Dizzy Recap: The Dizzy Fizz Holiday Puncheon!

“If you'd know when you've enough - Of the punch and the claret cup - It's time to quit the blessed stuff - When you fall down and can't get up”--Unknown

Blessed stuff indeed, and thanks to all who made The Dizzy Fizz Holiday Puncheon an unforgettable evening!

On Sunday December 20, 2009, I was pleased as punch to ring in the holidays in style with a plaid-fashioned punch party at The Summit Bar, 133 Avenue C. This invite-only event gathered more than 100 of the city’s top mixologists and bar industry professionals, cocktail bloggers, lovely friends, as well as some internationally-recognized master mixologists. The Puncheon not only celebrated the holiday season, but was also  my way of toasting the six-month mark for TheDizzyFizz.com as I approached 20,000 views--thanks for your support!

The Puncheon, named for the speakeasy that preceded the '21' Club some 80 years ago, featured seven punches created by members of the USBGNY (United States Bartending Guild of New York), LUPECNYC (NYC Chapter of the Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails), and The Summit Bar’s staff. Punches featured sponsored ingredients including: Plymouth Gin, Bols Genever, Ron Zacapa 23 Aged Rum, Bulleit Bourbon, Partida Tequila, Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky, 10 Cane Rum, Martini & Rossi Prosecco, Gran Marnier Liqueur, Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur, Benedictine Liqueur, Chartreuse, and Averna Sambuca Agrumi.

Author/illustrator Jill DeGroff, and her husband, master mixologist Dale “King Cocktail” DeGroff, were featured guests. Jill DeGroff signed copies of her new book, “Lush Life: Portraits from Behind the Bar,” for party guests, courtesy of Chartreuse. Brian Van Flandern, a Michelin three-star mixologist, consultant to Chef Thomas Keller of Per Se, and author of “Vintage Cocktails,” and John Myers, cocktail historian, mixologist, and author of the upcoming "What Would Jesus Drink: Cocktails for the Second Coming" were also in attendance.

LUPEC bartender Jane Elkins’ punch, “The Redhead,” won the most applause and bragging rights as the crowd favorite. The punch included sage-infused Barenjager Honey Liqueur, Yamazaki 12 Year Whisky, Bulleit Bourbon, rooibos tea, ginger syrup, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and Fee Bros. Whiskey Barrel-Aged Bitters.

For the complete list of recipes, see the "Events" page. I can't thank the participating bartenders enough: Greg Seider of The Summit Bar, Frank Cisneros of Bar Celona and Prime Meats (USBGNY), John Pomeroy of The Hideout (USBGNY), Jane Elkins of Rye House (LUPEC), Lynnette Marrero of Rye House (LUPEC), Elayne Duke, mixologist for Diageo (LUPEC), Kelley Slagle of Hearth (LUPEC), and Katie Darling of White Star (LUPEC).

Special thanks to Jill and Dale DeGroff for driving through the snow to make the event, to Katie Darling and Tal Nadari of Bols Genever for letting us use their gorgeous punch bowls, to Lush Life Productions for their amazing photography (see the full reel here!) and for providing the yummy cheese and fruit platters, to Hamid Rashidzada of The Summit Bar for organizing an extremely professional staff, to my lovely door host, Chaya Wilkins, and to everyone who made it out on a cold Sunday night--I know you all could have just stayed home in your PJs. Thanks for getting punched in the mouth with me, let's do it again soon!

(Click on the photos to enlarge:)

Elsewhere in the Liquiverse...

• Two artisanal gin distilleries are coming to Brooklyn: New York Distilling Co. is underway near McCarren Park and Breuckelen Distilling Co. is taking over a renovated warehouse in Sunset Park.
• West Village Scottish bar Highlands is expected to reopen tonight after a small fire.
• Hot buttered rum (recipes here, here, and here) and cold buttered rum (recipes here and here) are everywhere this holiday season.
• Harlem, a new herbal liqueur with mandarin notes, hits NYC.
• 67 Orange, a speakeasy in Harlem, celebrates its one-year anniversary.
• Darcy O'Neil, of The Art of Drink blog, has published his first eBook, "Fix the Pumps," which researches phosphate sodas and includes 450 Pre-Prohibition soda recipes.
• On Saturday, Astor Center is hosting a holiday spirits bazaar, with tastings. Admission is $20 in advance; $25 at the door.
• Chantal Martineau of the Village Voice shares some details on the Junior Merino Liquid Lab experience. I went a couple of months ago, and it is a must for any NYC cocktailian.

Elsewhere in the Liquiverse...

• The Meatpacking District isn't just a place to chug bottles of Goose and Patron. Take your next date or out-of-town visitor on this romantic walking tour for an alluring look at the cobblestone zone. (Yep, by yours truly)
• Harlem speakeasy 67 Orange celebrates its one-year anniversary tonight. They are celebrating with $5 shots and introducing a new cocktail menu. Try the "Almack's," with Batavia Arrack, Lillet Blanc, Velvet Falernum, Allspice Dram, and muddled grapes. 8 to 10 p.m., 2082 Frederick Douglas Blvd.
• A look at Williamsburg's new rum bar, Roneria Caracas, in the Village Voice. (Again, by yours truly)
• The New York Times recommends Underberg bitters to combat holiday overindulgence, and apparently Prime Meats in Cobble Hill sells more of the German bitters than any other place in the country.
• Jim Meehan shows off his $660 bartender's bag for Metromix.
• On Dec. 16, The Metropolitan Opera is collaborating with mixologist Allen Katz to hold a cocktail competition. A group of NYC bartenders were recently invited to see a dress rehearsal of Tales of Hoffmann, which opens with the title character in a tavern, reflecting on past loves. Joaquin Simo (Death & Co.), Lynnette Marrero (Rye House), Meaghan Dorman (Raines Law Room), Leo Robitschek (Eleven Madison Park), Ryan McGrale (Flatiron Lounge), Brad Farran (Clover Club), and James Menite (Porter House) will be competing to create cocktails inspired by the production.
• The Magnificent Bastard is hosting a cocktail competition in search of the next classic cocktail. Bartenders have until Jan. 31 to submit recipes, and the winner will receive a $500 gift certificate to KegWorks.

Elsewhere in the Liquiverse...

"I think we've fetishized the cocktail."--Audrey Saunders to LA Weekly

• Those Londoners know what's up--next month, look for a giant punch bowl big enough to paddle a boat in at 33 Portland Place. The winning punch recipe will soon be announced by artists Bompas & Parr, collaborating with Courvoisier.
• More good news for LA's cocktail scene--which is yet to be "fetishized," according to Audrey Saunders, who will help open The Tar Pit there on Dec. 7.
• Death & Co. rolled out a new menu last night. Details to come...
• Feeling a November chill? Warm up by checking out AMountainofCrushedIce's best-of tiki drinks from the days of Don the Beachcomber.
• Traveling bartenders will soon be able to lug their tools in a luxury leather bar bag designed by Jim Meehan of PDT for leather crafters Moore & Giles. Good thing bartenders make bank because these puppies are going for $740 a pop.
• Apple brandy is the apple of the bartender's eye these days, according to the SF Chronicle. Rickhouse's "Scottish Breakfast" with Germain-Robin Apple Brandy and Glenrothes Select Reserve sounds like a winner!

Exclusive! Rye House to Open Tuesday

Drinking options around Union Square are about to significantly improve as all-American gastropub Rye House soft-opens this weekend before fully opening on Tuesday. Located at 11 W. 17th St., between 5th and 6th Aves., just down the street from cocktail lounge Raines Law Room, Rye House emphasizes American food and spirits.

 I attended a super-soft opening last night and sampled an Appleseed Cobbler cocktail (Maker’s Mark bourbon, Applejack, cinnamon bark syrup, apples) and Chef Greg Johnson's phenomenal buffalo sweetbreads paired with a Nectar IPA. Prepared in the style of buffalo wings and served with blue cheese and celery, the spicy, crunchy breading complemented the tender, creamy offal perfectly and made for a playful bar plate.

Owners Mike Janetta and Rob Lombardi (Sala Bowery and Sala 19) and Julio Herencia teamed up with Lynnette Marrerro (Zacapa Rum, Eletteria, Freemans, drinksat6) and Jim Kearns (Freemans, Mayahuel, Pegu Club) to develop the cocktail program. Lynette and Jim previously worked together to create the cocktail menu at now-closed Woodson & Ford. There's also a selection of domestic craft beers on tap and domestic wines. The long white granite bar with antique shelves is packed with a selection brown spirits, especially micro-distilled/artisanal whiskies and bourbons.

"We wanted to use small-batch American spirits," said Lynnette. "Every drink had to have an ounce or more of an American spirit. The drinks are American twists on classics. Some, like the Creole Daiquiri, show the best of American fusion. We wanted to have a seasonal julep since it is the quintessential American whisky drink."

Plates by Chef Greg and Ann McKinney, chef de cuisine, include drunken mussels with wheat beer and tarragon, crayfish po' boys, beef wellington sandwiches with filet mignon and foie gras on brioche, baby chicken with buttermilk spoonbread, and stout BBQ ribs. Rye House has a front bar area with plenty of seats at the bar as well as two long, farmhouse-style communal tables, and additional communal seating and booths in the back. The decor is a mix of rustic Americana with clean, modern lines, and dim, romantic lighting. I look forward to returning again soon!

The hotly-anticipated cocktail menu here:

The Mansfield: Bluecoat gin or Tito’s vodka, Dolin blanc, yellow Chartreuse, grapefruit bitters ($12) 17^th St. Sazerac: Rittenhouse rye, Hine cognac, demerara, Peychaud & Angostura bitters, Marteau absinthe ($12) Fleur de Lis: Aviation gin, St-Germain, lemon, orange bitters, champagne ($12) Orange Blossom Special: Overholt Rye, lemon, simple, orange flower water, egg white, soda ($12) Golden Delicious: Applejack 7½ year, lemon, honey syrup ($12) Clara Bow: Bulleit Bourbon, St.-Germain, house made grenadine, lemon, mint ($12) Rye House Punch: Chai-infused Rittenhouse Rye, Batavia Arrack, lemon, grapefruit, angostura bitters, soda ($12) American  Highball: Buffalo Trace, Averna, soda, orange slice ($12) Appleseed Cobbler: Maker’s Mark bourbon, Applejack, cinnamon bark syrup, apples ($12) Rye House Julep: Peach-infused Death's Door white whiskey, Applejack, mint ($13) Creole Daiquiri: Old New Orleans 3 year rum, chorizo-infused Sombre Mezcal, lime, pomegranate molasses, cane syrup ($13)

Rye House, 11 W. 17th St. (212) 255-7260. The bar is open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, dinner is served until 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and until 12 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Lunch service will begin on Nov. 19 and brunch will start on Nov. 28.

Elsewhere in the Liquiverse...

• Have out-of-town guests arriving in NYC for the holidays? Be sure to steer them to these swanky new New York hotel bars.
• LeNell Smothers, who writes for Slashfood as "LeNellItAll," shares her easy "Spa Mix" recipe to make any drink as cool as a cucumber.
• Harlem speakeasy 67 Orange Street is hosting a Partida cocktail tasting from 7:30 to 9pm on Tuesday, Nov. 17. 2082 Frederick Douglas Blvd., 212-662-2030
• Pernod Absinthe is holding an art contest, "Creator Of," asking for submissions of paintings, illustrations, photography, video, and digital/animation featuring the date "1805," the year Pernod was born. The first-place winner will receive $1,805; second and third prizes are $500 and $250, respectively. Deadline is Jan. 31.

CLARIFICATION: Jane Lobby Bar Reopened; Ballroom 2-3 Weeks Out

My sincere apologies for having jumped the gun, but the Jane Ballroom is not open just yet--the Jane's Lobby Bar, after a month-long closure, opened Monday, while the ballroom will reopen in two or three weeks. I guess the neighbors can rejoice in silence a little longer. Rest assured that I'll be one of the first to know when the ballroom is back in full swing. Until then, show the Jane staff some love and get your Pimm's Cup fix at the front bar.

Breaking News: The Jane Ballroom to reopen TONIGHT!

That's right, I have the inside dish from a reliable source that The Jane Ballroom will reopen tonight! Following last month's outcry from crotchety neighbors, a variety of city authorities temporarily shut down the ballroom over some pesky violations (outdated certificate of occupancy, sprinklers not up to code, etc.), and rumors spread that the posh, celebrity-approved hotel cocktail lounge might not reopen for weeks. Well, never underestimate the operation management skills of a Sean MacPherson-owned hotel--get dressed and back in line, kids.

Elsewhere in the Liquiverse...

• Lush Life Productions, in partnership with APPSolute Media, Don Q Rum, and Tito's Handmade Vodka, recently launched a free iPhone app, "Happy Houred." Just a few swipes of the fingers and you'll know which bars are having cheap drinking hours near you, in whichever U.S. city you may be. You can even add your own reviews of the bars and drinks.
• Have you seen that article on VillageVoice.com about where New York mixologists drink during their off hours? (Yes, I wrote it. I know, shameless.)
• Or how about that round-up of last-minute Halloween and Day of the Dead events in NYC? (Again, I am shameless.)
• Nation's Restaurant News looks at the popularity of the atomizer as a mixology tool.
• Bols is putting on an awesome-sounding contest, "Bols Around the World Shaking Twenties Competition." Working bartenders are invited to submit cocktail recipes inspired by the Roaring 20s. David Wondrich will choose one North American finalist to go to Amsterdam and compete with five other talented bartenders representing Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and South America. The grand prize winner will win the opportunity to design and create his or her own signature Bols liqueur in Amsterdam with a Bols product developer. Deadline is Nov. 30.

Elsewhere in the Liquiverse...

• Following the success of this summer's Jazz Age Lawn Party, Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra are throwing one last 1920's-themed bash for the year on Governor's Island, featuring St-Germain cocktails. Sunday, Sept. 27, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $5.
• Red Hook's Fort Defiance is temporarily closed due to some technical difficulties. Keep an eye on the website for the reopening, which will involve a new food menu.
• Domain de Canton is accepting recipes using its ginger liqueur for its 2010 Bartender of the Year competition, which holds its final round in St. Martin and awards $10,000. The 2009 winner was John Lermayer of The Florida Room in Miami. Deadline is Sept. 30.
• New iPhone Apps for Drinkers: F. Paul Pacult’s iWhiskey puts 600-plus whiskey reviews in your pocket for only $10.99, and Nirvino's Wine Ratings Guide offers 1 million wine reviews for $1.99.

Ben Scorah, GQ's New York Bartender of the Year, Places in Vegas Finals

We're a bit spoiled here in NYC--we have many of the best bartenders in the country serving many of the best cocktails in the country. So although New York really has nothing to prove, it's always nice to see one of our own go head to head with the top slingers in the land.

Earlier this week, Ben Scorah, mixologist and managing partner of Bar & Books, was sent to The Palms at Las Vegas to compete in the "Most Inspired Bartender" competition sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin and GQ. Ben took the New York title at STK two weeks prior, where his "Vienna Cocktail" beat more than a dozen competitors. He will appear in GQ's November issue, along with 40 others from across the U.S. who were selected to go to Vegas. There, Ben made it to the top 10 final found, meaning that he will also appear in GQ's December issue. However, the top prize went to Christian Sanders of The Living Room at the W Hotel in Miami. Christian's "Green Sour Hour," containing celery juice, dill paste, and Himalayan black salt won over the judges:  Bacardi’s Giles Woodyer; Bombay Sapphire's Global Mixologist, Merlin Griffiths; Style Correspondent Brett Fahlgren, for GQ magazine; and world-renowned mixologist, Tony Abou-Ganim.

Nonetheless, I tried Ben's "Vienna Cocktail" at Beekman last week, and I found it a "most inspiring" take on the Negroni, so cheers to him for taking it all the way to Vegas. Here's the recipe:

1 1/2 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin 1/2 oz. blood orange juice 3/4 oz. Aperol 1/2 oz. sweet vermouth (Carpano Antica) 1/2 oz. simple syrup

Shake and serve up in a chilled cocktail glass with a flamed blood orange zest and a spritz of Zirbenz Stone Pine liqueur.

UK's Cold-Distilled Oxley Gin Hits NYC

“The proper union of gin and vermouth is a great and sudden glory; it is one of the happiest marriages on earth, and one of the shortest lived.”--Bernard De Voto

There's a new premium gin in town, but for now, you'll only find it at a select few NYC bars. All three Bar & Books (Hudson, Lexington, and Beekman) plus Double Crown are now carrying Oxley Gin from the makers of Bacardi and Bombay Sapphire. A limited-batch London Dry Gin (although the label says "Classic English Dry Gin"), the 47% abv gin is made in the Thames Distillery in Clapham, London, and uses sub-zero temperatures to preserve the natural essences of its 14 different botanical ingredients. It's the first cold-distilled spirit.

Macerated grains are spooned by hand into a kettle, but instead of being heated, the alcohol is made to vaporize at -5ºC by a vacuum that removes pressure within the still. The vapor then passes through a colder probe at -100ºC, where it turns back into a liquid. Only 240 bottles are being produced per day, four days per week, and each bottle includes a batch number and comes with a galvanized tin bucket.

I was fortunate to try Oxley on its own and as a martini at Beekman Bar & Books last night, and it's really a lovely spirit with a mild juniper and grapefruit bouquet that finishes smooth. In a martini, Oxley is an excellent choice--just a dash of sweet vermouth, a twist of lemon or grapefruit, and all will be right in no time. Oxley launched in L.A. in June where it's retailing for $53.99, so I'm not sure whether I missed the NYC launch or it hasn't happened yet. Either way, stay tuned, and I hope you get to try this unique spirit soon!

Tickets & Details Announced for The Manhattan Cocktail Classic

I just received the press release announcing the schedule for The Manhattan Cocktail Classic:

NEW YORK, August 20, 2009—The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, New York City’s first-ever multi-day celebration of all things cocktail-related, today announced the details of its Fall Preview seminar series, which will take place during the day on October 3-4, 2009, at Astor Center in New York City. The seminars will be led by members of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic Advisory Board, which includes legendary mixologists, cocktail historians, spirits critics and writers, and speak-easy impresarios. Each seminar will be individually ticketed for $50, available through the website at www.manhattancocktailclassic.com beginning on September 7, 2009.

“I am very excited about the topics we have lined up for the Fall Preview,” said Lesley Townsend, Founder and Director of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic. “It’s an unbelievable honor to have our Advisory Board members kicking off our event in this regard. Our hope is that this series will inspire the rest of the spirits and cocktail community to come forth with their own ideas for presentations for the first annual event in May of 2010.”

The seminar schedule is as follows:

Saturday, October 3, 2009

“Have Cocktail Shaker, Will Travel” with Charlotte Voisey & Simon Ford: Once the last legal cocktail was served on the eve of Prohibition in New York City, things would never be the same again. ‘Have cocktail shaker, will travel’ was the mindset of many a passionate barkeep in the 1920s when their craftsmanship turned criminal. Join Charlotte Voisey, Simon Ford, and other assorted friends for a jovial discussion on how New York has been influencing cocktail culture around the world for many years. Liquid refreshments will be served.

“Cocktails for Your Home Cocktail Party” with Sasha Petraske: Famed (and oft-elusive) owner and proprietor of Milk and Honey, Sasha Petraske will demonstrate the basics of creating cocktails in the home. He will go over how to set up and stock home bars of varying degrees of seriousness, as well as cover different scenarios of cocktail entertaining – from temporarily taking over your friend’s kitchen for a house party, to grabbing the reins at a fully-equipped bar. And of course, Sasha will teach you how to prepare some basic, ever-pleasing libations for these occasions. Participants will leave armed with a no-fail recipe list and a short set of directions for preparing basic cocktails with block ice and fresh juices.

“The Agave Session: The Magical Elixirs of Mexico” with Steve Olson and Special Guests: There is a heritage and culture associated with Tequila and Mezcal that dates back well over a thousand years, when the agave plant – also known as the maguey – was utilized by Mexico’s native peoples for virtually everything: from food and drink, to sugar, to shoes, soap, building supplies, and even medicine. Join us for an exciting tasting of this exotic elixir, each by artisan producers, as we pay homage to the heritage, history and culture of Mexico’s national spirit. It is also likely that agave-based libations will be consumed.

“The Many Faces of Cognac & Armagnac” with Julie Reiner, Charlotte Voisey & F. Paul Pacult: This one-time-only, comprehensive seminar joins celebrated master mixologists Julie Reiner and Charlotte Voisey with America’s spirits guru F. Paul Pacult on an extraordinary excursion deep into France's legendary AOC grape brandies, Cognac and Armagnac. Participants will first be taken on a guided tour of tasting a half-dozen remarkable brandies to see how these distilled and oak-matured cousins compare and contrast. Then, they will be treated to a Cognac cocktail, made by Julie, and an Armagnac cocktail, made by Charlotte. A rare opportunity to spend 90 minutes with three of America's most engaging spirits and cocktail personalities.

“History of the Cocktail in New York, 1810-1920” with Dave Wondrich: Among all the classes of American mixed drinks—the Cobblers, Sours, Fizzes, Coolers, Juleps and all the rest—the Cocktail stands as first among equals. If there’s something about a quick jolt of ice-cold, mixed-up boozy deliciousness that’s essentially American, then it’s quintessentially New York. And indeed, while many other cities have made key contributions to the Cocktail’s development, none has done so much as to shape it as Gotham. This seminar will attempt to track the interventions the city’s mixologists made in the idea of the Cocktail during the 110-odd years between its first documented appearance here and Prohibition. Liquid exhibits will be served.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

“Audrey and Gary’s Unparalleled Gin Palaver” with Audrey Saunders & Gary Regan: Audrey Saunders, Libation Goddess from New York’s Pegu Club, and perhaps the bartender most responsible for the resurgence of gin in the 21st century, will join Gary “gaz” Regan, author of The Joy of Mixology (2003) and The Bartender’s Gin Compendium (Fall 2009), to present gin-based cocktails, old, new, borrowed, and, well, you get the picture. They will wax lyrical on all things juniper; they will pontificate endlessly about the attributes of the Martini and of the MarTEAni, and they will display the splendor of cocktails made with dry gin, genever, Plymouth gin, and a most peculiar Old Tom. It’s probable that Saunders and Regan will flirt shamelessly throughout the workshop. The throwing of rotting fruit or vegetables will not be permitted.

“Glasses & Tools: How Do You Choose the Right Glass for a Drink?” with Dale DeGroff:  The choice of glass can mean the difference between a successful and elegant drink, or a glass of booze. In a commercial operation, the choice of glass can impact dramatically on the bottom line. At the home bar, the choice of glass can have an impact on the success of your cocktail party, and the well-being of your guests. Explore the classics with Dale DeGroff as he culls his glass collection to find the perfect glass for well-known classics and the tools to make them successfully.

“Call of the Rye” with Allen Katz: Ryes, Ryes my beloved, Meet me down by The Bowery. There will I give you my love. By history and culture, With song, per chance dance, A Savor to be kissed by kisses. O, my dear, come… Ryes at the day break. As the shadows enter over Astor. Awake. Inhale. O friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, O, beloved.

“Sherry: The Cobbler and Beyond” with Andy Seymour: Sherry has long played an important role in the world of mixology and has emerged in this new age of the cocktail more popular than ever. Join Master Mixologist and U.S. Sherry Ambassador Andy Seymour for a fascinating look at one of the world’s most cocktail (and food) friendly wines. Taste five of the finest Sherry, representing its many styles, and sample cocktails that show off Sherry’s traditional side and what it is up to today. Come ready to shake, as Andy will lead the group in building their own version of the Sherry cobbler!

About the Manhattan Cocktail Classic:

The Manhattan Cocktail Classic is New York City’s first ever multi-day event celebrating the history, contemporary culture, and artful craft of the cocktail. Part festival, part fête, part conference, part cocktail party, the Manhattan Cocktail Classic brings together the unparalleled talents and opportunities of the bars, bartenders, and restaurants of our great city for two days of activities, both educational and celebratory in nature, championing the common ideals of authenticity, equality, sustainability, service, and pleasure. (There will be some drinking involved, too.) For additional information, kindly visit http://www.manhattancocktailclassic.com .

And there you have it!

Elsewhere in the Liquiverse...

 

• Mixology icon and salty storyteller Gaz (aka Gary) Regan dishes wisdom on all things gin in his new 354-page book, The Bartender's Gin Compendium, available for online purchase now.
• Bearded James Beard Foundation award-winner David Wondrich poured Pre-Prohibition cocktails for Stephen Colbert and invented the Colbert Bump.
• Jonathan Pogash is reportedly working on the cocktail menu for the Empire Room, a new cocktail lounge set to open on the ground floor of the Empire State Building this fall.
• As of July 29, NYC has its own chapter of LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails). Lynnette Marrero of cocktail consulting and catering firm Drinks at 6, Eryn Reece of Louis 649, Meaghan Dorman of Raines Law Room, and Katie Darling of White Star are among the founding members.
• And if you are in the NYC area, the Fine Living Network is currently shooting a new reality series, "Bartender Wars," at a bar on the Lower East Side throughout the month. Want to be an extra and drink for free during the tapings? Email patroncasting@gmail.com with your name, age, number, recent photo, and desired meeting time.

Introducing: The Manhattan Cocktail Classic

"The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind."--Humphrey Bogart

Positive repercussions from Tales are already spilling over as New York cocktail enthusiasts rejoice over today's launch of The Manhattan Cocktail Classic. Spearheaded by Lesley Townsend (formerly of Astor Center), the event is officially planned for May to coincide with World Cocktail Week, but a preview event will be held Oct. 3-4 as well. Historical seminars, tastings, and parties are planned, and expected participants include the city's top cocktail and culinary talent. The announcement was quickly snatched up by the Diner's Journal in The New York Times, so it's clear this event will garner the attention it deserves. The idea of New York hosting its own cocktail fete apart from the ill-fitted New York Bar Show is really exciting!

Out & About: Upcoming Events

 

• Tuesday, June 9: Museum Mile, 6 to 9 p.m., Fifth Ave. between 82nd St. & 105th St. This year's 31st annual festival kicks off on the steps of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum with an opening ceremony at 5:45 p.m. at 89th St. & 5th Ave. Free.
• Tuesday, June 9: Yamazaki Single Malt tasting from 7 to 9 p.m. at Louis 649, 649 9th St. Grand Ambassador Gardner Dunn will be pouring the 12 year, 18 year, and a special rare bottling not yet available. Free.
• Thursday, June 11: Happy Hour from 5 to 6 p.m. at Hudson Terrace, 621 W. 46th St. Free well drinks, Bud, and Bud Light. Hosted by Metromix every Thursday this month, rsvp to metromix@hudsonterracenyc.com before 3 p.m. the day of. Free.
• Sunday, June 14 & Monday, June 15: The New York Bar Show, from noon to 6 p.m. both days at Jacob Javits Center, 38th St. & 11th Ave. More than 300 bar, nightclub, wine, and spirit exhibitors, as well as flair bartenders, cocktail contests, and demos by top mixologists will be on view. Tickets are $40 for the exhibition; $100 to attend world-class seminars.  
• The Highline is open!
• Also, if you were curious as to what went down at the Jazz Age Lawn Party (sadly, I didn't make it), Metromix has a stunning photo gallery of all the lovely vintage garb--sartorialists, indeed!

Elsewhere in the Liquiverse...

 

• In case you haven't seen it by now, The New York Times just caught on that speakeasy fever has swept the nation.
• David Wondrich offers his seven tips for not turning into a falling-down-drunk in Esquire.
• Eric Felten delves into The Gibson Martini's Western roots in The Wall Street Journal.
• And in the San Francisco Chronicle, Gary Regan finds the manliest rum drinks must be the strongest rum drinks.