Caroline on Crack | cocktail competition

Bonjour, mon ami! If you're new here and you like what you see, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this blog.

Tag Archive: cocktail competition

November 10, 2011

This Weekend: Evil Dead and Beer, Boozing for Charity, Caviar Party for the 1 Percent

Thursday, November 10

Pint Night and Evil Dead Double Feature at Naja’s Place
Has any other such combination of words sounded more magical? Not only will Redondo Beach’s beer haven screen two of the best horror movies (so fun to watch with a group) but it’ll also debut a specialty beer from Smog City Brewing. Groovy. Apparently there’s some football game going on before the show but as soon as that’s over. They’ll tap the beer at 8, though.

8pm. Naja’s Place, 154 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach (map). (310) 376-9951.

Friday, November 11

18th Annual Single Malt Scotch & Whisky Extravaganza
It’s you and 110 rare and high-quality single malt and Scotch whiskies. Nope, it’s not a dream, it’s the 18th annual extravaganza. Cost of the evening is $120-$135 but you get the best of the best brown stuff as well as a dinner buffet and premium and imported cigars. Yes, it’s THAT kind of evening, break out the smoking jacket.

7pm. $120-$135. Loews Santa Monica, 1700 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica (map).

Sunday, November 13

Tequila Against Cancer Charity Event at Next Door Lounge
I love these “drink for a good cause” events. And this Sunday there are two. This one is tequila against cancer and is hosted by Handsome Joe Brooke, People’s Choice Winner for Best LA Bartender 2011. $40 gets you a tequila tasting of some of the best (Fortaleza, Casa Noble), food as well as a chance to win a trip to Mexico to go on a tequila distillery tour! There will also be an auction where you can bid on swank items like hotel stays, bowling/punch at Spare Room, and vintage tequilas. And if you purchase advance tickets to Speed Rack (below) you can get into Tequila Against Cancer for $25 instead of $40, just bring your Speed Rack receipt!

1-5pm. $40. Next Door Lounge, 1154 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

Speed Rack LA Cocktail Competition at Hollywood Roosevelt
Cheer on your fave lady bartenders while enjoying cocktail punches, cocktails, and beer. And all for a good cause: breast cancer research, prevention and education. This national event stops in L.A. giving the best women bartenders in town a chance to out-mix one another. It’s gonna be a good time. Liquor sponsors include Beefeater Gin, Plymouth Gin, Pernod and Abita Beer, nuff said! Tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event for $25 (cash only) on a first come, first served basis, depending on capacity and availability. $35 gets you the Speed Rack tee and a koozie in addition to admission.

3-7pm. Tickets: $20-$35. Hollywood Roosevelt, 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (map).

Monday, November 14

The Bruery Reserve Society 2012 Membership Goes on Sale
Sure, you may not want to be the member of any club that will take you as a member but you’ll want to join this one. Because you get 11 limited-edition Bruery beers as well as access to some of the best beer parties in town. Yup, it’s that time of year again when The Bruery Reserve Society membership goes on sale. At $295 it’s for the die-hard beer geek but what an awesome holiday gift that would make. Ahem.

Tuesday, November 15

Bel Air Caviar Tasting with Chef Marcel Vigneron
I know, this sounds wayy fancy and it is what with it being a black tie affair (wuuut?) and costing $500 a head. And it’s been promoted as “An event for the one percent — with room for the other 99.” It has all that appeal to the schwank folk like all the caviar you can eat, champagne, top chefs and string quartets. Top Chef runner-up Marcel Vigneron will prepare three courses in between the musical performances. Adventurous eaters will squeal over smoked alligator, sturgeon and a huge Alaskan smoked salmon.

6pm. $500-$1,500. Bel Air Home whose address is disclosed once you purchased admission.

Categories: Beer, Cocktails, Dining, Los Angeles, Nightlife

Announcing Table 20′s Finalists for LA’s Best Bartender Competition

Last year's Table 20 finalists by Caroline on Crack

It was all loves and hugs among last year's Table 20 bartender finalists.

May I present the best of the best in L.A. bartending: the finalists for Table 20′s LA’s Best Bartender Competition:

Joe Brooke, Next Door Lounge – People’s Choice

Justin Pike, Tasting Kitchen – Judges’ Selection

Brian Summer, Harvard & Stone – Karlsson’s Cocktail Challenge Winner

Devon Tarby, The Varnish – Judges’ Selection

Daniel Zacharczuk, Bar | Kitchen – Karlsson’s Cocktail Challenge Winner

Who do you think will or should win?

Only one of the five extremely talented individuals above will get the title of Best LA bartender and have their gorgeous mug plastered on a billboard. And the judging competition is going down on Sunday, October 9 with lucky judges like King Cocktail Dale Degroff, Library Bar’s (and last year’s winner) Matthew Biancaniello and Top Chef Just Dessert participant Johnny Iuzzini choosing the winner. And while they’re deliberating you’ll get to sample the entries as well as shop Barkeeper Silverlake’s pop-up store, indulge in Ice Ice Shavie’s cocktail snow cones and mingle with like-minded cocktail enthusiasts. General admission tickets go on sale on this Monday, September 26.

EVENT: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9 from 3 to 8pm

Elevate Lounge
811 Wilshire Boulevard, 21st floor
Los Angeles, California 90017 (map)
Facebook: Table 20
Twitter: @Table20

Categories: Cocktails, Los Angeles

2 Comments

August 10, 2011

Vote Now: Who’s the Best Bartender in All of LA?

Which LA bartender do you think is the Bee's Knees?

Mark this down on your social calendar, cocktail fans: On October 9, the L.A. cocktail community will be celebrating Table 20′s 2nd Annual L.A.’s Best Bartender as nominated by you and ultimately voted on by an esteemed panel of judges the night of the event.

At Downtown’s Elevate Lounge, guests will be treated to boozy sno cones by Ice, Ice Shavie and a pop-up of everyone’s favorite cocktail paraphernalia shop, Bar Keeper. Plus rumor has it that the Beer Chicks, Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune, may be in attendance, curating a tasting table of tasty craft beer.

While you’re shopping and imbibing, judges Library Bar’s Matthew Biancaniello (last year’s winner), King Cocktail Dale Degroff, LA Times writer Jessica Gelt, local celebrity Bricia Lopez (Guelaguetza), USBG LA president/The Varnish bartender Marcos Tello and head judge Johnny Iuzzini of Top Chef Just Desserts will vote for the best Karlsson’s Gold Vodka cocktail (created by the finalist bartenders) and in turn the best bartender in L.A.

But this party can’t go down without you fine folks. From now through September 19, submit your nominations for which drink slinger you think is the best in our city. Take into account their drink knowledge, cocktail-making skills, speed, personality, smile, etc…whatever makes them awesome to you, and submit their name, name of their bar, photo (cell phone photos work) and why they deserve their face plastered on an L.A. billboard announcing them as the best bartender in Los Angeles here. You get to nominate up to three bartenders and may win a prize of a $200 gift certificate to Takami Sushi & Robata Restaurant just for nominating.

The nominated bartenders will be culled down to 24 semi-finalists and the judges will then narrow them down to four finalists. One finalist will be whoever wins the most nominations and the People’s Choice award. And at the party, the 2nd Annual L.A’s Best Bartender will be crowned. Tickets for the event aren’t on sale yet but stay tune.

Now, who do you think should win this title? Man, so many great bartenders out there! Um, Joe, Alex, Naomi, Mia, Pablo, Damian, Tricia, Julian….

EVENT: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9 from 2 to 8pm

Elevate Lounge
811 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 2100
Los Angeles, California 90017 (map)
Twitter: @Table20

Categories: Cocktails, Featured, Los Angeles, Nightlife

2 Comments

March 1, 2011

Who Makes the Best Mai Tai in All of LA?

Mai Tai Mixoff contestants by Caroline on Crack

Who's the tastiest of them all?

Aidan Demarest’s mark on the L.A. cocktail scene is as the ringmaster. He’s run some of the hottest bars in Los Angeles like Schmeven Schmand and The Edison, helped build the cocktail programs of Pasadena’s 1886 and Hollywood’s Spare Room, thrown together must-do cocktail events like guest mixologist bar nights — Radio Room and Red Rover, and of course orchestrated the infamous Blogger Barhop. Suffice it to say, I think he’s awesome.

Aidan Demarest and Zane Lamprey by Caroline on Crack

Winner Aidan Demarest with host Zane Lamprey

But I have to admit, he wasn’t my choice for the winner of Los Angeles Magazine‘s Mai Tai Mixoff last week. And, yes, I told him that after the competition, which was held at Hollywood’s supperclub. He had competed against Adrian Biggs of La Descarga and Matthew Biancaniello of the Library Bar to create the best Mai Tai in all of L.A. and won.

Now, before you Mai Tai purists get your pink, palm tree logoed panties in a wad over “hey, what about Tiki Ti?” this contest was a challenge to nine of the top mixologists in L.A. to create their take on the classic tropical cocktail. So it was with this in mind that I judged the final three contestants’ drinks.

Matt created Lost in Laos, an uber exotic, creamy concoction with Crusoe Silver Rum, coconut milk, Green Chartreuse and sprinkled with little purple flowers. He had described it as “a Mai Tai and a Pina Colada making love on the islands of Thailand.” Suffice it to say, I loved his version the most. “You just have a hard-on for Matt’s cocktails,” Aidan said after I told him. “Yeah, I do,” I replied. Matt’s Mai Tai is available for your tasting pleasure at Hollywood Roosevelt’s Library Bar.

Warning: Bikini'd girls overhead.

Contestant #2 Aussie Adrian, who is so sexy that host Zane Lamprey (HDNet’s Drinking Made Easy) said that he wanted to put his shrimp on Adrian’s barbie, used ingredients that he thought would influence an L.A.-inspired Mai Tai, namely Mexican food.

So his recipe calls for hibiscus liqueur and a cilantro-rubbed rim as well as Crusoe Silver Rum, Jamaican Rum, honey syrup, lime and grapefruit juices.

La Descarga doesn’t currently serve Adrian’s Mai Tai because it would be kinda tough to do at the busy bar but LD’s general manager Steve Livigni said that maybe when the weather gets warmer they could give it a try. Adrian said that if they pre-batched the cocktail it could work. So check back with LD in the spring.

So, yeah, I told Aidan why his cocktail, The Evening Glass-Off (a surf term), wasn’t my first choice. “It tasted like a really good traditional Mai Tai and I thought the point was to create a whole new version of the cocktail,” I admitted. Aidan’s recipe calls for Crusoe Silver Rum, Crusoe Spiced Rum, Orgeat, simple syrup and chipotle-spiced pineapple. It was potent, sweet and delicious. Aidan basically formulated a Mai Tai cocktail that he would like to drink. It’s also a cocktail that I’d like to drink…and drink. Fortunately, it’s available at Hollywood Roosevelt’s The Spare Room for a revisit.

Now when fellow judge Steve Livigni pulled together the list of nine mixologists to compete in this mixoff, he had approached Aidan asking him to choose one of his bartenders to represent The Spare Room. However when Aidan’s wife heard that the grand prize was a trip to Hawaii, she convinced him to enter the contest himself. The couple first got engaged in Hawaii 20 years ago and haven’t been back since. Suffice it to say, they’re long overdue for a return trip. Just ask Aidan’s wife. Congrats, Aidan, and aloha!

Look for a recap of the Mai Tai Mixoff in Los Angeles Magazine‘s May issue.

Slideshow after the jump.

Categories: Cocktails, Featured, Los Angeles, Nightlife

3 Comments

February 1, 2011

Los Angeles Magazine�s The Hawaii Mai Tai Mixoff: Who Makes the Best in LA?

Wish you were here?

We’ve still got a long way to go for some consistently warm weather, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start your Mai Tai drinking early. Lucky for you, there’s an opportunity to not only vote for your favorite LA bartender’s Mai Tai recipe but also win a trip to Hawaii, Land of Infinite Mai Tais!

Nine of LA’s best mixologists compete for bragging rights and the title of Master Mixer in Los Angeles Magazine‘s The Hawaii Mai Tai Mixoff, a contest which kicks off today. Where and how do you get involved, you ask? Well, each week for three weeks three mixologists will be featured with their versions of the tropical drink on the LA Mag site and all you have to do is vote for your favorite.

Bonus is that your vote also doubles as an entry into a contest to win a trip for two to Hawaii – airfare, luxury hotel accommodations, rental car, complimentary Mai Tai and tapas at the Mai Tai Bar — as well as an invite to attend the finale mix-off event on February 23 at supperclub. Only one vote per week counts.

So why am I telling you about this instead of keeping it all to myself to improve my chances of winning? Because I’m pretty sure I’m disqualified since I’m actually judging the final mixoff with La Descarga‘s Steve Livigni and Melkon Khosrovian, co-founder and spiritsmaker for GreenBar Collective. Woo hoo! And turns out one of my fave globe-trotting boozers, Zane Lamprey of HDNet show, Drinking Made Easy will be hosting the event. By then the field will be narrowed down to the top three and we have the very difficult task of picking just one winner. Can’t wait.

In any case, who are you going to vote for? Here’s the schedule for which bartenders are competing each week:

Monday, January 31 � Sunday, February 6: Bar + Kitchen (Alex Day), La Descarga (Adrian Biggs), Tasting Kitchen (John Coltharp)
Monday, February 7 � Sunday, February 13: Cana (Allan Katz), Rivera (Julian Cox), The Spare Room (Aidan Demarest)
Monday, February 14 � Sunday, February 20: First & Hope (Naomi Schimek), Library Bar (Matt Biancaniello), The Edison (Joe Brooke)

Facebook: Hawaii and LosAngelesmag
Twitter: @SharingAloha and @LosAngelesmag

Categories: Cocktails, Featured, Los Angeles

3 Comments

December 15, 2010

2010 DonQ Holiday Mixoff at Esquire House

Allan Katz flirting up a daiquiri.

Five of L.A.’s top bartenders, an $18.9-million home in the Doheny Estates and a party full of willing drinkers. Such was the DonQ Holiday Mixoff at the ultimate bachelor pad, the 9,000-square-foot 2010 Esquire House, a house party venue created by the magazine featuring 11 lustworthy rooms dripping with brands like Salvatore Ferragamo and Hugo Boss, and including a “man cave” featuring high-tech gadgets and a turntable seating area. And to make sure you’ll really never want to leave the house, there’s a Heineken tap in the pool house, a Lufthansa flight simulator (best to avoid when tipsy) and a $500,000 music studio. Crazy!

But back to the cocktail contest. Throughout the house and backyard, the bartenders were set up at various bars where they had to make their signature cocktails for everyone to vote on. The guests were given two poker chips to place in the buckets of their favorite cocktails.

Here were the cocktail contenders:

Alex Straus, Hemingway’s: The Berlin (Velvet Falernum, DonQ Cristal, champagne, sugar, OJ and lemon juice) and 700 Rum Punch (Blackbeard Spiced Rum, DonQ Anejo, Smith and Cross Rum, orgeat, nutmeg, lemon and lime juice, simple syrup)
Allan Katz, Cana Rum: Sterling Daiquiri (Blackbeard Spiced Rum, ginger cordial, lime, Agua de Jamaica, raw sugar simple, Peychaud’s) and Alvarado Death March (DonQ Anejo, anejo tequila, ginger syrup, grenadine, lime, Cholula, club soda)
Danielle Crouch, The Tar Pit: Lost at Sea (DonQ Anejo, pineapple syrup, lime, Angostura, absinthe rinse, champagne) and Privateer’s Fizz (Blackbeard Spiced Rum, Cynar, lemon, raw sugar simple, egg white, soda)
Danny Lane, Cafe Habana: Habana Mojito (DonQ Cristal, lime, mint leaves, lime/mint-infused jarabe) and Black Beard Spiced Sangria (Blackbeard Spiced Rum, red/white wine, triple sec, apricot brandy, OJ, Sprite, fruit)
Eric Tecosky, Jones Hollywood: Fruit Cocktail (classic fruit salad in tropical DonQ, raspberry whipped cream topping) and Root for Me (adult root beer float made with Blackbeard Spiced rum)

I roamed around the house with drinking buddies Thirsty in LA and Savory Hunter, pondering each cocktail while at the same time fantasizing that the Esquire House was really my home (especially that closet full of designer shoes) and the Don Q party, my own fancy shindig. “But just who are all these people?”

When it came down to it, Allan Katz’s cocktails, both of them, as well as Alex Straus’ 700 Rum Punch were our stand-out favorites.� Yet it was Alex’s The Berlin and Eric’s Root for Me that ultimately garnered the most votes from the party-goers — comprised mostly of friends of the bartenders as well as liquor distributor Southern Wine & Spirits — and winning the bartenders $500 each. Congrats, you guys!

More photos of the mixoff and the recipe for Alex Straus’ winning cocktail (which would make for a tasty champagne toast at NYE) after the jump.

Categories: Cocktails, Los Angeles, Nightlife, Recipes

Domaine de Canton Cocktail Competition at First & Hope

Domaine de Canton's Silamith Weir with The Edison's Joseph Brooke

Last week I was fortunate enough to be invited to be one of the judges at the Domaine de Canton cocktail competition held at downtown’s First & Hope Supper Club. I know. Squeeee! Along with renowned mixologist Alex Day (formerly of Death & Co., now cocktail consultant with Proprietors, LLC), Dan “The Imbiber” Dunn and Domaine de Canton founder, John Cooper, I was charged with picking one winning Domaine de Canton cocktail out of the nine created by some of the best mixologists in L.A. Boy, what a tough gig. Heh.

Each cocktail was judged based on its appearance, aroma, creativity and taste. We also had to award points for whether the cocktail showcased the contest theme and the Canton flavor, as well as our overall impression of the drink.

The Contestants

Malo‘s Rachel Shaw brought forth a honeyed El Wood of Barenjager honey liqueur and Yellow Chartreuse. Gus, formerly of Copa d’Oro and now at the Edison, went with Ginger Pastis Sour while Palihouse‘s Grady Purdell had a Maison Sour of cognac. Patrick Kelly at Bar Keeper created an unusual drink he dubbed Rhythm or Rhyme which employed a chocolate chili bitters, tequila reposado and a unique garnish of grapefruit rind string wrapped around a bundle of sage. Juan Sevilla of Soho House made the French Oaxacan with crema and cru and Daniel Eun of The Varnish ended the night with a Triple Double using Laird’s Apple Jack and Antica.

The Runners-Up

Out of all the lovely drinks, the judges and I were able to narrow it down to the top three. The second and third runners-up cocktails were impressive showings but only missed the top slot by mere points. Still both were very deelish. I’ve included the recipes should you want to try them at home.

Tricia Alley of Providence and First & Hope created her Granny Smith & Wesson, a cocktail with Old Overholt Rye as its backbone and fennel seed and muddled Granny Smith apples. This one was a beautiful peachy color with a single baby basil leaf floating on its surface. The flavor combination of basil and apples was just gorgeous, and the rye and ginger with that was a natural fit.

Granny Smith and Wesson
By Tricia Alley of First & Hope

1.5 oz Domaine de Canton
1.5 oz Old Overholt Rye Whisky
.75 oz fresh squeezed lime
3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
1/2 Granny Smith apple
Barspoon fennel seed

Muddle Granny Smith Apple, Fennel Seed and Peychaud’s Bitters in mixing glass. Add the rest of the ingredients, shake, fine strain into cocktail glass. Float Basil leaf garnish on liquid.

Joseph Brooke of The Edison created a tasty and refreshing Appleseed Cooler. He wanted to focus on the Canton so used that as his main spirit. The cocktail was so simple and yet made a strong impression, successfully highlighting the ginger flavor. The drink was sweet but not overly so. I liked how, even though his apple garnish went missing, he was able to improvise by butterflying a grapefruit which ended up looking like jewelry.

The Appleseed Cooler
By Joseph Brooke of The Edison