On Sunday night, March 7, the top U.S. finalists in 42 Below's World Cup cocktail competition will throw down at the Ace Hotel in NYC. Special guest judges include Dale Degroff, Chef Sam Talbot, and founder of the Bartender’s Academy of New York, Charles Ohlbaum. Ten countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, China, Australia, Ireland, Germany, France and Italy are sending finalists to an extreme cocktail competition in New Zealand from March 23 to 28. This event is invite-only.
In honor of International Women's Day, the NYC chapter of LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails) will get behind the stick at Astor Center to mix up crafty cocktails featuring Compass Box Whisky. Five dollars from each $30 ticket will benefit Dress for Success, which provides professional work attire to disadvantaged women. Organized by Laren Spirer of Sweet Blog o' Mine, expect lots of #WomenWhisky tweeting to go with your tippling--also, men are more than welcome. Monday, March 8, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Purchase tickets here.
LUPEC NYC is also celebrating Rosie the Riveter's 90th birthday with cocktails featuring PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur at Rye House. Founding LUPEC members Lynnette Marrero and Eryn Reece will be slinging drinks, and LeNell Smothers is expected to make an appearance via Skype. RSVP here and tweet #rosietheriveter if you're cool like that. Tuesday, March 9, from 6 to 8 p.m.
And not that you need an excuse, but it's currently Martini Week in NYC through March 14, brought to you by Thrillist and Tasting Table. Specialty gin and vodka martinis are $10 at participating restaurants from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. nightly.
This Sunday, Jan. 31, NYC's cocktail community is coming together to raise money for the crisis in Haiti: "Hearts and Cocktails for Haiti" is asking for $40 (100% proceeds to American Red Cross' Haiti Relief) at the door. Attendees will enjoy a four-hour open bar from 6 to 10 p.m. with cocktails mixed by the USBGNY, LUPEC NYC, Jim Meehan of PDT, and Dale DeGroff, among others. Jill DeGroff will be donating sales of her book, "Lush Life: Portraits from the Bar," to the Haiti fund. This event, organized by Leblon Cachaca's Ray Raymond (of Haitian descent) and Dave Catania of Team Spirits Imports, takes place at Bar Celona. 104 S. 4th St., Brooklyn.
On Feb. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m., The Summit Bar is hosting a special tasting event, "Shaken, Stirred, and Straight," featuring Compass Box whiskey's Robin Robinson and St-Germain's Phil Pepperdine. Tastings will be free and featured cocktails will be just $6. 133 Ave. C.
Also on Feb. 2, don't miss Jason Littrell's initial run as bartender at Louis 649's Tuesday Night Tastings. While the tasting goes from 7 to 9 p.m., Jason will start shaking from from 10 p.m. 'til lord-knows-when. Already dubbed "Groundhog Day Massacre," this is guaranteed to be a scene not for the weak of liver.
NYC cocktail enthusiasts have until Feb. 5 to submit aphrodisiac cocktail recipes featuring Bacardi Rum for the "Love Potion Cocktail Challenge" taking place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 9. In case you missed the memo, the first place winner (judged by Dale DeGroff) wins $250 smackers, and the event has been moved to Havana Central Times Square, 151 W. 46th St. Send entries to: LovePotion@havanacentral.com
Quite possibly the most awesome cocktail competition ever, the 6th Annual "Cocktail World Cup," presented by 42 Below and the U.S. Bartending Guild, is accepting entries through Feb. 8. The top three bartenders chosen for the U.S. team will join finalists in New Zealand for challenges such as mixing drinks while bungee jumping and riding in jet boats [looking forward to seeing video of that!]. Oh, and Dale DeGroff and Jim Meehan will be judging in New Zealand, too--those guys have all the fun! Enter the contest here.
And it's already time to start thinking about the most spirited event of the summer, Tales of the Cocktail--find instructions for entering the official Tales cocktail contest here. Entrants are challenged to create a drink inspired by the famous "Planter's Punch" that will impress judge Jeff "Beachbum" Berry. The drink must include at least one sponsored ingredient, and should consist of at least a rum, citrus, and sweetener. The deadline is Feb. 22.
