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)