Spirited Cocktails » Events

MCC 2011 – British Invasion at Eleven Madison Park

Josh — Fri, 27 May 2011 20:22:32 +0000

Simon Ford of Pernod Ricard and Will Guidara of Eleven Madison Park with the British Invasion Crew

I know – finally. This post is long overdue, but you know what they say: save the best for last.

On the Sunday of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, the British Invasion event was held at Eleven Madison Park. The event was sponsored by the gin portfolio of Pernod Ricard (Beefeater, Beefeater 24 and Plymouth), and featured classic gin cocktails including the Pimm’s Cup, the Tom Collins, the South Side, and the Negroni. To accompany these delicious gin cocktails? Fish and Chips a la Eleven Madison Park (which is to say, the best fish and chips you’ve ever had). All this, served al fresco on the patio of the restaurant opposite Madison Square Park, with The Crooners (regulars at Eleven Madison Park) playing through the Beatles catalog. What could possibly be bad?
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MCC 2011 – Behind The Bar: Painkiller

Josh — Wed, 18 May 2011 14:28:22 +0000

In some fit of insanity while planning my agenda for the 2011 Manhattan Cocktail Classic, I chose to schedule a Behind the Bar session at Painkiller early in the afternoon on the day following The Gala. As excited as I was to learn more about the bar that is leading the Tiki Revolution, I was dreading another drink so soon after the prior evening’s revelry; especially from a bartender as renowned for knocking his patrons on their asses as proprietor Giuseppe González. Fortunately, he was relatively kind!

Painkiller is located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and in its short life to-date (they just celebrated their one year anniversary earlier this month), it already has a reputation. Ask anyone who has been there about their Painkiller experience and more likely than not, they remember simply that they enjoyed it; not much else! But Painkiller has also established their reputation as a world-class cocktail bar, particularly in the tiki style. Not a surprise, given the pedigree of owning partners Giuseppe González (Flatiron Lounge, Clover Club) and Richard Boccato (Little Branch, Dutch Kills).
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MCC 2011 – The Gala

Josh — Mon, 16 May 2011 22:31:31 +0000

Over the next few days, I’m going to walk through the events I attended this past weekend as part of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic. We’ll start at the beginning, of course, with the Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala.

For the second year in a row, the Manhattan Cocktail Classic kicked off in style with a lavish party at the main branch of the New York Public Library. The halls and hallways of this classic New York location were filled with liquor industry elite and fans alike, sharing in the delight of hundreds of different cocktails representing nearly every major spirit brand on the market. I will admit, though, having attended the gala two years in a row now, I have some mixed feelings about whether I’ll go back next year.
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Let the MCC Madness Begin!

Josh — Fri, 13 May 2011 14:08:05 +0000

Today kicks off the 2011 Manhattan Cocktail Classic! The long weekend begins with The Gala tonight at the New York Public Library. Hopefully you’ve got your tickets, because it’s sold out! It’s sure to be a night filled with crazy fashion, food, music, debauchery, and of course, amazing cocktails from pretty much every brand in the industry.

Here’s the list of the events I’ll be attending. Of course, I’ll also be trolling around the main bar at Astor Center, and probably popping my head in on a few other sessions. Tickets are still available for a number of sessions and events throughout the weekend. Let me know where you’ll be! I’ll be providing updates via Twitter (@cocktailspirit). I hope to see you there.

Cheers,
-Josh

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Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala Sold Out!

Josh — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:50:03 +0000

My good friend NY Barfly put it best: “Lushes – we are so proud of you.”

Tickets to Manhattan Cocktail Classic events are selling like hotcakes, as evidenced by the number of “Sold Out” tags on their tickets page. Even the huge Opening Night Gala event at the New York Public Library is sold out. Not to worry, though. There’s still lots of drinking to be done.

Among many other events, tickets are still available for the DonQ Rum 80′s Bash, Behind the Bar at Weather Up TriBeCa, The Sunset Cocktail Cruise, and one session in particular that I can’t recommend enthusiastically enough: Spirits in a Blind, or How Spirits Professionals Describe Spirits with Something other than “I like it.” This session is taught by Doug Frost and Steve Olson of the BAR (Beverage Alcohol Resource program). They will teach you more than you ever thought you could know about tasting booze. Do it.

Here’s my schedule so far. I plan on adding to it :-)

Cheers,
Josh

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Will you be at MCC 2011?

Josh — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:54:56 +0000

It’s that time again! The 2011 Manhattan Cocktail Classic is just around the corner, and tickets go on sale tomorrow – April 1, 2011 at noon Eastern time. The list of events this year is staggering, and I’m finding it nearly impossible to choose. But here are the events I know I’ll be attending for certain:
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The Holiday Spirits Bazaar

Josh — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:30:46 +0000

The holidays can be so stressful. Family obligations, end-of-year tasks, and of course, shopping. But the shopping needn’t be all about the lines and crowds and useless junk. It can be about booze, too.

If you’re in the NYC area, be sure to check out the first annual Holiday Spirits Bazaar, brought to you by one of our favorite cocktail divas, The Dizzy Fizz. The Bazaar will highlight some of the best (and tastiest!) brands and products in the spirits world, giving you an opportunity to sample the good stuff, and also pick up the best gift you can give to a friend or loved-one: booze.
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Mixology Monday – Black Market Manhattan

Josh — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:24:36 +0000

It’s been a while again, I know. But inspiration strikes, so I follow.

Today’s Mixology Monday is brought to you by one of our favorite people, Lindsey Johnson of Lush Life Productions. For this week’s MxMo, Lindsey has chosen the topic of her own blog, Brown, Bitter & Stirred. The criteria for participating posts? Cocktails that are, well, brown, bitter & stirred (the only criteria Lindsey chooses when ordering cocktails pretty much anywhere she goes.)

For my entry, I’ve chosen to share the Black Market Manhattan. It’s a simple cocktail, but with a twist on the classic recipe that creates some welcome complexity of flavor that’s sure to please.
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Tales of the Cocktail – Day 1 and Tasting Spirits with F. Paul Pacult

Josh — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:22:23 +0000

Well, the time has come again – Tales of the Cocktail! The annual New Orleans gathering of bartenders, spirit brands, enthusiasts, and even us lowly bloggers, where we taste, shake, talk and live the world of spirits and cocktail culture. It’s a pretty good time!

I arrived yesterday, and was lucky enough to kick off the event with two amazing parties – a welcome reception hosted by Beefeater Gin at the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center, and a classic New Orleans garden fete at the Elma Mansion hosted by William Grant & Sons (the group that brings you Hendricks Gin, Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Sailor Jerry and more). Once again, a pretty good time! Many thanks to Beefeater and William Grant & Sons for a warm (very, very warm) welcome to New Orleans.
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The Manhattan Cocktail Classic

Josh — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:51:23 +0000

I know, I know. Once again, I’ve fallen way behind on my writing. But there have been some exciting events over the past few weeks, and I want to give you a quick update. I promise to try to get some new drinks up very soon, too.

Let’s start, though, with a quick recap of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic. Described as “part festival, part fête, part conference, part cocktail party,” the Manhattan Cocktail Classic included five days of seminars, parties, tastings, and other assorted revelry with some of my favorite people in all of New York City.
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