No Mistakes at Art of Cocktailing

by Fredo

In the past month, the "Art of Cocktailing" series presented by House of Campari with Swindle Magazine was held at several of New York's premier cocktail bars, including Tailor, Employees Only (EO), Haven, and Gallery Bar. The idea behind the collaboration was to mix the art of drink creation (using Campari) with actual art. The featured artist was Los Angelas-born David Weidman, who became prominent in the '50s and '60s in the advertising and animation fields. Weidman's original prints are collector's items, and AoC event goers received complimentary tote bags with a choice of four silk screened prints.

I popped in to Tailor for some Campari aperitifs. In addition to the stalwarts such as a well-made Negroni, I also had the Milanese classic, Sbagliato (pronounced "spal-yacht-oh") which translates to the "mistake" in Italian. Essentially, one follows the Negroni recipe but mistakenly substitutes Prosecco or Champagne for gin. A mistake indeed! Below is the recipe:

Sbagliato
4 oz Prosecco
1 oz Sweet Vermouth (we like Noilly Pratt)
1 oz Campari

Pour Prosecco over ice in a rocks glass, add Campari and Sweet Vermouth, and stir. Orange twist is optional.

Meanwhile, molecular mixology fanboy favorite, Eben Freeman, was making the rounds through the industry crowd dishing out Negroni-flavored caviar on silver spoons! After my Campari fix, I tried a few of Freeman's classics, including The Waylon (Smoked Coke, Bourbon) and his WD~50 import, the Butternut & Falernum (Rum, Butternut Squash, Falernum). The libations were spot on and no mistake in taste or originality. On the way out, I picked up a tote bag with a red rooster design, which also contained a Swindle magazine and other swag.

Tailor is located at 525 Broome Street, New York, NY 10013
House of Campari is at 54 Crosby Street, New York, NY 10012

Hendrick's Gin Limerick night at Employees Only

by Fredo

Jim Ryan, Hendrick's unusual man in New York, sent the following note on Facebook:

Come one come all if ever you care,
Employees Only is the locale of our affair,
You shall dress in most unusual attire,
Showcasing our botanicals we certainly require,
Proving Hendrick's a gin most debonair!

So we dispatched our primo gallo della citta, Giancarlo Zanetti to represent Loungerati at the Hendrick's Gin Limerick and Cocktail competition at Employees Only on Monday night. Needless to say the poetry became more whimsical with every passing glass of Gin, whether it be martini, with tonic, or neat! The competition lasted from 4-6 and drinks until sunset. Nostro gallo Giancarlo then made his way to the trifecta of cocktail destinations - absinthe bar White Star, newly private M&H, and nightcapped it at molecular HQ - Tailor. Well done ragazzo...for a Monday!

Giancarlo, I hope in your travels, you enjoyed one of my favorite Hendrick's cocktails, The Mayfair Cocktail (think margarita but with gin!):

2 oz. Hendrick's Gin
¾ oz. simple syrup
½ oz. fresh lemon juice
2 slices cucumber

Wet the rim of a coupe or martini glass with lime.Then dab it in the mixture of kosher salt and dried thyme to "frost" the rim of the glass. Combine the gin, simple syrup, lemon juice and one cucumber in a shaker and shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a thin slice of cucumber.

Giuseppe Gonzalez, finalist in the Martin Millers Masters Competition

by Fredo

Congrats to Clover Club's Giuseppe Gonzalez on being a finalist in the Martin Miller's Gin Masters Competition. He appeared with fellow finalist Jake Berger on Friday's edition of CW 11 Morning News in New York.

Below is Giuseppe's recipe for the Clover Club which is one of our favorites:

Martin Miller’s Gin Clover Club
Giuseppe Gonzalez (US)
- 1.5 oz Martin Miller’s Gin
- ½ oz Dry Vermouth
- ½ oz Fresh Lemon
- ½ oz Homemade Raspberry Syrup
- Small egg white

Visit www.martinmillersgin.com for the Blighty Mojito (Jake Berger's recipe), Clover Club and other classic cocktail recipes.

(photo courtesy of CW 11 News)

Lounge Doctrine Reaffirmed after Executive Director mini-summit at Little Branch

by Fredo

Nearly a year ago, our friend the Senator proclaimed an ambitious doctrine which is the cornerstone of Loungerati's philosophy. Last night, November 5th, this platform was reaffirmed at Little Branch over penicillin cocktails.

Delivered by the Senator at the Algonquin Hotel, November 17, 2007

"Loungers, I come before you tonight, drink in hand, with a message of hope.

They said that there was no more room at the bar for us. They said that there was no longer a place where good taste hardly ever went out of style. They said that times had passed us by.

Well, my friends, I have seen how the other half parties and let me be the first to say to them: KEEP ON PASSING.

They can take their smoking bans and they can take their political correctness and they can shove it right up their asses. To you my fellow Loungers I say this: let us never inebriate out of fear, but let us never fear to inebriate.

We say, with not so silent lips – if you are tired, if you are poor, if you’re one of the huddled dancers yearning to drink for free, then you must be refused and your wretched ass must be kicked outside the golden door! On this fantastic voyage, nobody rides for free.

Unless you’re really, really hot.

The Loungers and the musicians, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death bars like Algonquin Oak Room. Even though large clubs of Manhattan and many old and famous lounges have fallen or may fall into the grip of the techno scene and all the odious apparatus of American Idol and that karaoke bullshit, we shall not flag or fail.

We shall drink to the end, we shall drink in the morning, we shall drink in the night, we shall drink in the gutters and the streets, we shall drink in the hills, we shall order wines with growing confidence and growing tolerance in restaurants, we shall order after dinner drinks and digestifs, no matter what the cost, we shall never throw up, and even if we do, which I do not for a moment believe, we shall boot and rally and make it to the last call!

And so my fellow Loungers, in closing, let the word go forth that the torch has been passed to an older generation. Let every dancer, lounger and barfly know, whether they wish us well or premium, gin or beer, whiskey or soda, that we shall pay any cover, tip any bartender, meet any manager or maestro, in order to assure the survival and the success of the lounge.

Thank you, and may God bless the gutter."

The Aftermath of The Salon

by Fredo

Twas' the night before Halloween and a group of loungers, artists, musicians, dancers, barflies, mixologists, and burlesque performers gathered at Galapagos Art Space for the The Salon. Some came in costume, getting an early start for what promised to be a mardi gras like weekend in New York City. Others arrived in formal attire, in their best suits, elegant dresses, and their finest duds. What occurred next can only be described in pictures so please enjoy the photo album.

I would like to personally thank my guest mixologists, Giuseppe Gonzalez and Sam Kershaw who helped make the evening an absinthe filled success. Special thanks to the Soluri brothers and JC Hopkins for doing the legwork and Galapagos Art Space for being very accommodating! DJ Swank and the gals of Sugar Shack Burlesque made the night complete!

(Photos courtesy of Will Luong)