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  Ardent Spirits, is the website for Gary and Mardee Regan. These two truly ardent spirits are recognized cocktail connoisseurs, spirit experts, authors, as well as bartending and restaurant consultants. Through this site you can find out more about who they are, what they are doing now, and what amazing things they have planned for the future. |
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Ardent Spirits is a free e-mail newsletter for anyone and everyone with an interest in cocktails, bars, bartenders, distilled spirits, and beverage-related topics. If you were forwarded this letter from somebody else, then to become a subscriber, just click here to sign up. |
Volume 10, Issue 9, April 24, 2008
by Gary Regan and Mardee Haidin Regan
© 2008 Reganomics, Inc.
The Right Gin for the Correct Cocktail
Cheap Date: B&B Turns 70!
Editorial
Happy Birthday, Doug. That's both Dougs. The one in Milwaukee and the one in New York.
There now, that saved us the price of two stamps, right?
What happened to that super video event that we told you about a couple of days ago? The one where Gary was going to be interviewed for a whole half-hour on Bloomberg TV. We were pre-empted by Hillary. That's what happened. The segment has been taped, though, and you can be sure we'll let you know when they reschedule it. Sorry if we kept you up after your bedtime.
Not much else for the editorial, we're afraid, but this is another bumper issue, so get to it.
The Right Gin for the Correct Cocktail
Gin, Gin, Glorious Gin. There's nothing quite like it for cooling the skin. Sorry Flanders. Sorry, Swann.
Fact is that we're working on a book about gin--we were getting low on the stuff and figured this was a good way to get some free samples so without fiurther ado . . .
Anyway, one gin that came our way was Right Gin, a product that, quite frankly, we'd never heard of. The company told us that their gin "respects the classic spices but we dial down their volume while dialing up the citrus to ensure a crisp, clean finish and the absence of the heavy, oil aftertaste that is prevalent in many gins."
We weren't quite sure whether Right Gin would be right for us, but we dutifully sampled it and found it to be Glorious! So glorious, in fact, that we used it to make a batch of cocktails to take to a dinner party last Saturday. And they went down real well, too.
Here's the recipe for the drink we came up with
The Correct Cocktail
1 1/2 ounces Right Gin
1/2 ounce Domain de Canton Ginger Liqueur
1/2 ounce Cointreau
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
2 dashes Regans' Orange Bitters No. 6
1 lemon twist, as garnish
Shake and strain into a chilled champagne flute. Add the garnish.
More on the gin book as we progress. We're doing something a little different this time around.
| Cheap Date |  |
B&B Turns 70!
And that's a really good excuse for a party at New York's 21 Club, the joint where the whole B&B thing started back in the 1930s. They invited Gary to make an ass of himself, dragged Dale DeGroff along to keep Gary under control, and persuaded a bevy of bartending beauties to come up with some very cool new cocktails that call for B&B.
Best of all, it cost Gary not a cent. Thanks, B&B. That was a grand Cheap Date!
The Motley Crew |
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Behold here the likes of John Myers, the Fabulous LeNell Smothers, the guy with the red tie, Dale De-Bloody-Groff, Naren Young (make sure you pronounce his name correctly lest a Taiaha finds its way to your noggin), and Phil Greene, looking for all the world like Antoine Peychaud himself (yes, Phil is descended from Peychaud, but we don't really have a clue as to what Peychaud looked like. Kodak Brownies came after Peychaud's Bitters, we think.) |
| And the Winner is . . . |
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| Here we see Gary admiring his hero, Dale, as King
Cocktail announces that John Myers' cocktail, The Touchable, takes the
cake. And it was a pretty spectacular drink, too. |
| The Touchable |
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Created by John Myers, for the B&B 70th Anniversary Master Mixologist Showcase, March 25, 2008 1 ounce B&B 1 cinnamon stick, as garnish |
| More Delectable B&B Recipes |
| This Gang of Four did an incredibly good job, so
here are the other recipes. Try 'em, you'll like 'em |
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The Claiborne
Cocktail Created by Philip Greene for the B&B 70th
Anniversary Master Mixologist Showcase, March 25, 2008. 1 ounce B&B 1 ounce Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whiskey 3/4 ounce Martini & Rossi Italian Sweet
Vermouth 2-3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters 2-3 dashes Angostura Bitters 1 lemon twist, as garnish.
In a rocks glass, add ice, set aside . In a mixing glass, add ice, then add all of the ingredients. Stir well, strain into the rocks glass, and add the garnish.
FécampFrappe Created by LeNell Smothers for the B&B 70th Anniversary Master Mixologist Showcase, March 25, 2008. 1 ounce
B&B 3 dashes Angostura bitters, as an aromatic garnish
Put
egg white in shaker and shake for about five seconds to emulsify.
Add ice and the rest of the ingredients. Shake well and strain
into a cocktail glass filled with crushed ice. Top with dashes of
bitters. Spice Market Created by Naren Young for the B&B 70th Anniversary Master Mixologist Showcase, March 25, 2008. 1 1/2 ounces Wild Turkey Rye 3/4 ounce B&B 1/2 ounce clove and vanilla syrup 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice 1 egg white
Place all ingredients and ice into a shaker and shake well. Strain
into a small wine glass, and garnish with fresh nutmeg. |
LeNell's Cocktail of the Month |
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“Pas de rhum, pas de
prière.” |
If you want to read all about the goings-on in Martinique, and we sure as hell do, click the link below. LeNell will not only fill you in on the rhum agricole scene, she'll teach you how to ameka good Ti Punch, too. |
| I Wanna Read LeNell's Story |
| Hot Links |
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Take a lookie below to see what our buddie
Robert Hess has been up to in
The Cocktail Spirit, a grand series of on-line video thingies. |
The Bucks FizzOften confused with the Mimosa, the Bucks Fizz is an elegant drink suited to the simple brunch or extravagant celebration. The Ramos Gin FizzThe use of egg white and cream in this version of the fizz creates a unique experience. Velvet with a citrus background and a bubbly pop, the Ramos Gin Fizz. And don't forget to check out Robert's DrinkBoy Community |
| the cocktail guru blog |
 jonathan has been traveling again. Wanna see where he's been? Wanna see what he's been drinking? |
Follow this Hot Link. |
| Potent Quotables |
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Our Potent Quotable this week comes from The New York Times, no less. The newspaper that, on April 15--tax day, no less--was heartless enough to accuse this dear, sweet newsletter, this bastion of all things good and true, of being responsible for the cholera outbreak of 18 hundred and something or other.
The notice you see below is an exact replica of the one that appeared on the front page of the paper's science section.
Well we're not going to stand still for this. We demand a recount. Chads and all. And we demand that the powers that be in the good state of Florida keep their noses out of this. Okay?
| Bar Code |
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| It's Bookshelf Time |
Here are a couple of neat new narratives to add to your library. First up is Bourbon at it's Best, a beauteous book by our good Friend, Ron Givens. Well done, Ron, it's spectacular. And next we have Classic Cocktails: A Modern Shake. This one's a stylish tome written with a little old-world charm.. Chances are that it will be the last of its kind, and that's a shame. |
Click on the Book Covers to Buy these Babies |
| Bourbon at its Best |
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| Classic Cocktails |
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| Worldwide Bartender Database |
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| If you haven't joined yet, you won't know about the gigs we're letting our
members in on, will you? Join now and get our weekly Worldwide Bartender Bulletin, telling you about lots of gigs at bars, restaurants, hotls, and with top-of-the-line liquor companies (we've helped more than a couple of brand Ambassadors get jobs). |
Join the Worldwide Bartender Database
Wanna see where some of our members work?
|
Boston: Eastern Standard,
Excelsior, The Langham Hotel, The Savant Project. Brooklyn: 12th St. Bar &
Grill, 5 Front Restaurant, Applewood, Atlantic Chip Shop, Café Bar &
Restaurant, Dressler and Larry Lawrence, Franny's, Jack the Horse
Tavern, La Martini Lounge, Lillie's Bar, MiniBar, Sheraton, The Hideout,
Zombie Hut. Chicago: Cuatro, Custom
House, Excalibur Nightclub, Green Zebra, Moxie, Nacional 27, Pier 37,
Piranha Bros., Quartino, Sheraton Chicago, Smallbar, Spring, Drawing
Room, The Gage, The Tasting Room. Las Vegas: Allegro Bar @
The Bellagio, Seahorse Lounge, Dino's Lounge, Envy Bar, La Femme
Bar, Luxor Hotel and Casino, MGM Grand, Studio Café, N9NE Steakhouse,
Parasol Down @ Wynn, Petrossian Lounge, Picasso @ The Bellagio, Shibuya
Restaurant, Silverton Casino, Teatro Bar, The Mirage, Trader Vic's,
Tuscany, Wynn Hotel & Casino Los Angeles: Luna Park,
Minibar, Republic Restaurant, 7 Grand Whiskey Bar, Sona Restaurant,
Water Grill. New Orleans: B Street,
Commander's Palace, Herbsaint, Jackson, The Library Lounge at the Ritz
Carlton, The Swizzle Stick Bar. New York: 107 West, 21
Club, 44 & X Hell's Kitchen, 5 Ninth, A.O.C., Agave, Aix, Alain Ducasse,
Alfama, Aquavit, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Aureole Restaurant, Babbo
Ristorante, Balthazar, Barmarche, Bemelmans Bar, Blue Smoke, Bobby
Van's, Bolo, Bond 45, Brandy Library, Bridge Café, Bryant Park Grill,
Buddha Bar, Café Boulud, Café des Artistes, Campbell Apartment,
Chanterelle, Daniel, Death & Co., Devin Tavern, Dylan Prime, Elettaria,
Eleven Madison Park, Flatiron Lounge, Freeman's, Gramercy Tavern, Jean
Jorges, Le Zinc, Milk & Honey, Nice Matin, Oceana Restaurant, Passerby,
Patroon, PDT, Peacock Alley, Pegu Club, Public, Soho/Tribeca Grand
Hotels, Sortie, SushiSamba 7, Taj, The World Bar, Typhoon, Vig Bar Philadelphia: 1601 Café,
Monkey Bar, Azure, Chick's Café & Wine Bar, Hotel Sofitel, Ristorante La
Buca, Sheraton Hotel, Solaris Grille, Tangier Portland, OR: Andina, ,
Meriwethers Restaurant, Mint/820, Paragon Restaurant and Bar, Teardrop
Lounge, Typhoon! on Broadway. San Diego: Addison,
Arterra Restaurant, Confidential Restaurant, JC Resorts, Modus
Supper Club, Sheraton Harbor Marina. San Francisco: Absinthe
Brasserie, Alembic, Bacar, Balboa Cafe, Bix, Bong Su, Bourbon & Branch,
Cantina, Capurro's, Cortez, Elixir, Frisson, Globe, Starlight Room,
Jackson Fillmore, Jardinière, Lark Creek, Levende Lounge, Nopa, One
Market Restaurant, Oola Restaurant, Palmetto, Perbacco, Ponzu
Restaurant, Prana, Presidio Social Club, Range, Restaurant Gary Danko,
Rye, Scoma's Restaurant, Solstice Lounge, Swig, The Orbit Room,
The Slanted Door, Tommy's Mexican Restaurant, Tres Agaves. Seattle: Cafe Presse,
CHAC Lounge, Liberty, The BalMar, Union, Vessel. Washington D.C.: Bourbon,
Central Michel Richard, Corduroy, Kinkeads, Mie-N-Yu, Rock Creek
Restaurant, Roof Terrace @ JFK Center for the Performing Arts, Source by
Wolfgang Puck, Urbana Wine Bar. |
| Ardent Events Calendar |
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| At a Glance May 8 - 13 World Cocktail Week May 13 - 19 San Francisco Cocktail Week May 25 Gary at Astor Center* June 1 - 4 Santé Restaurant Symposium June 22 - 23 New York Bar Show July 16 - 20 Tales of the Cocktail* September 17 - 18 Sydney Bar Show* *Gary has managed to talk his way into being at these events. |
| MAY 13 - MAY 19 |
| San Francisco Cocktail Week |
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Those Crazy Kids in San Francisco are pulling out all the stops again with events planned for every evening during this fun-packed week. Details here |
| MAY 8 - MAY 13 |
| World Cocktail Week |
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| The Museum of the American Cocktail has some great
plans for the 2008 celebrations. Wanna See? Thought so. Details here |
| MAY 25 |
| Life Behind Bars |
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Join Gary for a couple of Happy Hours at
Astor Center where he'll talk about his “life behind bars,” tell
tales about his first few years behind the stick in Manhattan during
the 1970s, and talk about what it means to be a bartender.
(Will somebody shut him up, please . . .) Details Here |
|
2008
Santé Restaurant Symposium Join us for a four-day feast for the body, mind, and the bottom line!
The Santé Restaurant Symposium is the most comprehensive and compelling conference of its kind, designed specifically for fine-dining and upscale-casual hospitality professionals who want to increase profits, stay on top of trends, and learn from and network with the most successful restaurateurs in the industry.
Click the Banner Below for the Full Scoop
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| June 22 - June 23 |
| The New York Bar Show |
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This show gets better and better every year. Don't miss the 2008 version Details Here. Register Here. |
| July 16 - July 20 |
| Tales of the Cocktail |
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The biggest cocktail event in the country--don 't miss it. Details Here |
| September 17 & 18 |
| Sydney Bar Show |
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Gary's never been Down-Under before, so this might prove interesting. (Naren Young already warned Sydney bar owners . . . ) |
Details Here |
Wanna sponsor a feature in Ardent Spirits? Contact theguys@ardentspirits.com
 | Just Who Are The Regans Anyway? |
| (Click the Pic to Find Out) We'd love to hear your comments about Ardent Spirits: What would you like to see more of? What would you like to see less of? Just write to we@ardentspirits.com |
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Please remember to drink safely and responsibly. |
