brand within Sam Nazarian’s Disruptive Restaurant Group (DRG), emerging as a Los Angeles mainstay known for sophisticated interiors, impeccable hospitality, and elevated menus. The much-anticipated S Bar Las Vegas debuts its sultry lounge December 31 and will feature a DJ set by emerging Los Angeles native BYNX, who produces melodic House sounds combined with Indie Nu Disco.

To make S Bar Las Vegas reservations and for more information, visit https://www.sbe.com/nightlife/s-bar/las-vegas

Hours of Operation:

Sunday/Monday – Closed

Tuesday – Thursday 5pm – 12am

Friday – Saturday 5pm – 2am

The S Bar Story

Each S Bar reflects the character and edginess of each location and the creatives who inhabit them with sophisticated interiors, world-class cocktails, rare spirits, and deliciously elevated bar menu. A Hollywood classic originally conceived by Phillippe Starck, S Bar was imagined as an intimate neighborhood bar, striking the perfect balance between culture and sophistication and raw elegance, evoking the spirit of an artist’ gallery. S Bar embodies casual elegance, sensuality, and a sense of belonging.

To make reservations and for more information on all S Bar locations, visit https://www.sbe.com/nightlife/s-bar.

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About Disruptive Restaurant Group

DRG, Disruptive Restaurant Group, incubates and operates globally renowned culinary brands including

critically-acclaimed restaurants, lounges and nightclubs. By partnering with an impressive roster of internationally renowned culinary talent, DRG concepts are committed to innovation and setting new industry standards. Restaurants within the portfolio include Katsuya by Chef Katsuya Uechi, Sa’Moto by Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Hyde Sunset Kitchen and Cocktails and the much anticipated opening this winter of Casa Dani by Michelin Chef Dani Garcia.

About Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is set on 120 lush acres featuring Mandalay Bay Beach, a tropical pool paradise with real sand. The Michelob ULTRA Arena, award-winning restaurants, exhilarating entertainment, unique shopping, Shark Reef Aquarium and the 2-million-square-foot convention center combine to make Mandalay Bay a captivating Las Vegas resort destination. The resort offers three distinct hotel experiences: Mandalay Bay with 3,211 luxurious rooms and suites reflecting a modern tropical ambiance; Four Seasons Hotel, a AAA Five Diamond hotel offering 424 rooms and suites; and the luxury all-suite Delano Las Vegas. Mandalay Bay is operated by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information and reservations, visit mandalaybay.com, call toll free at (877) 632-7800, or find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Barfly® Mixology Gear Rolls Out Festive Bar Tools for the Holiday Season

October 25, 2021 by evebushman

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. (PRWEB) – For the 2021 holidays, Barfly® Mixology Gear is doing its part to make spirits brighter with themed essentials, perfect for seasonal use behind the bar or gift-giving under the tree.

The new collection features shakers in two festive styles to brighten up your holiday entertaining. Also available is a bar spoon topped with a whimsical Santa head. The shaker tins and solid-head spoon are crafted with the same high quality that Barfly tools are known for and designed for years of holiday entertaining.

“These seasonal additions are merry touches that add to the joyfulness and jubilance of the holidays,” says Joe Flaherty, Senior Vice President. “They also make great gifts for the professional mixologist or home bartender enthusiast.”

The tools are limited editions and will be available starting in October through online retailers.

About Barfly Mixology Gear
Barfly Mixology Gear is fine barware for the professional bartender and home enthusiast. Produced and owned by Mercer Culinary, a second-generation family business that manufactures and supplies cutlery and accessories for the professional culinary market. Barfly tools are manufactured from exceptional materials. The collection is designed with precision, control, and accuracy to ensure masterful results for making perfect cocktails.

http://www.barflybymercer.com

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

January 26, 2021 by evebushman

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.

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

January 4, 2021 by evebushman

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.

And the Winner of the 2020 Sherry Wines Amateur Mixology Challenge is…

December 20, 2020 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Consejo Regulador de Vinos de Jerez and Manzanilla – Sherry’s governing council – aka Sherry Wines, congratulates Jen LaForge who claimed the first ever Amateur Mixology Challenge crown and the $3,000 cash prize. The competition, which wholly took place online, pitted five exceptional contestants against one another who were chosen out of more than 100 sherry cocktail entries. The two runner-ups received $1,500 and $500 respectively.

Vinos de Jerez Sherry Wines – Photo from Facebook

The Sherry Amateur Mixology Challenge teamed up with VinePair to promote and educate consumers on all things sherry as well as showcase the versatility of the fortified wine through cocktails. Three expert judges, esteemed mixologist Shannon Mustipher, sherry educator Chantal Tseng and VinePair founder Adam Teeter, scored the cocktails based on a number of factors including creativity, flavor balance and their use and knowledge of their chosen sherry. Jen’s Otoño Fizz was a standout amongst the competition, utilizing Fino Sherry, Dussé VSOP, carrot cordial, lemon, Aquafaba and soda for an unforgettable and savory take on a fizz.

ABOUT SHERRY WINES

Sherry is a fortified wine which can only be produced in the “Sherry Triangle” – formed by the towns of Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa Maria, and Sanlucar de Barrameda in the province of Cadiz, south-western Spain. The Consejo Regulador’s role is to protect the Denomination of Origin (DO) Jerez-Xerex-Sherry and Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda, ensuring that no wine from any other geographical area is sold as Sherry wine. DO Jerez-Xerex-Sherry and Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda is the oldest DO in Spain, and has 2,800 wine-growers. Wine has been produced in the area since Roman times, and Sherry has been exported around the world since the 16th century.

ABOUT VINEPAIR

VinePair is the largest digital media company delivering accessible, entertaining, and inspiring content about drinks and the experiences you have with a glass in hand.

Why I Go Both Ways: Enjoying Wine and Spirits

June 19, 2020 by evebushman

When I first started drinking wine and decided to spend the time and money for further education and certification, I didn’t think about studying spirits as well. However, the course I wanted offered by WSET at the time, included both. (WSET stand for Wine and Spirits Education Trust. In the last few years they have split the two certifications, though they still go by the WSET name.)

L to R: Claudia Sheridan, Denise Lowe and Eve Bushman shortly after receiving out WSET pins in 2010.

It was in those classes that I got to spend time learning about a wide array of wines as well as spirits. It might have been where the bug for spirits bit me. If you were to talk to my husband he would say that his interest in single malt scotch was what swayed me. (He may be right as we cover more than one whisky event a year. That category alone includes his beloved single malt scotch as well as rye, bourbon and blended scotch whisky.)

Fast forward a few years and I found myself offered not only wine tasting opportunities but spirit tasting as well. There is one event that offers both wine and spirits, and in those my Contributing Editor Michael Perlis usually covers the wine while I do the spirits. It’s a bit different than wine tasting – the offered taste is smaller, you still sniff and taste, but spit all out as the alcohol levels are so much higher. With that said, I usually only make it halfway through a spirit tasting until my lips grow numb and I have to take a break.

From spirit tastings I moved into a little bit of mixology classes and started experimenting with making cocktails at home. We hit on a few favorites and have stuck with them over the years.

My husband, also a lover of both wine and spirits, started buying me gifts that the home bartender would need, and I returned the favor and found him some unique items as well. We now have travel kits, three or four shakers, different measures of “shot” glasses, bar spoons, single “rock” makers, simple syrup, brown sugar, sweet and dry vermouth, Amaro, Compari and other mixers, as well as a nice array of bitters, cherries, oranges, limes and lemons at any given time.

One friend, a fellow wine writer, asked me how I could like both wine and spirits. I found the question in and of itself to be peculiar, but answered anyway, I felt – and still do feel – that there are just as many discoveries in aromas and flavors in both. If you can detect things like fruit, nuts, botanicals, earth and wood in your wine you will be pleased to learn that some of the same aromas and flavors are in your spirits.

On hot days we often enjoy chilled Viognier, Chardonnay, Picpoul de Pinet, Sauvignon Blanc, sparkling…basically any white wine that we own. But, on some hot days we also have been known to enjoy a gin Martini, Moscow Mule, Aperol Spritz, Sazerac, Negroni, Margarita, Rob Roy, Old Fashioned or a Manhattan. Usually how it works is that we have a cocktail before (aperitif) or after (digestif) dinner, and a nice bottle of white wine with warm weather dishes such as salads, seafood, chicken and cheese plates. During the cooler days of fall and winter we often enjoy Rhônes and Bordeaux varietals with dinner, but still enjoy a cocktail before or after.

After our best meals, which usually means a beautiful sous vide filet and a red wine from our cellar, we often finish our evening not with a cocktail but with a nosing glass (aka a Glencairn) of one of our favorite single malt scotch whiskies. Then we linger over those flavors as well.

Now, how do you imbibe? Maybe it’s time to widen your taste profile a bit.

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 July 2017: Art Beyond the Glass 2017

April 21, 2020 by evebushman

L.A.’s Top Bartenders Celebrated “Six Years of Cocktails, Community and A Great Cause” during the sixth Art Beyond The Glass held at Los Globos in LA on June 25… Proceeds from ABTG VI will go to The Moth, the award-winning nonprofit that that celebrates the ability of stories to honor the diversity and commonality of human experience.

Thrilled to cover this unique event a second time, especially a chance to escape the heat at home, Los Globos was the perfect venue in the not too far off Silver Lake neighborhood.

Multiple stories, live music, food and tons of air conditioning kept guests happily scattered from bar to bar to bar for four fun-filled hours. (If you only have three minutes, you can view my slideshow of the event here.)

Bartenders, some dressed in 60s garb, some as medics and others just in tanks emblazoned with their bar’s names were almost as entertaining as the concoctions we tried that incorporated everything from gin to vodka, bitters, botanicals to fresh fruit.

I honestly think I tasted a cocktail from every bar, and when I thought one was so unique the next one I tried would prove to be even more incredible! These bartenders definitely raised the bar on expressing themselves via their exceptional mixology talents.

It was a lot to take in. And I was thankful for blogger Daniel Djang (now content manager for DiscoverLosAngeles.com) and bartender Zahra Bates (now a National Brand Ambassador for Courvoisier) for dreaming the whole thing up six years ago.

The List of Bartenders and Bars (at press time)

Aaron Polsky – Harvard & Stone

Adam Fournier – Faith & Flower

Alex Barbatsis – Esprit De Corps Hospitality

Alyson Iwamoto – Here’s Looking At You

Beau Du Bois – The Corner Door

Bethany Ham – Birds & Bees

Brittney Olsen – Hotel Figueroa

Chris Amirault – Otium

Christopher Day – Bar Tribute

Christina Russo – The Board Room

Chris Whelan – Hotel Figueroa

Dan McClary – Cannibal

Dan Sabo – Hotel Figueroa

Dee Ann Quinones – Commerson

Dustin Newsome – Bar Clacson, Slipper Clutch

Edwin Cruz – Winsome

Evan Charest – Patina Restaurant Group

Garrett McKechnie – Bar Mattachine

Greg Bryson – The Wallace

Jeremy Lake – Lost Property, Rosaline

Jodi Calderon – Normandie Club

John McGlothlin – Delilah

Kalani Ben – The Spare Room

Kim Stodel – Providence

Michael Lay – LONO

Peter Lloyd Jones – 1886

Ryan Wainwright – The Ponte

Sophia Oolie – The Freehand

Tobin Shea – Redbird

Yael Vengroff – The Spare Room

More About Art Beyond the Glass

Art Beyond the Glass (ABTG) is a special event that showcases the artistic pursuits of top bartenders when they’re not behind the stick. 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 nonprofit. The inaugural ABTG raised over $6000 for Inner-City Arts. In 2013, ABTG II raised $13,700 for Art Share L.A. ABTG III raised $18,000 for the Mural Conservancy to help restore one of the historic 1984 Olympic Freeway Murals. ABTG IV was the largest event to date and raised $20,000 for KCRW.

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 art. To fill this gap, Art Beyond the Glass was born.

By uniting the bar community, which gives back to the art community, Art Beyond the Glass helps to strengthen the community in which we live.

www.ArtBeyondtheGlass.com.

Follow Art Beyond the Glass on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtBeyondTheGlass | Twitter: @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, 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.

RIVIERA 31 AT SOFITEL LOS ANGELES AT BEVERLY HILLS UNVEILS ‘INDIAN SUMMER’ COCKTAIL COLLECTION

November 18, 2019 by evebushman

Los Angeles, CA – Riviera 31 at Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills has debuted a new cocktail menu inspired by the Angeleno lifestyle surrounding health and wellness.

Riviera

Director of Nightlife Aidan Demarest, who joined the Sofitel team in August 2019, has curated a limited-edition cocktail collection designed to cure the summer hangovers and embody the health-conscious City of Stars. In a town where there is no shortage of gluten-free, vegan and clean-eating spots, Demarest has introduced his first cocktail menu for the property entitled ‘Indian Summer.’

Comprising seven drinks, the menu offers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic sips perfect for a pre-holiday cleanse or Awards Season preparation. Demarest combines unique flavors with holistic ingredients that aim to wow the taste buds while leaving guests feeling refreshed. With innovative names such as “Tulum Bounceback” and “Yoga Deck,” visitors can work up a sweat on the dance floor and detox at the bar.

“My intention with this new cocktail collection was to pair our mixology experience with our vibrant eclectic world music program while keeping it clean and sexy. Using fall inspired earthly ingredients in light and fresh recipes, I created these cocktails to end the summer season and embrace fall on a health conscious note,” said Demarest.

The cocktail menu is made with fresh juice and his very own simple syrup made in house. ‘The Enlightenment’ ($20) is light and tangy using vodka, pomegranate juice, lemon and elderflower liquor topped with sparkling wine. For kombucha lovers, the menu’s reimagined Paloma ($20) will become their new go-to drink, combining blanco tequila, grapefruit juice, habanero and kombucha. For those looking for an elevated mocktail, the ‘Puff Down’ ($15) intends to detox with key ingredients like turmeric ginger syrup and lemon juice.

The West Hollywood watering hole has become a favorite among locals, visitors and celebrities looking for nonstop entertainment and handcrafted mixology. From the hotspot’s iconic Jazz Eclectic Nights every Monday to energetic Salsa Nights each Wednesday, there is constant fun and play at Riviera 31.

For more information on Riviera 31, visit https://www.esterelrestaurant.com/riviera-31

About Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is a stunning hotel in LA offering elegant luxury accommodations and dramatic decor with an ambiance that combines see-and-be-seen excitement and the calm of an urban resort. Ideally situated on the corner of La Cienega and Beverly Boulevard, opposite the Beverly Shopping Center, this West Hollywood hotel is conveniently located near Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Rodeo Drive, Melrose Avenue, and Sunset Boulevard. Discover a unique blend of French fashion mixed with Hollywood glamour at this elegant hotel offering 295 rooms on 10 floors including 28 suites all featuring Sofitel’s luxurious feather top and state-of-the-art technology. Make the most of Sofitel Los Angeles’s numerous onsite amenities from the 2,500-square-foot gym SoFIT to the French cosmetology SoSpa and the Celebrity Hair Salon LeSalon. Have breakfast at our farm-to-table breakfast restaurant Esterel, join us for lunch or dinner at Cattle & Claw, our burgers and lobster SoCal Eatery and finish the night at Riviera 31 Lounge Bar for a night of breathtaking live music and unforgettable cocktails.

www.sofitel-los-angeles.comAbout Riviera 31
Riviera 31 at Sofitel Los Angeles in Beverly Hills is a sophisticated cocktail lounge that offers a sensual baroque take on flowers and their mystery and elegance, where the cozy ruby red and blue velvet sofas invite to lounge on under the gold Rococo ceiling. From legendary Jazz nights, Salsa Nights and DJ events, Riviera 31 hosts the best entertainment nights in town! Celebrities from Cara Delevingne to Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds and Kourtney Kardashian and Amber Heard have been spotted! Enjoy cocktails, tapas and communal plates that takes visitors on an epicurean journey through French coastal cuisine.

Shaker & Spoon Cocktail Club Ranked #1

May 12, 2019 by evebushman

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PRWEB) – Shaker & Spoon Cocktail Club, a monthly cocktail subscription box, has been voted #1 Best Food Subscription Box in the 2019 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards—beating out several significantly larger companies (such as Winc, Graze, and Try the World) for the distinction. These esteemed awards give readers the chance to vote for the candidate of their choice, from 20 top nominees selected by teams of local experts in cities across the US. The various contests cover food, lodging, destinations, travel gear, things to do, and more.

“I’m blown away that we won given how many large and well-established companies were nominated,” said Mike Milyavsky, Founder & CEO of Shaker & Spoon. “We hope it speaks to the thought and care we put into our boxes each month, and the level of customer service we provide, to have had so many people vote for us!”

About Shaker & Spoon

Shaker & Spoon—founded in October 2015 in Brooklyn, NY, and featured in prominent outlets such as Buzzfeed, Business Insider, and Forbes—brings the craft cocktail experience into the home sphere, spreading mixology know-how to all those who’ve always wanted to learn. Their subscription service not only introduces new techniques and interesting flavor combinations, but drives the knowledge home by allowing for practice—all with the convenience of getting all of the unique and difficult-to-find cocktail ingredients, in just the right amounts, in one complete package. Each month, subscribers receive a box with three new, unique recipes developed by world-class bartenders, along with everything they need to make at least 12 drinks (4 from each recipe), other than the alcohol. Shaker & Spoon produces their own house-made specialty syrups and bitters blends while aiming to source the best of everything else. Subscribers add the liquor themselves, according to their budget and preferred brands, which allows the monthly boxes to ship via regular mail and to all 50 states plus Puerto Rico—without requiring a signature. ($50 for a month-to-month subscription, $135 for 3-month prepay, $250 for 6-month, and $480 for 12-month, with the option to skip or cancel at any time.) Shaker & Spoon also provides supplemental content for those who want a deeper dive, including how-to videos, a glossary of mixology terms, themed cocktail hour playlists, and a blog featuring tips and tricks, food pairings, bartender interviews, and more.

For more information on Shaker & Spoon, please visit shakerandspoon.com

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Tio Pepe Challenge U.S. Winner Announced – The U.S. Representative will Head to Jerez to Compete in the 2019 International Final

May 6, 2019 by evebushman

CHICAGO (PRWEB) – The results are in and Javier Ortega Diaz from Libertine Social in Las Vegas, NV is heading to Jerez, Spain to compete on behalf of the U.S. in the Tío Pepe Challenge International Final. This is the second time that the Tío Pepe Challenge took place in the U.S.

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. Javier competed against five other bartenders from around the U.S. on Tuesday, April 9 at Osamil Upstairs in New York City. The six competitors had to test their knowledge of Sherry through a blind tasting, showcase their use of a venencia (the tool traditionally used to extract Sherry from the barrel), and finally, to create a cocktail mixed with a González Byass Sherry.

The judges, which included González Byass Master Blender Antonio Flores, Tasting Panel writer Courtney Schiessel and González Byass Brand Ambassador Alvaro Plata, judged on all three aspects and selected Javier based on the creativity of using Tío Pepe in his cocktail and the knowledge and skill displayed.

Javier will go on to compete at the International Final, which will be held on May 15, 2019 during the world-famous Feria de Jerez. The top 15 bartenders from around the world, who have created the best Sherry cocktail recipes, will compete and battle it out live in front of a panel of renowned, international experts.

Due to the increased popularity behind the Sherry Revolution, 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.

In addition to Javier, the other five competitors in the 2019 U.S. Tío Pepe Challenge were: Tiana Dillard from Ford Fry Restaurants in Atlanta; Joshua Fossitt from Hospitality 201 in Chicago; Alexander Lazzari from Biltong Bar in Atlanta; Patrick McDonald from Chaval in Portland, ME; and Carlie Steiner from Himitsu in Washington, DC.

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

Winning Cocktail:
Sophia by Javier Ortega Diaz from Libertine Social in Las Vegas, NV

2 oz. Tio Pepe Fino Sherry
¾ oz. Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
½ oz. Freshly squeezed lime juice
½ oz. Homemade kumquat, rosemary and thyme syrup
1 oz. Homemade sparkling hibiscus water

Add all the ingredients together except the hibiscus water. Shake and double strain in to a wine glass fill with ice. Top with hibiscus sparkling water. Garnish with sliced kumquats, rosemary, thyme and edible flowers.

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, Austria and the US.

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. 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), Cavas Vilarnau (Barcelona), Finca Constancia (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla), Finca Moncloa (Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz), Viñas del Vero (Somontano) and Pazo 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 compliment 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, from Italy Caldora, Cantine Cellaro, Vesevo, Vigneti Del Salento and Tenute Rossetti, and from the US Row Eleven. In addition, Harveys Bristol Cream and Fundador Brandy de Jerez were recently added to the portfolio.

Learn more at http://www.gonzalezbyassusa.com.