October 2020

If you haven’t tried the line at Rhum Barbancourt, here’s your wakeup call.

The Haitian Rum brand has been making impeccably distilled spirits for over 150 years, all from the freshest sugar cane available. All of the Barbancourt rum is made from fresh pressed sugar cane juice, instead of molasses. Once each sugar cane is cut, it must be pressed within 24 hours, making for a high-quality, unique Rum. Perfect in cocktails and to sip, below you’ll find five delicious cocktail recipes to try at your next happy hour.

Barbancourt Mojito

Barbancourt Mojito

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Rhum Barbancourt 3 Star, Aged 4 Years
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 1 tbls sugar
• 3 fresh mint leaves
• Splash of club soda
• 2 drops of Angostura bitters

Preparation: Muddle the mint leaves with the sugar in a glass. Fill the glass with cubed ice then add the Rhum Barbancourt 3 Star and lime juice. Complete the cocktail with club soda and Angostura bitters.

Rum Sour

Rum Sour

Ingredients:

• 4 shots of Rhum Barbancourt 3 Star – 4 years old
• 1/4 shot of lime juice
• Refined sugar (to your measure)
• 3 drops of bitters

Preparation: Served in an old-fashioned whiskey type of glass with a sugared rim.

Between the Sugar Cane

Between the Sugar Cane

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Rhum Barbancourt White Rhum
• 1 oz. Rhum Barbancourt Réserve Spéciale (5 Star) – Aged 8 years
• 1 oz. orange liqueur
• 1 oz. lemon juice

Preparation: Combine ingredients into a shaker with cracked ice. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon or an orange twist.

5 Star / 8 Years Old Fashioned

5 Star / 8 Years Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Rhum Barbancourt Réserve Spéciale (5 Star) — Aged 8 years
• 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
• 1 splash of water
• 1 tsp. sugar

Preparation: Mix sugar, water, and bitters in an old-fashioned glass. Drop a cherry and orange wedge and muddle into a paste using a muddler or back end of a spoon. Pour in rum, fill with ice cubes and stir.

The post Happy Hour With Rhum Barbancourt appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Atlantic City, NJ has been as a summer fun destination for decades.

However, in 2020 the unprecedented circumstances brought by the coronavirus laid groundwork for perhaps the greatest threat to the city’s business stability to date. Back in mid-March the closure of all casinos was ordered by Gov. Phil Murphy. With this, online gambling became the only way to gamble, and the hefty blow to casino stocks was inevitable. Casinos were on their heels, and it only hurt more that people would be hesitant to travel for some time because of obvious hygiene reasons.

Nero’s Starlight Dining

As the uncontrollable ran its course, the titan casinos quickly dialed focus on developing ideal sanitary protocols to rebound as soon as time permitted. Case reports in New Jersey simmered by late June, giving casinos the green light to gradually ease back into things by early July.

Borgata Full Exterior

Borgata’s team of staff spent months working with state officials and medical experts to develop a comprehensive “Seven-Point Safety Plan,” which touches base on a range of concerns from air quality to employee screening. In addition to addressing new guidelines and safety measures, they established a plan for utilizing digital innovations to curate a contactless guest experience. Following the Governor’s directive to postpone indoor dining, Borgata put aside time to revisit their reopening plan to guarantee their signature world-class experience would be delivered with safety at the forefront.

Caesar’s health initiative was equally intense; they partnered with a renowned epidemiologist and enforced over 150 new health protocols at each property. A new clean team was employed and comprised of members who shared the responsibility of verifying the cleanliness of frequently touched areas. Lastly, its highly encouraged 24/7 that guests keep up with proactive habits like hand washing, mask wearing, and social distancing.

Thanks to the extensive efforts, when July 3^rd hit casinos were granted the ability to re-open at 25% capacity. Betting tables were geared with plastic screens around each seat to minimize contact, and food/drinks were prohibited on the gambling floor. On top of that, indoor dining remained off-limits.

Borgata Outdoor Pool

These harsh but necessary restrictions surely made an impact on the overall experience, but the hotels did an excellent job on improvising and resiliently working around that matter. In lieu of indoor dining, Borgata introduced two new outdoor dining experiences.

Borgata Beer Garden

Sunbar at The Water Club offers al fresco dining alongside the hotel’s two outdoor infinity pools, while Borgata Street Eats Food & Beer Truck presents a convenient menu with adjacent tented seating. Their signature outdoor dining concept Borgata Beer Garden is open as well, along with a full-service canopied bar.

Steak Under the Stars

Outdoor dining was clearly the optimal alternative for a few months. At Harrah’s resort, Gordon Ramsay Steak “Under The Stars” was stationed on the pool deck. The setting provided a beautiful view with colorful lights reflecting off the enormous glass panels of the building. Over at Caesars, Nero’s Italian Steakhouse offered a spectacular starlight, poolside dining experience from the Qua Baths & Spa rooftop. The change of locations for these restaurants did hinder the menu selections, but certainly not the quality of the meals or the ambience.

For the future, things are only looking brighter. Just recently, Harrah’s brought back live concerts to Atlantic City with their Friday night series – Bayside Rock Live – featuring the country’s top tribute bands. The return of indoor dining is also in conversation, but not being rushed thanks to overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding the outdoor versions.

Don’t let the cons of the current times deceive you, Atlantic City has in fact done everything possible to turn the tides and maintain the ability to provide unforgettable memories, all in a safe manner.

The post Casinos in a Time of Covid appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

When it comes to Grappa and Liqueur, there are few who can compete with the quality and history of Bepi Tosolini.

Bepi Tosolini Distillery

At just shy of 80 years old, the Italian family business has built a reputation on their line of impeccably crafted spirits. Currently, they produce five flavors of Liqueur as well as a Vine Grappa, Moscato Grape Brandy, and a Cherrywood Barrique.

Bepi Tosolini Distillery

Founded in a time of intense international turmoil, the roots of the Bepi Tosolini distillery run deep into the history of their Northern Italian hometown.

Famiglia Tosolini

Based in Friuli, one of the smallest regions of Italy, the distillery started as a producer of high-quality Grappa, gradually expanding out into a range of liqueurs and brandies. We caught up with Brand Owner, Lisa Tosolini, the third generation of this remarkable family business.

Bepi Tosolini Distillery Stills

The history of Bepi Tosolini is deeply interesting, with the distillery being created in 1943, during World War II, can you tell us a little about how the company got its start and evolved?

Grappa is the traditional Italian distillate and part of our culture. Bepi Tosolini, my grandfather has been a pioneer in the production of Grappa while it was still a humble distillate mainly produced for the consumption of the farmers, and of course the soldiers during the second World War. The end of the war started a period of renaissance for the Italian economy and a chance for young entrepreneurs, like Bepi Tosolini, who decided to create his own distillery, with passion and toughness, and elevate a simple distillate like Grappa to be among the best and most renowned spirits in the world. Today, after 77 years his dream is a reality where all the family, at the third generation, is working to continue and implement the quality of this fine and elegant distillate, with the same rules and the same spirit of the founder.

Amaro Tosolini

At the start, the distillery was producing grappa alone — when did you make the move into liqueur and brandy and what was the process of deciding what to make like?

There was a lack of artisanal liquors such as the Amaretto, and we decided to create a line extension of pure and natural liquors made with our old recipes using only premium ingredients and without the addition of coloring and aromas. The aim was to provide the market with something really handmade as the consumer more and more frequently, is becoming respectful of what to drink and wants to drink better.

In 2016 Italy added regulations to the production of Grappa to help ensure quality. Bepi Tosolini has always been known for exceeding quality long before but after four years in, have these regulations helped your brand? How or how not?

Bepi Tosolini has always worked pursuing quality and keeping the founder’s production process unchanged. The fresh grape marc is distilled a few days after fermentation, during the harvest time, in order to fully capture the aromas of the grapes and give an aromatic, clean and fine-smelling distillate, using the historic stills that have always given our spirits an unmistakable softness. The 2016 rules did not bring about changes in our distillery, which has always used a controlled aging process and the absence of aromas or colorings. It’s a guarantee for the consumer who believes more and more in this Italian masterpiece and chooses it more frequently for a sip of heaven.

Many Americans may have a long-standing opinion of grappa based on experiences prior to the quality crackdown. What tips would give bartenders to change drinkers’ opinions?

Quality has changed during the past 40 years, and today we are proud to offer a fine and delicate Grappa, thanks to the bartenders and restaurants owners that with passion transfer the knowledge of this Italian incredible distillate. Tips are easy: Buy high quality and let the drinkers try it.

As we head into colder weather, it’s the perfect time to enjoy your liqueurs, what are some of your favorite ways to serve them?

Traditionally Grappa should be served neat, at room temperature, when aged it is better served in large glasses to reveal all the incredible aromas achieved during the ageing process. Our Liquors, like the Amaretto Saliza or the Expre, our espresso coffee liqueur are a perfect match for many incredible cocktails such as the Amaretto Sour or the twist for the Espresso Martini into a delicious Espresso Tosolini.

What’s next for the distillery? 

A Grappa is constantly evolving, and it is precisely this that has always stimulated us to do research and innovation, with new products every year, in step with the times and market demands. We invest in research and production, with a new barrique cellar in the Venice Lagoon, near our Distillery, an ideal place for seasoning our Amaro Tosolini, and to give it a unique and exclusive Mediterranean touch.

We look forward to welcoming you in our Distillery and new Barriqueria soon!

This Feature is part of our larger Inside the World of Niche Highlight. To learn more about Bepi Tosolini head into our hub.

The post Inside The Grappa Glass With Bepi Tosolini appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Autumn brings cooler temperatures, darker nights, and delicious fall-inspired cocktails.

Even though Texas doesn’t always have the cooler breezes, they do know how to make a cocktail. Hyatt Regency Frisco-Dallas’ Copper & Steel Table and Bar is offering four featured cocktails this season — Apple Cider Mule, Sidecar, Not So Hot Toddy, and Spiced Pear Fizz.

Don’t worry, those who can’t make it to Texas can still enjoy these fall cocktails in the comfort of their own home. Cozy up in your favorite fall attire and sip on one of these fall inspired beverages.

Apple Cider Mule

Apple Cider Mule

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/2 oz. Tito’s Vodka
• 1 1/2 oz. Apple Cider

Preparation: Mix ingredients and top with ginger beer, garnish with a mint sprig and dehydrated apple slice 

Side Car

Sidecar

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Hennessy
• 3/4 oz. Lemon Juice
• 3/4 oz. Cointreau
• 1/2 oz. Honey Ginger Syrup
• Half of a Plum
• Two Apple Slices

Preparation: Place the half plum and two apple slices on the bottom of a shaker tin and mix all ingredients. Fill with ice shaken and double strain into a martini glass.

Not So Hot Toddy

Not So Hot Toddy

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Havana Club Rum
• 1/2 oz. Appleton Estate Rum
• 1 1/2 oz. Apple Cider
• 1/2 oz. Honey Ginger Syrup

Preparation: Stir ingredients in a glass over sphere ice and garnish with an apple slice.

Spiced Pear Fizz

Spiced Pear Fizz

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Dripping Springs Gin
• 1/2 oz. Appleton Estate Rum
• 1 1/4 oz. Lemon Juice
• 1 oz. Pear Simple Syrup
• Egg White

Preparation: Dry shake lightly for 5 seconds. Fill shaker tin with ice and shake for 6 seconds until the tin is cold. Double strain and garnish with a plum at the bottom of a glass. 

The post Fall Flavored Cocktails for 2020 appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Chil and UNA MAS Los Angeles have teamed up together to launch a product that gives a new name to the cannabis edible experience.

Chil Mixers Powder-Based Infusions

Chil Mixers launched back in June, are a line of powder-based infusions for your favorite drinks. UNA MAS is a drink powerhouse that is behind many of the LA hotspots. They recently opened the US’ first legal cannabis driven café.

Watermelon Mixer with CBD & THC

With many people looking for alcohol replacements such as Kombucha, Chil and UNA MAS saw an opportunity to work together, providing mocktails for their consumers.

Margarita with Chil MIxers

UNA MAS mixologists have created unique recipes mixed with Chil Mixers, the cannabis-infused powders. Ana Hory, CEO of Chil, said, “Chil Mixers are a versatile cannabis-infused powder mix with countless ways to enjoy them and the team at UNA MAS were the right partners to demonstrate the most creative and savory ways to imbibe.”

Baked Salt Chocolate Coffee

Chil Mixers are available for purchase in dispensaries throughout California. Containing less than 2g of sugar and 10 calories, the cannabis drink comes in three flavors:

• Bud Naked (Unflavored) containing 10 mg of THC
• Lemon containing 10 mg of THC
• Watermelon containing 5 mg of CBD and 5 mg of THC

Pouring Lemon Mixer

More flavors are to come. The limited-edition powders were created for a natural and tasteless way to consume the highest quality of THC. “I know my liver, as well as everyone else’s in quarantine, needs a break, let’s get these ​Chil ​mocktails flowing!,” added Conrad Pratt, Founder, and Chief Mixologist, Una Mas Cocktails.

The post UNA MAS and Chil Collaborate to Present Cannabis Infused Mocktails appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Tequila Matchmakers have officially verified PATRÓN Tequila as an additive-free spirit.

While many brands claim to be additive-free, PATRÓN Tequila is verified by the Tasting Panel as 100% naturally produced. The annual process to ensure products are additive-free is extensive. They must go through distillery and production audits, lab tests, and sensorial tasting. PATRÓN Tequila was honored for its distillation process, where they only use high-quality ingredients with nothing added to alter the smell, color, or taste to the profile.

PATRÓN Tequila Verified Additive-Free

Tequila Matchmakers is an independent app and website that 79,000 tequila aficionados around the world utilize. The founders, who live in the heart of Mexico’s Tequila region, have undergone extensive training in tequila tasting. According to Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council, companies don’t need to legally disclose any additives to the spirit provided that they don’t exceed one percent of the product’s total volume. These additives can include food coloring, oak extracts, or glycerine. Consumers have a right to know exactly what they are putting into their bodies. Additives allow makers to produce tequila at a faster rate, without having to pay attention to detail. PATRÓN has been recognized to not cut corners and is one of the few brands that dedicated it’s time to a natural and handcrafted production process.

Agave Being Produced for Patrón Tequila

To ensure consumers are getting the best of the best, PATRÓN Tequila hand-harvest the best 100 percent Weber Blue Agave. This agave is used specifically for its high-sugar content which results in a smooth flavor of tequila. Every ounce of PATRÓN Tequila is aged in handmade barrels and sourced from around the world. For PATRÓN Resposado, the aging process is two years whereas Añejo 10 Años is aged for 10 years. PATRÓN can proudly announce that the addictive-free verification is a testament to their production and dedication.

Agave Production for Patrón Tequila

“At the heart of the PATRÓN process is a devotion to purity of spirit,” said Antonio Rodriguez, Director of Production at PATRÓN Tequila. “The result was our time-honored, original, additive-free recipe that has always been handcrafted with the wellness of the community in mind from the very beginning.”

The post PATRÓN Tequila Verified Additive-Free appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

With schools across the country moving to online learning, many families are quickly having to find ways to cope with having children at home whole parents work.

When it became clear that many Northern Texas schools would not be opening for in-person learning, Buzzballz/Southern Champion, LLC., a woman-owned and family-operated Texas Winery and Distillery, realized they needed a solution for their staff.

“Many of our employees have dual-income households, and during COVID, their children need supervision while the parents go to work,” said Merrilee Kick, founder and CEO. “So, we hired a certified TEA elementary teacher, Christine Drumm, to work in our classroom with them while they do their online learning with their respective schools.”

Using a conference room and the aid of a Texas Education Agency-certified teacher, Christine Drumm, and teacher’s aide, Sergio Diazdeleon, The Nest was born. The program is starting with five students, ranging from grades 1-6, with a schedule coinciding with the production team’s first shift from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Despite having its challenges, the classroom is outfitted with plenty of supplies and offers students a free lunch and ample attention and care.

“We are a family-owned business and, as a former teacher, we take education seriously,” Kick said. “Kids shouldn’t be shortchanged on their education during this pandemic.” The classroom has temperature checks and safety protocols in place to ensure everyone remains happy, healthy, and ready to learn.

The post Buzzballz Creates The Nest Virtual Classroom For Employees’ Children appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Black Tap introduces a new take on a summer classic with the roll out of its new vegan Dole Whip Cocktails.

The Las Vegas and NYC’s pop-up location in Soho are offering two drinks — Raspberry Lime Margarita and Mimosas, for pickup and delivery.

Mimosa, Raspberry Margarita

These Dole Whip Cocktails are Black Tap’s take on a classic beverage. The sought-after dairy-free frozen fruit has been hard to find but Black Tap is offering it to its consumers. While you can’t go in for service in their locations, they have made their takeout process easy to access. Black Tap took their flagship burgers and made them smaller and easier for carry-out purposes.

The $15 cocktails are available for pick-up and delivery in the NYC location and pick-up in Las Vegas. The orders can be placed through BlackTap.com.

Raspberry Lime Margarita

Raspberry Lime Margarita

Ingredients:

• Casamigos Blanco
• Aperol
• Lime Juice
• Raspberry Dole Whip
• Makrut Lime

Mimosa

Mimosa 

Ingredients:

• Kendall Jackson
• Chardonnay
• Absolute Vodka
• Orange Dole Whip
• Blood Orange

The post RTD Vegan Dole Whip Cocktails Added to Black Taps Menu appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Introducing part three of the Seven Deadly LeSins – Luxury with LeSin Vodka.

This seven-part series will bring you 14 totally unique recipes brought together by Chilled 100 Ambassadors and the LeSin team.

LeSin Vodka teamed up with the Chilled 100 to get creative and give back to bartenders with their Seven Deadly LeSins cocktail program. The brand put together a program to not only put much-needed funds directly in the hands of bartenders, but to create unique recipes for both professionals and home enthusiasts to try. Charles Vaughn, Founder of LeSin, explained, “We challenged the talented LeSin teams and Chilled 100 Ambassadors to create something new and amazing that you can look forward to when the world re-opens (and it will), and also something sure to impress your friends when you entertain at home during these different times. We felt this LEVEL UP was something in between on-premise and off-premise, so we called it HOME-PREMISE.”

Vaughn added that the program was about how to do more than just make a cocktail; it was about finding a way to infuse each recipe with energy. After all, when you go out for a night of drinking, there’s so much more to the experience than just what you’re drinking.

Bartender Crystal Edwards was challenged to create a cocktail inspired by the theme of Luxury and the color Champagne.

Crystal Edwards Presents: LeSin Rose Royal & The Rose Petal



The LeSin Rose Royale is a riff on the classic French 75. It embodies luxury by combining the flavors of vanilla, the essence of rose and the smoothness of LeSin Vodka. Topping off with fine champagne provokes a feeling of elegance and indulgence. Garnish with a dried rose bud and a sprig of thyme to balance the floral sweetness of rose and the earthiness of the spirit.

LeSin Rose Royal

LeSin Rose Royal (Level Up)

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. LeSin Vodka
• 1/2 oz. Vanilla Rose Syrup*
• 1/2 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
• Top with Champagne

Preparation: Combine LeSin Vodka, vanilla rose syrup and fresh lemon in a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice Strain into a coupe or flute. Top with champagne. Garnish with a dried rose bud and a sprig of thyme.

*Vanilla Rose Syrup

2 cups sugar, 1.5 cups rose water, 2 tsp. vanilla bean paste

The Rose Petal (Home Premise)

The Rose Petal (Home Premise)

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. LeSin Vodka
• 1 oz. Sour Mix (Fresh or store bought)
• 2 dashes Vanilla extract
• Top with Brut Sparkling Rose

Preparation: Combine LeSin Vodka, sour and vanilla in a cocktail shaker or any vessel you have on hand (protein shaker etc.) and shake with ice. Strain into a flute, coupe or serve on the rocks if enjoying outside by the pool! Top with Sparkling Rose. Garnish with fresh thyme or a lemon peel.

The post Seven Deadly LeSins Part 3 – LeSin Gives Back To Bartenders appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News

Whether it be for a home collection or a public bar, a row of top shelf whiskeys always attracts the eye, and people will come around to sample them.

The problem with the best stuff is your ideal window for getting it will be shortly after it’s released, because after that you’ll be dealing with substantial retail mark-ups. These six bottles are all worthy of top shelf status and came out in the last few months.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaboration Series The Prisoner

The Prisoner

The last time Bardstown Bourbon Company collaborated with a winery, it was its Phifer-Pavitt Reserve, and that ambrosia. The Prisoner follows a similar pattern, taking a 9-year-old Tennessee-made bourbon and giving it an extra-long, 18-month finishing period in The Prisoner French Oak red wine barrels.

Glendalough 17-Year-Old Mizunara-Finish Irish Single Malt

Glendalough 17-Year-Old

Glendalough is a new Irish distillery, and thus reliant on sourced Irish malts for an old release like this one. This expression was 15 years old at the start, but Glendalough gave it a two-year finish in casks made by rare Japanese Mizunara oak, noted for its potent aromatic properties.

Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel 2020

Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel 2020

If you like the way Lynchburg, Tennessee makes whiskey, this is a special treat. For their annual Heritage Barrel release, Jack Daniel’s orders 100 specially toasted barrels from their cooperage, and then fills them with new make whiskey cut to 100 proof. That is an extraordinarily low entry proof, which increases the breakdown of unwanted, volatile compounds and increases the absorption of the sugars created by that special toasting. The extra trouble yields an extra smooth, flavorful whiskey.

Laphroaig Ian Hunter Series 30-Year-Old Single Malt

This is the first installment in a new series from the Islay distillery, celebrating the legacy of Ian Hunter, who owned and operated Laphroaig from 1908 to 1944. This is a great start, drawing as it does on 30-year-old stock aged in first-fill bourbon barrels.

Laphroaig

Midleton Very Rare Vintage 2019

The 36th release in this oldest series of Irish super premium whiskeys draws on single pot still and grain whiskey stocks ranging from 13- to 34-years old, all aged in ex-bourbon barrels.

Midleton

Old Fitzgerald 15-Year-Old Bottled in Bond, Fall 2020

This is the latest release yet from the Old Fitz Bonded series, but that isn’t the only thing that makes it special. As some experts know, once upon a time Pappy Van Winkle was sourced through the Bernheim Distillery, where Old Fitz is made. That makes this release something like a slightly younger, half-sibling of the Pappy Van Winkle 15-Year-Old of yesteryear, before Buffalo Trace became the main supplier.

Old Fitzgerald 15-Year-Old

The post 6 Luxury Whiskeys Worth Investing In appeared first on Chilled Magazine.

Source: Mixology News