We are talking about Hospitality today, our book of the week is Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business.

• Cocktail of the Week:
  

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Warren Bobrow, Mezcal: At Suite Silenceo & House of Elyx

• We talk with our friend Warren Bobrow. We caught up with Warren at a pool party on the rooftop of Hotel Montelegone during Tales of the Cocktail 2017.

At House of Elyx they serve drinks in unbelievable copper vessels. The first drink I was handed was the Silly Rabbit, and it was served in a life sized copper rabbit!

Cocktail of the Week:

Silly Rabbit 

1 ½ oz Absolut Elyx

½ oz Manzanilla sherry

½ oz Fresh pineapple cordial*

½ oz Freshly squeezed pineapple juice

¼ Freshly squeezed lime juice

2 oz Perrier Jouet champagne 

Vessel: Copper Rabbit

Garnish: None

Method: Shake all ingredients except Champagne in a cocktail shaker. Add Champagne. Strain into copper rabbit over cubed ice, cap with crushed ice.

• The team was generous enough to share all the recipes of the cocktails served at House of Elyx this year and we have them for you below. The recipes and lots of professional photos from the event can also be found at BartenderJourney.net/elyx.

Toast:

Elyx House at TOTC 2017 cocktail specs

The Elyx Martini 

2 ½ oz Absolut Elyx

½ oz Lillet Blanc

Vessel: Cocktail coupe

Garnish: Lemon zest 

Method: Stir all ingredients over cubed ice in a mixing glass, strain into a chilled cocktail coupe and garish

Elyx Spritz

1 oz Absolut Elyx

1 oz Lillet Rose

Top Fevertree Elderflower tonic

Vessel: Highball glass

Garnish: Lemon wheel

Method: Build in highball glass over cubed ice, top with Elderflower Tonic, stir gently and garnish

Pimp My Mule

1 ½ oz Absolut Elyx

½ oz Fresh Raspberry Cordial*

½ oz freshly squeezed lime juice

Top Ginger Beer

Vessel: Copper mule cup

Garnish: Fresh raspberry and candied ginger

Method: Build over cubed ice in a copper mule cup and top with ginger beer. Cap with crushed ice and garnish

Cold Fashioned 

1 ½ oz Absolut Elyx

½ oz Oloroso Sherry

½ oz Cynar

½ oz Demerera syrup

1 oz Cold brew coffee

Vessel: Rocks glass

Garnish: Orange zest 

Method: Stir all ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. Strain over ice in a rocks glass and garnish  

Bloc Party 

(Compliments of Leo Robitschek)

1 oz Absolut Elyx

1 oz Cream sherry

1 oz Fino sherry

½ oz Yellow chartreuse

½ oz Red bell pepper juice

½ oz Freshly squeezed lime juice

¼ oz Fresh Vanilla Cordial*

¼ oz Fresh Passionfruit Puree

Vessel: Copper Squirrel

Garnish: None

Method: Shake all ingredients and strain into copper squirrel over cubed ice, cap with crushed ice and garnish

Fennel Countdown 

2 oz Absolut Elyx

¼ oz Suze

¾ oz Fresh Fennel Cordial*

2 oz Freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice

½ oz Freshly squeezed lime juice

Vessel: copper coupe

Garnish: grapefruit zest

Method: Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, strain into a chilled cocktail coupe and garnish

Tangerine & Olive 

1 oz Absolut Elyx

1 oz Italian bitters 

1 oz Sweet vermouth

½ oz Freshly squeezed tangerine juice

1 oz Tonic water

1 dash Rhubarb bitters

Vessel: Rocks glass

Garnish: Dehydrated orange & green olive

Method: Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass, strain into a rocks glass over ice, top with tonic water and garnish

Silly Rabbit 

1 ½ oz Absolut Elyx

½ oz Manzanilla sherry

½ oz Fresh pineapple cordial*

½ oz Freshly squeezed pineapple juice

¼ Freshly squeezed lime juice

2 oz Perrier Jouet champagne 

Vessel: Copper Rabbit

Garnish: None

Method: Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, strain into copper rabbit over cubed ice, cap with crushed ice.

Butterfly

2 oz Absolut Elyx

1 oz Lillet blanc

4 oz Jasmine needle tea

1 oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 oz Orange blossom & jasmine honey

½ oz Butterfly pea flower extract

Vessel: Rocks glass 

Garnish: No garnish

• Method: Freeze in a slushy machine and serve

This week, we continue our Tales of the Cocktail 2017 coverage. This is the 5th of 9 planned episodes about Tales 2017.

• We will talk with Jane Bowie from Maker’s Mark. During Tales this year, I was invited to a Maker’s Mark event at Dicky Brennen’s Bourbon House. The Bourbon House had purchased a full barrel of Maker’s 46.

• Patron is sponsoring an educational event.  It’s in Cleveland on September 12, 2017 at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center.  It’s a full day of education with Breakfast, Lunch and Happy Hour included and there is no cost to you! RSVP here.

• BarSmarts Advanced will be conducting daylong sessions, providing education and hands on mixology instruction, plus testing and certification. Its taught by Dale DeGroff, David Wondrich, Paul Pacult, Steve Olson, Doug Frost and Andy Seymour.  At the end of the day you do a practical exam where you prepare three drinks for one of these gentlemen, so you might be making drinks for Dale DeGroff or in my case David Wondrich.  To qualify you have to do the online course first.

Cocktail of the Week:

Maker’s Boulevardier

1.5 parts Maker’s Mark Bourbon

0.75 part Sweet Vermouth

0.75 part Campari or Aperol

Maraschino Cherry for garnish

Stir with ice, strain, garnish and serve.

Book of the Week:

The Alcohol Textbook by T.P. Lyons $299.95

Whisky: The Manual by Dave Broom $12.34

Let’s go to Dicky Brennen’s Bourbon House.

• I toast you with a very special bottle that I have not tasted yet.  It is a Maker’s Mark Private Select.  “Exclusive Oak Stave Selection By Bill Samuels Jr.”  Hand written on the label it says “110.9 Proof/55.45 % Alcohol by Volume”. On the back it is hand signed by Bill Samuels Jr.  

Toast:  

Here’s to the bottle which holds a store

Tasting Notes

Color:  Amber to Orange

Nose:  Strong alcohol right away. Chestnuts.  Stone Fruit - Plums, Fresh Cut Wood, (like a beautiful brand new Bar!)  Rugged Leather, Fresh Herb or Grass

Taste:  Toast.  Burnt Orange Peel.  Peach Pie.

Mouthfeel:  Luscious.  Silky.  Refined.

Finish:  Strong alcohol.  Carmel.  Toasted Oak.

Impressions:  Wonderful and sophisticated Bourbon.  Adding a little water makes this something I want to drink everyday! Too bad the bottle will run out eventually.

This week, we continue our Tales of the Cocktail 2017 coverage. This is the 5th of 9 planned episodes about Tales 2017.

• We will talk with Jane Bowie from Maker’s Mark. During Tales this year, I was invited to a Maker’s Mark event at Dicky Brennen’s Bourbon House. The Bourbon House had purchased a full barrel of Maker’s 46.

• Patron is sponsoring an educational event.  It’s in Cleveland on September 12, 2017 at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center.  It’s a full day of education with Breakfast, Lunch and Happy Hour included and there is no cost to you! RSVP here.

• BarSmarts Advanced will be conducting daylong sessions, providing education and hands on mixology instruction, plus testing and certification. Its taught by Dale DeGroff, David Wondrich, Paul Pacult, Steve Olson, Doug Frost and Andy Seymour.  At the end of the day you do a practical exam where you prepare three drinks for one of these gentlemen, so you might be making drinks for Dale DeGroff or in my case David Wondrich.  To qualify you have to do the online course first.

Cocktail of the Week:

Maker’s Boulevardier

1.5 parts Maker’s Mark Bourbon

0.75 part Sweet Vermouth

0.75 part Campari or Aperol

Maraschino Cherry for garnish

Stir with ice, strain, garnish and serve.

Book of the Week:

The Alcohol Textbook by T.P. Lyons $299.95

Whisky: The Manual by Dave Broom $12.34

Let’s go to Dicky Brennen’s Bourbon House.

• I toast you with a very special bottle that I have not tasted yet.  It is a Maker’s Mark Private Select.  “Exclusive Oak Stave Selection By Bill Samuels Jr.”  Hand written on the label it says “110.9 Proof/55.45 % Alcohol by Volume”. On the back it is hand signed by Bill Samuels Jr.  

Toast:  

Here’s to the bottle which holds a store
Of imprisoned joy and laughter!
Here’s to this bottle
Many more bottles,
And others to follow after.

Tasting Notes

Color:  Amber to Orange

Nose:  Strong alcohol right away. Chestnuts.  Stone Fruit - Plums, Fresh Cut Wood, (like a beautiful brand new Bar!)  Rugged Leather, Fresh Herb or Grass

Taste:  Toast.  Burnt Orange Peel.  Peach Pie.

Mouthfeel:  Luscious.  Silky.  Refined.

Finish:  Strong alcohol.  Carmel.  Toasted Oak.

On the Bartender Journey Podcast this week, we continue our Tales of the Cocktail 2017 coverage. This is the 4th of 9 planned episodes about Tales 2017.

• We will talk with 2 very interesting ladies:

• Laura Bellucci – Lead Bartender at Sobu in New Orleans

Cocktail of the Week:

• 2 oz VDKA 6100

Muddle the Watermelon and Jalapeno. Add the remaining ingredients & ice. Shake and double strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Book of the Week:

During Tales Absolute a Bloody Mary Bar and I met author Brian Bartels who is passionate about this Brunch Staple. The book is filled with variations on the timeless Bloody Mary, plus history and tips for setting up for a Brunch party. There are ideas for Infused vodkas, like Cilantro, Bacon, Shiitake and more. Great book for getting ideas about upping your Bloody Mary game!

At the Absolute Bloody Mary Bar there were four or so variations on the Bloody Mary. I choose a green one. There were tons of garnishes to choose from and customize your drink. There displayed them cleverly in hanging mason jars, with a little hand written chalk board behind each.

If want some great online Bartending education, check out the Mixology Certification Program from our friends at the Mixology Talk Podcast. Enter the code “BartenderJourney” for 20% this extreemly detailed on-line course.

Bartender Eductaion Opportunity:

If you are anywhere near Cleveland Ohio Patron is doing a Full Day class for you to learn about all Tequila. There is no cost to attend. You just need to RSVP and get yourself there on September 12, 2017. It will be held at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center.

Toast of the Week:

One sip of this will bathe the drooping spirits in delight beyond the bill of dreams.

"Thinking outside the box."  Perhaps an overused phrase, but is an appropriate term for Summer Jane Bell's Seminar:  Shake Outside of the Box: Avant-Garde Cocktails.  Many great ideas were floated at this seminar.  Take a listen as Brian reads through his notes from this wonderful Tales of the Cocktail seminar.

Take a listen the podcast with the audio player on this page, or on:

We also talk to Jeff Quint, founder and owner of of Cedar Ridge Distillery in Iowa, who is making farm to glass spirits.  We caught up with Jeff at Dicky Brennen's Bourbon House in the French Quarter during Tales.  We ate some oysters, sampled some whiskey and chatted about Jeff's Journey from Accountant to Distiller.

The American Distilling Institute named Cedar Ridge “Distillery of the Year", for 2017.

Plus, we catch up with Hazel Alvarado, as she tells us about the many industry events she has attended in NYC this summer, including the grand opening of the new Oscar Wilde-Themed Bar in the No-Mad neighborhood of Manhattan.

Book of the Week:

Cocktail of the Week:

• 1 ½ oz Aged Rum Real McCoy 5 year

Toast of the Week:

• May you have peace in you igloo, oil in your lamp and peace in your heart.

• Take a listen the podcast with the audio player on this page, or on:
  

Sustainability is the hot topic in the Bar & Restaurant world right now.  How can we help the environment AND our bottom line at the same time?

Brian is just back from Tales of the Cockail 2017 with a fresh perspective! 

"If we knew what to do with it, it wouldn't be waste any more!"

It's the Bartender Journey Podcast No. 218 and as you know I’ll be attending Tales this year again but this time as a part of a panel titled: “Hot Mic: Podcasting for Bartenders”.

I’ll be presenting along with Kara Newman, our guest author on Podcast 193, Sother Teague, a friend and propritor of the new socially conscious bar, Coup, that donates all profits to charities and Damon Boelte, of Speakeasy Radio. Special thanks to our sponsor, Brooklyn Gin!

If you’re headed down, make sure to stop by my session, Wednesday morning and if not, why aren’t you going? We’ll make sure to post details both for Tales and session tickets on both our blog and Facebook page.

The Bartender Journey Podcast will be taking a production break for the next few weeks and will return with a full length episode on July 26th.

We have lots of great interviews already recorded, plus I’ll be collecting lots of great audio at Tales, including an interview with the great whiskey writer Lew Bryson.

Meanwhile, this week we’ll kick off the Bartender Journey Summer (School) Social and will be posting and sharing valuable content on our blog, www.bartenderjourney.net and Facebook page, Bartender Journey Podcast on spirits education, cocktail competitions, industry events and more, especially during Tales. Make sure you follow Bartender Joueny on IG and FB.

If you would like to contribute in any way you can, by writing a piece for Bartender Journey, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sharing the show with a friend, we welcome your input. You can go to BarternderJourney.net/contact to get in touch. We’d love to hear from you and maybe feature something you wrote on BJ. There is also our Tip Cup page BJ.net/TipCup.  If this show has helped you out at all or entertained you…if you’ve learned a little something, please consider contributing to our Tip Cup at /tipcup.

We will have another podcast for you on July 26, 2017. Lots more great content to come. 

We look at some education options - one in NYC and one online.

Its a short show this week, but we think you'll learn a little something, or at least learn how to learn!

Cheers!