TALK DRINKS

The Roaring Fork - The Wild West

Whether you are visiting the Scottsdale/Phoenix area for the first time or you are a seasoned local, a stop at the Roaring Fork Restaurant & Saloon is a must. Located just North of Old-Town Scottsdale, the Roaring Fork offers the best that our American West has to offer. Already famous for their Huckleberry Margarita and Green Chili Pork Stew, the Fork now offers the best in Tequilas and Margaritas with the addition of the Partida Margarita to the drink list. Locals agree that the happy hour at the Fork is the best in Phoenix. Once you lay your hands on the Big Ass Burger (a top five rated burger in the country) you may just agree with them. Also, boasting a top-rated wine list and fine-dining in the restaurant, the Roaring Fork is ready to give you the best of what the West has to offer. If you are in the area, stop in and say hello. I'll make you a special cocktail that will have you coming back for seconds, thirds, ....... Cheers - Stephen, Bartender, The Roaring Fork

Bay Area's Best Mixologists Leaving Bars for Brands

Here is a very interesting article about mixologists and spirits in last week's S.F. Chronicle and yours truly is mentioned in the story. (FYI - That is not a picture of me, it's of master bar chef Todd Smith) Salud - Jacques

S.F. Gate article

The Watermelon Cucumber Martini - Welcome to Miami

Dine Magazine and Partida Tequila co-sponsored a cocktail competition featuring the top bartenders in Ft. Lauderdale at 3030 Ocean. Guests had the opportunity to taste these innovative and unique cocktails while savoring tasty bites from Chef Dean Max.
Mixologists from Trina, Himmarshee, 3030 Ocean and Blue Martini came up with some unique and delicious recipes. I had the pleasure of being one of the judges along with Pat Sullivan of Dine Magazine and Shari Gherman of the American Fine Wine Competition. From pear caviar to absinthe soaked flaming orange zest, there was one surprise after another as these bar chefs wowed us with their creativity and passion for creating cocktails.
Bill Turner from Himmarshee took home the grand prize with his Watermelon Cucumber Martini. Here are a few of the recipes that they came up with. Enjoy - Marita

Watermelon Cucumber Martini (Bill from Himmarshee)
2 oz Partida Blanco
2 oz Fresh watermelon
1 oz Fresh skinless cucumber
1 oz Sweet & sour
3/4 oz Simple syrup
Muddle ice, cucumber & watermelon. Add remaining ingredients, shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with watermelon cube and cucumber spear.

Partida Passion (Nick from Trina)
2 oz Partida Reposado
1 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz Partida Agave Nectar
Fresh mango
Fresh passion fruit
Muddle mango and passion fruit. Add remaining ingredients, shake and strain into a martini glass.

Costalegre (Yordan from 3030 Ocean)
Partida Blanco
Fresh ginger
Simple syrup
Blood orange puree
Wedge of orange
Wedge of lemon
Orange peel
Muddle ginger with simple syrup. Add tequila and blood orange puree. Squeeze orange and lemon juices from wedges. Shake. Rub glass with orange peel and rim glass with grated orange zest. Pour into a glass. Pour absinthe over orange zest and flame then garnish cocktail.

Here's my final entry about the Averna Adventure

"I'm writing from home, from San Francisco, which I returned to just over 36 hours ago from Italy, and I have a serious case of jetlag and amaro-itis. Am I a junkie, or merely being rational? Does my body now desperately need the bitter herbal liqueur after ten days of Italian food and drink, or do I dare stare the bottle of Averna down and say, No! You and I, in spite of our passionate love affair, must take a break.

The trip was splendid, well organized, educational, and the beauty of Italy certainly didn't hurt. The actual cocktail competition was staged on the terrace of the Capotaormina Hotel overlooking the Mediterranean sea and Calabria in the east. It was the most spectacular setting for a cocktail competition one could ever imagine.

As you know by now, Don Lee of PDT in New York took the crown home with his 'La Cola Nostra' cocktail, a long drink full of spice and effervescence. It was the unanimous favorite of the judges, all of whom were culled from either England or Italy. Then, we celebrated with a fantastic seafood lunch paired with Sicilian wine, and some of us, also took a nap.

That evening we headed into the mountaintop village of Taormina with its winding cobble-stoned roads for the first of two amazing evenings. We were fortunate enough to have cocktails on the deck of a hotel where we faced south and watched Mt. Etna angrily spit her lava down to the Sicilians living at her base.

Saturday morning brought us into a meeting with Averna's resident mixologist in Italy, Michele Di Carlo, as we tasted and talked through the world of Amaro. It was particularly interesting for we Americans to see the European perspective on Amaro, which is still firmly rooted in enjoying the spirit on its own. I wonder, however, with some of the cocktail competition judges hailing from London bars and its fantastic bar culture, if some of their influence might just jump across the English Channel and on over to Italy. Italy, as a whole, is a cocktail creators paradise as it produces so much fresh, unique produce, as well as having thousands of wineries and distilleries. I do imagine at some point that Italy will have an incredibly vibrant cocktail scene just like many other countries around the world.

As I step behind my bar this evening, I wonder if I'll need just a little hair of the bittersweet dog that took me 'round the world: bottle of Averna, beware!'" Thanks - Duggan

 

Fun Loving Health Nuts Hit Happy Hour - Rocky Moutain Times

Back in 2005, a group of Denverites got together for a little bike ride to their favorite hang out. They had so much fun that they continued to get together every week for a little pedaling and partaking. 2 years later scores of fun loving bicycle enthusiasts take to the streets every Wednesday for some crazy themed bike rides to bars all around downtown Denver.

Although their strict rule is "Never talk about Denver Cruisers", the word is out. Beginning at the Gin Mill north of downtown at 7, the riders work their way through the city stopping at notable spots such as Great Divide Brewery, Herb's, El Chapultapec, and on to spots south like as The Garage.

Themes for the rides have included pajamas, beach parties, dead celebrities, wig night, and this week (in honor of talk like a pirate day) "Pirates and Sea Men". These are great opportunities to meet fun-loving people and have a great Wednesday night in the mile high city. Ride Free - Scott

Viva Mexico!!! Viva Tequila!!!

Happy Mexican Independence Day!!!
A few months along I was on the Roe Conn Show talking about Tequila. I thought this segment about the 4 categories of Mexico's national spirit was especially appropriate for today.

Salud - Jacques

Click here to listen

Averna Cocktail Contest - Sicily Adventure

Back in May, we wrote about the winners of the Averna Cocktail Contest. Two of the mixologist judges of this contest; Duggan Mcdonnell and Tad Carducci and the 5 lucky finalists are in Sicily now exploring the Averna world. Here is their update of the first day in the old country.

"We touched down in Catania, the plane packed more than full, bumping its way down the runway. It was so hot, we thought the tires might pop. The September Sicily air swelled, then scorched our skin. Outside, a bus we drove us north to Messina, where we went to catch a ferry to the Isle of Lipari for a brief respite before the touring and cocktail competition begins. Looking out at the hills and at Mt. Etna herself, it appeared that the colors and fauna of Sicily had more in common with Morocco and Mexico than Europe. Sicily is lionùs hide brown in color and rocky in texture, born from a volcano and sundried over thousands of years. It is this soil, and the Mediterranean that surrounds, that births the flavors of its food and drink: savory, bitter bright citrus and herbs, all salt and sea. It is fitting that Amari was born here. Even the soft drinks are bitter. Now, it is less than twenty four hours before all descend upon the Isle and the tour begins, and then competition to decide who the Averna Champion will be. I cannot wait." - Duggan Mcdonnell

Partida Florida Mojito

All this talk of hurricanes has made me thirsty so over the weekend, I created a tasty new cocktail to help  you get over the Hurricane Blues. Cheers - Jeffrey Klein

Partida Florida Mojito
1.75oz Partida Reposado Tequila
0.5oz Partida 100% Organic Agave Nectar
5 mint leaves
2 limes
1 orange slice
Start by muddling 4-5 mint leaves in a pint glass. Add the limes and orange slice in the bottom of a glass. Pour in Partida Tequila and Agave Nectar. Add ice, a dash of orange juice and shake well. Strain into a tall cocktail glass. Top with a shot of soda water and garnish.

Trina - Welcome to Miami

The lounge at Trina Restaurant in The Atlantic Hotel is the place to be on Friday nights. Each week they feature a different spirit and the mixologists mix and muddle your ideal cocktail to order. They have an innovative cocktail menu that you can order off of. But the way to go about it is to look over the wide selection of fresh fruit, herbs, infused syrups and create your own signature drink.
 When I arrived a group of friends had ordered the Cubeltini, I asked the bartender, Leo, if he could use Partida Tequila instead of vodka. All I can say is 'Yowza'. It was awesome! He told me the story behind the drink...
A few years ago, he participated in a cocktail competition for Belvedere Vodka at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival and took home the grand prize for his unique cocktail. He muddles cucumbers with mint and lime, adds vodka and some simple syrup and VOILA!!!!
This particular evening many of the guests at the bar joined me in trying what I like to call the 'Cupartini'
If you are in the area, you must stop by and say hello to my friends Leo, Nick and Al. These bar masters will treat you to a fabulous evening of cocktails as you listen to the music of Roberto Obregon. To top it off, the food at Trina is to die for! Salud - Marita

Ways to tell the DNC is in your town - Rocky Mountain Times

As the insanity of the week begins to recede into the distance, I’ll take a moment to reflect upon the week for anyone’s future reference.

The first way that you notice the DNC is coming to town are the helicopters. Black military helicopters flying low among the buildings of downtown. I mean in between them and looking in windows, at night with people dangling out of them ..... and months before the event begins. It’s an unmistakable sound and immediately makes one wonder what it would take to grow accustomed to living with something like that. I mean, it’s fun to sit and watch the vibrations on the top of your beer, but only for so long.

The first you notice that the DNC has arrived is traffic, LOTS of traffic!!! On main thoroughfares, side streets, alleys, everywhere. Blocks and blocks of cars sitting still, which leads to the second way you know that the DNC has arrived – lane closures (only you have to sit in traffic for an hour to discover it). Three lanes going down to one, side streets closed, enitre sections of Interstate closed to traffic. Getting to your favorite bar downtown is more likely to dry a guy out than Betty Ford.