Posts Tagged ‘Manhattan Cocktail Classic’

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IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

The Manhattan Classic is nearly here – what will you learn?
By Francine Cohen

Photo by Philip Anema

It’s just a dozen days to go until the start of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic www.manhattancocktailclassic.com so we’re a little surprised that you don’t have your schedule already set in stone, and your pencils sharpened for all the notes you’ll be taking at those seminars.

But far be it from us to chastise you for leaving things until the last minute. Instead, we’d like to reward you for your careful consideration of the programming and offer you a 10%* discount on remaining programs and events.

Here’s some of what we’ll be covering. Will we see you there?

***Answer these questions correctly and you’ll be able to both save 10% on your seminar tickets and attend the gala with us. We’ve got just one gala ticket to spare so the early bird gets the worm (i.e. respond quickly as the first one to do so correctly will be traipsing up the library’s stairs with us).

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THE WAITING IS OVER

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

It’s time to book your tickets for the Manhattan Cocktail Classic
By Francine Cohen

Photo by Charles Steadman

You came, you saw, and approximately 20,000 of you voted to determine which seminars should be featured at Manhattan Cocktail Classic 2011.

The votes have been counted, the seminar schedule determined, and here’s what you have to choose from when tickets go on sale April 1st.

Don’t miss the boat.

Manhattan Cocktail Classic Seminars Schedule

SATURDAY MAY 14:
11:30am – 1:00pm: The Science of Mixology
12:15pm – 1:45pm: Hand’s on with Tony Abou-Ganim
1:45pm – 3:15pm: History: What is it Good For? Dave Wondrich
2:30pm – 4:00pm: Whiskey is the New Black
4:00pm – 5:30pm: How to Behave in a Bar
4:45pm – 6:15pm: Rye Mania with Dave Wondrich
6:15pm – 7:45pm: Aperitivo: The Italian Happy Hour hosted by Joe Campanale
7:00pm – 8:30pm: Beyond the Hangover Cure

SUNDAY MAY 15:
11:30am – 1:00pm: Art of the Simple Cocktail
12:15pm – 1:45pm: Glasses & Tools hosted by Dale DeGroff
1:45pm – 3:15pm: Whiskies of the World
2:30pm – 4:00pm: Classic Cocktails, Classic Film
4:00pm – 5:30pm: A Drop Of The Hard Stuff
4:45pm – 6:15pm: Preserving with Liquor
6:15pm – 7:45pm: Global Drink Ritual
7:00pm – 8:30pm: The Science of Citrus

MONDAY MAY 16:
11:30am – 1:00pm: Spirits in a Blind with Steve Olson and Doug Frost
12:15pm – 1:45pm: Drink Like You Eat
1:45pm – 3:15pm: Discovering Le Cognac with Dale DeGroff, Steve Olson, Dave Wondrich, Doug Frost, Paul Pacult and Andy Seymour
2:30pm – 4:00pm: Three Mixologists, Three Drinks, Three Ways
4:00pm – 5:30pm: From the BeGINning
4:45pm – 6:15pm: Tequila’s Rebirth
6:15pm – 7:45pm: Age: The Final Frontier
7:00pm – 8:30pm: Yo, Ho, Ho and a Bottle of Rum

TUESDAY MAY 17:
11:30am – 1:00pm: Botanical Bartending
12:15pm – 1:45pm: The Agave Sessions
1:45pm – 3:15pm: The Mindful Bartender
2:30pm – 4:00pm: The Science of Taste
4:00pm – 5:30pm: Mysticism and Magic
4:45pm – 6:15pm: The History of Distilling in New York City

Part festival, part fête, part conference, part cocktail party — the Manhattan Cocktail Classic is an annual celebration of the myriad points of intersection between cocktails and culture. New York City’s annual five-day celebration of cocktails and culture happens May 13 – 17 with over 100 events spread across five days and five boroughs, including 30 seminars taking place at Astor Center during the festival, which were selected by popular vote from amongst over 85 proposals.

The final line-up of 2011 seminars offer a terrific spread of imbibing education: from the history of Italian aperitifs to the science of whiskey cocktails; from ancient drinking rituals to techniques in home preserving with liquor. The seminars will be hosted by noted mixologists, spirits experts, cocktail mavens and acclaimed booze journalists.

“We were thrilled to be able to empower our festival audience to choose the seminars they most wanted to see at the 2011 festival,” said Lesley Townsend, founder and director of the Classic. “Not only was this decision-making process very much in keeping with the democratic spirit of the Classic – but it yielded an absolutely fantastic line-up of seminars that we will be nothing short of honored to host.”

The Classic offers a vast array of unique experiences to enthusiasts and professionals alike, expanding the very definition of what constitutes a “cocktail event.” For additional information, please visit www.manhattancocktailclassic.com.

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YOU’RE ON A BOAT

Monday, July 5th, 2010

An INSIDE Look At One Of The Manhattan Cocktail Classic’s Most Talked About Events
By Francine Cohen Photos Courtesy of Moët Hennessy USA (unless otherwise noted)

Photo by Charles Steadman

As is often the case, we find ourselves in the right place at the right time. This time it was at Louis649 (www.louis649.com) on a sunny winter afternoon. Tippling Point partner Jason Littrell was there and eager to share what he thought was a pretty nifty idea…a plan for a boat cruise to take place during the Manhattan Cocktail Classic. Great idea (we thought). Sounds like fun (we said). Little did we know then what we know now – that the Three Hour Tour would become the most coveted ticket for an off-site event during the Manhattan Cocktail Classic (www.manhattancocktailclassic.com), and an event still talked about months later. Though we should have known. Thank goodness we immediately secured ourselves a ticket before the planning got underway for real.

Planning the Three Hour Tour was no small feat for Littrell and his partners Tad Carducci, Paul Tanguay, and Gianfranco Verga. Sure, this is a band of bartenders who have put together quite a number of memorable parties on their own, but not usually something like this with a handful of the nation’s best bartenders pitching in, and at sea no less. Fortunately, for all involved, their maiden voyage as a newly formed events consultantancy was smooth sailing (sorry, couldn’t help that one).

Photo courtesy of MHUSA

Littrell comments on how he first came up with the idea saying, “I knew Lesley [Townsend – Founder of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic] was putting things together and saw that there was an opportunity to have events offsite. I’ve done parties outside festivals before but I had never been to a cocktail event on a boat. The idea for the cruise just came to me. The concept was sort of like how I approach drinks; a lot of times I’ll come up with a name first and build a drink around it.”

This boat cruise around the isle of Manhattan built around a “blue sky” idea got its sea legs when Moët Hennessy USA (MHUSA – www.mhusa.com) and the Tippling Point came together. Littrell says, “We all put it together; I had this idea for this cheeky event and they had skill sets I didn’t have.” Tanguay adds, “Basically Jason came up with the idea – they approached us to see if we wanted to get involved. That’s how Tippling Point was born and now we’re running with this event side concept. Putting new parties together if you will and approaching spirits companies to partner.”

The original idea for the cruise was based on a Gilligan’s Island theme, but partnering with one of the most prestigious spirits companies changed the tone of the event as Littrell reflects, “It’s hard to get dollars from a luxury brand to do something down market. We wanted to put something cohesive together

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BEHIND THE SCENES WITH INSIDE F&B

Monday, June 7th, 2010

By Francine Cohen

If you’ve been thinking lately that we’ve been very spirited in our editorial focus, you’d be right. It’s been an exciting time for drinks events these past few months, starting with the Absolut Sensory Experience which was an eye opening exploration of vodka that just may be the kick in the pants that many bartenders needed to revisit this category (more on this later), and a recent visit to NYC by Japanese cocktail master, Kazuo Uyeda (inventor of the Hard Shake and owner of Tender Bar).

Uyeda-san’s message was heard loud and clear by bartenders who took subways, buses, taxis and planes to be present and learn from a living legend. The two day seminar was a cultural exchange in which the audience was enlightened about the exacting and consistent Japanese approach to style, technique, and, above all, pleasing the guest through service and attention to deliver the most delicious drink (*Factoid: Uyeda-san mentioned the words “delicious” or “deliciousness” a minimum of 20 times each day. It definitely drove the point home.). The Tender Bar approach to crafting that perfectly delicious cocktail is an effort that exhibits the same amount of detail, finesse and grace as a Japanese tea ceremony. For more about this two day East meets West drinks exploration see this story: http://insidefandb.com/2010/05/turning-japanese/

Following right on the heels of this bit of international beverage bonanza a number of those same out-of- town bartenders returned for the inaugural NYC drinks fete/conference/ party that celebrates the mighty cocktail and is known as The Manhattan Cocktail Classic (www.manhattancocktailclassic.com – affectionately referred to as the MCC). Embraced by their NYC brethren, many of these said bartenders were quickly put to work batching drinks for the masses who were about to descend upon the MCC gala. And, while all of them had bar backs, only a few lucky ones (namely Ricky Gomez, Danny Ronen, and Charles Steadman) had the assistance of Oompa Loompas as they manned the Willy Wonka themed bar showcasing Remy

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A MOMENT WITH FRITZ MAYTAG

Saturday, June 5th, 2010

By Darren Atkins

Fritz Maytag of San Francisco based Anchor Brewing and Distilling Company (www.anchorbrewing.com), known as one of the founding fathers of US whiskey as we know it, has been at whiskey making since 1993;though he’s been in the brewing business since 1965 when he bought the company (originally known as the Anchor Brewery Company). The head of this firm that’s been brewing beer without stopping since its doors opened in 1896 had a lot to say about his spirits when he hosted a special tasting of his various whiskies at The Manhattan Cocktail Classic (www.manhattancocktailclassic.com). Maytag’s Anchor Distillery is known for making very small batches of spirits of many different variations and his whiskeys have won many awards since 2004.

It was some of these award-winning spirits he brought to Manhattan; 3 whiskeys and 2 gins including the Old Potero Straight Rye Whiskey. One of the first things Maytag talked about was his rye whiskey and why he came to produce it. He explains, “Back in the early 70’s when I was involved with the brewery, I would read everything about beverages, and one of the things I read was that Rye Whiskey was the first American Whiskey.”

Maytag follows a traditional American method of making rye whiskey – making a mash out of the rye grain and then fermenting the mash before the mash goes into the still and is distilled. He ages his rye whiskey in new wood barrels they char by heating of the inside of barrels, until it bursts into flames. The level of char they create imparts a unique flavor to the whiskey. Maytag recalls one early charring session, “We were standing around looking at this thing and all of a sudden it exploded like a tank of gasoline and the flame shot at least 30 feet into the air. We were horrified and thrilled at the same time” As a contrast the Old Potero 18th Century Single Malt Whiskey, the next Maytag had his audience taste, is aged also in handmade oak barrels which are lightly toasted. Maytag’s final whiskey

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Top Cocktail/Culinary Minds Pick NYC’s Best Summer Spots

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

By Kathleen Reynold/reprinted from www.kreyrecommends.com

Cheers to an amazing Manhattan Cocktail Classic (www.manhattancocktailclassic.com)! Five days and evenings of parties, seminars, tastings, luncheons, dinners…and of course, lots of cocktails. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to ask many of the notable bartenders, chefs, panelists and event hosts in attendance about their favorite things to do in New York City during the summertime.

Here’s what they had to say:

Eric Alperin (Co-owner, The Varnish [Los Angeles] www.thevarnishbar.comand former bartender, Milk and Honey, Little Branch): “I just love sitting on a bench in Washington Square Park www.nycgovparks.org/parks/washingtonsquarepark, relaxing and watching people as they go by. I could — and have — done this for hours. That and Mamoun’s Falafel (www.mamouns.com) add up to a great afternoon.”

Mario Batali (Celebrity Chef, Television Personality and Former James Beard Chef of the Year): “Pier 40 (www.pier40.org) . I really love going there to watch my kids play ball.” The Chef makes an excellent choice. My husband plays rec. soccer here, too, and it’s also fun (and free) to kayak through the Downtown Boathouse (www.downtownboathouse.org).

Jon Bignelli (Chef de Cuisine, wd-50 www.wd-50.com and Food Network “Chopped” Winner): “I love anywhere that lets you sit outside and enjoy an ice cold beer. Gowanus Yacht Club, for instance, or any beer garden.” When it comes to cocktails, he and others from wd-50 love PDT and Death and Co.

Richard Boccato (Proprietor, Painkiller, Co-owner, Dutch Kills): Richie offered another vote for Prospect Park, and spending a lazy afternoon relaxing there.

Francine Cohen (Panelist, Manhattan Cocktail Classic and Editor-in-Chief, INSIDE F&B): “Nothing beats peaceful, quiet al fresco dining. At least once a week I pack a dinner and take it over to Riverside Park where, at 88th Street and Riverside Drive, just south of theSoldiers and Sailors Monument and in full view of the Hudson River, there are two picnic tables and benches. It’s a terrific mini-getaway and there’s no bill at the end of the meal.”

Alex Day (Panelist, Manhattan Cocktail Classic and Traveling Bartender Extraordinaire): “Right at the height of summer, say mid-August, when the sweltering humidity declares victory on any semblance of sweat-less dignity, there’s little I love more than getting on the B61 bus until it dead-ends in Red Hook, walking to the pier and sitting with an ice cold lemonade and a decent book. Even with the ridiculous heat, there’s always a breeze that makes it all bearable and allows this Oregon boy to enjoy the outdoors. In those moments, a NY summer is tolerable. Most the rest of the time, it just ain’t.”

Meaghan Dorman (Head Bartender, Raines Law Room): “My favorite thing to do in the city in the summer is to feel like I’m not in the city at all. I love Prospect Park late afternoon, on a blanket with my pug and a couple of friends.”

Simon Ford (Industry Visionary and International Ambassador): “I like to wander the streets of Dumbo on sunny Sundays. The art galleries, coffee shops, waterfront, book stores,Jacque Torres chocolate shop, flea market and Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory all make me happy. Also, nothing beats a good pub garden. This summer I will be seeking places out that are showing the World Cup!”

Lindsey Johnson (Panelist, Manhattan Cocktail Classic and Founder/CEO, Lush Life Productions, Blogger, Brown, Bitter and Stirred): “I spend mornings in Prospect Park, then swing into Joyce for an iced red eye. Next I head towards Brooklyn Flea to find trinkets (including vintage cocktail gear) and some of that delicious street cart lunch. I usually end the day cranking out emails on my deck.”

Jason Littrell (Panelist, Manhattan Cocktail Classic, Bartender, Dram and Organizer, The Three Hour Tour): Jason knew his pick right away. “The beer garden in Astoria. Amazing!”

Michael McIlroy (Panelist, Manhattan Cocktail Classic and Bartender, Milk and Honey, Little Branch): Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, Michael always enjoys paying homage to his heritage. And what’s the best way to do that? “Drink at McSorley’s,” he says (the renowned Irish pub dating back to 1854).

Sasha Petraske (Proprietor, Milk and Honey, Little Branch, White Star, Dutch Kills, The Varnish [Los Angeles] and cocktail consultant): Sasha honed in on a classic New York City spot: “Grand Central Station or honestly, a cab to JFK” (admitting to another trend among New Yorkers who escape to avoid the city heat). He also enjoys strolling the semi-deserted streets of the Financial District post-closing bell. As a former Battery Park resident, I tend to agree — it feels like the city is all yours after Wall Streeters and tourists head out of town.

Selena Ricks (Blogger, The Dizzy Fizz and Organizer, The Dizzy Fizz Tastemaker’s Punch): “Wake up early and take the LIRR to Long Beach and be one of the first people on the beach. It’s just the early risers and the surfers, and I sprawl out on my blanket and enjoy the calm before the throngs of beach-goers arrive. It’s nice to know that a 45-minute train ride can get me to a clean beach where I feel miles from the city.”

Audrey Saunders (Founder, Pegu Club): Although Audrey is known for her killer gin cocktails, when it comes to Summer activities, she prefers good old H20: “I like chilling in a body of water, whether it be beach, lake, or pool. I can float for hours. If there’s a stream, I like to kick my shoes off and stick my feet in.”

Lesley Townsend (Founder, Manhattan Cocktail Classic): “I love bringing my dog during off-leash hours to Prospect Park.” Lesley also noted the stellar picnic potential. “To avoid using plastic cups, I bring Reidel stemless glassware and a bottle of champagne” (so she doesn’t have to worry about a wine corkscrew).

Phil Ward (Proprietor, Mayahuel): Phil didn’t name one spot or activity in particular, but discussed how he loved the freedom of spending more time outside and meandering around the city’s streets.

My pick? For me, it’s all about the private rooftop. I admittedly tend to cringe when friends suggest visiting public roof bars, only because they’re usually packed and come with poor drink quality plus high prices. Of course, having your own outdoor space is ideal, but you can become an honorary deck guest with just about anyone by bringing quality drinks and / or tasty foods if you’re ever invited over (please note, I enjoy bubbly and chocolate covered-strawberries).

What are your favorite NYC Summer picks?

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SMALL SPIRITS ARE A BIG DEAL

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

A Micro Spirits Odyssey presented by Hush Cocktails

Manhattan is about to be awash in an unprecedented celebration of small batch spirits.

The Micro Spirits Odyssey, created by Hush Cocktails (www.hushcocktails.com) expressly for the Manhattan Cocktail Classic (www.manhattancocktailclassic.com), is a daylong event co-hosted by Chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli of Butter (www.butterrestaurant.com) comprised of a series of seminars and spirits tastings paired with the perfect small bites to honor the small artisan producers and welcomes the imbibers who love them.

Erin Williams of Hush explains why it came together, “What we at Hush Cocktails love about this event is that it is aimed at promoting the ‘underdog’ – that small producer who gets shut out of other events because they may not have the marketing budget that allows them to participate and get the exposure they deserve. The Micro Spirits Odyssey is being hosted in an elegant space, with exquisite cocktails and culinary pairings which is a luxury many of these small batch micro distilleries could not afford to produce on their budgets like many of the more prominent and established brands are able to do. As a small business ourselves, we understand the importance of support from our peers, and we wanted to extend that support to the folks who make our job possible- the creators and producers of spirits. Every big brand and company that exists today started out small, and with the support of our fellow boozehounds and connoisseurs alike making this event a success, we hope to create a community that can help build and shape our passions to evolve with success, and of course, a simply marvelous time!”

You can’t help but marvel at the lineup of seminars which will enable you to explore various aspects of the growing artisan distillery movement (see schedule below) and you’ll be wowed by the offerings of participating spirits producers (see list below) who will be pouring tastes in “Ground Control” as customized cocktails are offered by Hush Cocktails and guest bartenders: Eryn Reece of Mayahuel, Yael Vengroff of Pegu Club, Frankie Marshall of Clover Club,

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PICTURE PERFECT COCKTAILS

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Make your drink shots stand out
By Francine Cohen

Ever made a cocktail that was so stunning it took your breath away? Trying to up your photography game to take it beyond those low light, poorly composed shots you’ve been posting? Needing to put your drink portfolio together so you can take your career from bartender behind one bar to consultant behind many?

Your photographic technique is about to get a shot in the arm (and there may be a shot or two of whisky in those cocktails served while you learn) courtesy of NYC’s cocktail photography dream team.

Join PDT (www.pdtnyc.com) bartender John deBary, Leo Borovskiy of Lush Life Productions (www.lushlifeny.com), and Elba Giron of We Shoot Cocktails (www.weshootcocktails.com) for a collaborative afternoon workshop. Whether you’re a newbie on a quest for something better than blurry iPhone shots, or you’re a seasoned shutterbug, this workshop is for you. Share your tips and pick the brains of some the industry’s top photographers in one of the most challenging photographic environments, PDT. We’ll also explore DIY light tents, basics of online photo sharing and much more. Not to mention sip and shoot delicious cocktails!

http://2010tickets.manhattancocktailclassic.com/performancedetailpopup.asp?evt=55

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