Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com/media/feedlogo.gif Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com en-us Copyright 2009 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/LeNell It All - Absinthe Servicehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/28/lenell-it-all-absinthe-service/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/28/lenell-it-all-absinthe-service/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/28/lenell-it-all-absinthe-service/#commentsFiled under: ,


absinthe lenell smothers

Photo: LeNell Smothers.

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label, called Red Hook Rye, and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

A dear friend who loves his absinthe fully deserved my splurge on a 1910 sample of pre-Prohibition absinthe as the perfect way to celebrate his birthday. Older absinthes made without the use of fake coloring often show off what the French call "feuille morte" (or "dead leaf"), simply meaning the green hue has turned more golden. This old sample had stood the test of time and proudly displayed a golden-green hue.

We tasted it on its own, then enjoyed a nice glass in traditional French style, diluted with ice-cold water, enjoying the slow milky color that appeared. The French call this precipitation of essential oils out of the absinthe the "louche." Other methods of serving might include the addition of anisette, maraschino or sugar syrup. The pure pleasure of tasting an old sample was enough for us to savor simply with sugar and water.

True absinthe is back on the retail shelves again in the U.S., but sad to say this delightful beverage is still grossly misunderstood. Yes, the real product contains wormwood. No, you will not hallucinate and kill people by having a glass of it.

Modern science has revealed that true distilled absinthe even made with wormwood contains very little thujone, the ingredient in artemisia absinthium that our government officials claimed to be so worried about. Funny thing is that the herb sage has more thujone than wormwood, but the FDA never banned it. The truth is absinthe was not "legalized" again in the U.S. -- it just took 75 years for someone to work through all the bureaucratic red tape to clarify thujone limitations.

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]]>absintheAbsintheCocktailhow to drink absintheHowToDrinkAbsintheLenellItAllLenellSmotherslouchesazeracthujonewormwoodLeNell Smothers2009-10-28T17:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - Forget Me Nothttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/21/lenell-it-all-forget-me-not/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/21/lenell-it-all-forget-me-not/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/21/lenell-it-all-forget-me-not/#commentsFiled under: ,


forget me not

Photo: LeNell Smothers.

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label, called Red Hook Rye, and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.
When I had to shut down my liquor shop in Brooklyn due to a lost lease back in February of this year, I decided to hit the road the very next day after vacating the former LeNell's Ltd storefront. Guest bartending, teaching classes and learning from talented bartenders made the pain of losing my beloved business sting less.

I spent a month in Holland learning from the amazing men of Amsterdam's door 74, which is without a doubt Amsterdam's best classic cocktail bar. While there, I decided to reach out and see if I could finally meet a woman I had admired from across the Atlantic ocean.

Ms. Fenny van Wees, the distiller of A. van Wees Distillery de Ooievaar, runs the last authentic distillery left in Amsterdam. The distillery's heritage goes back as far as 1782. I was eager to meet this feisty woman, whose passion is to keep the old ways alive and not give into pressures to mass produce, which compromises quality. She uses only raw, natural products and hand-selects her herbs, flowers and spices. We spent a whole day together at the distillery, leaving me so elated I could barely get to sleep that night.

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]]>amsterdamAvanWeesDistillerydoor74forget me not liquerForgetMeNotLiquerlenell it alllenell smothersLenellItAllLenellSmothersparfait amourParfaitAmourVergeet mij niet liqueurVergeetMijNietLiqueurLeNell Smothers2009-10-21T17:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - Fécamp Frappehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/14/lenell-it-all-fecamp-frappe/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/14/lenell-it-all-fecamp-frappe/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/14/lenell-it-all-fecamp-frappe/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Fécamp Frappe. Photo: LeNell Smothers

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

Back when I was first learning to make drinks, bartenders weren't overwhelmed with a gazillion competitions to prove their skills. Everywhere you turn now, some liquor brand is sponsoring a cocktail competition. As a result, bartenders and mixologists feel the pressure to expand their resumes with accolades and titles.

Last year, B&B celebrated its 70th Anniversary with a Master Mixologist Showcase. I realized I had judged several competitions, but never actually been in one, so I thought this experience would be good to humble an old dog like me. My drink didn't come in first place, but in the words of my British pals "my chat was on fire." What's the use of a bartender if she can't entertain you and make a decent drink at the same time?

The competition took place in New York's historic 21 Club where bartenders first served up a mixture of equal parts brandy and the herbal liqueur known as Bénédictine in the 1930s. Eventually this drink became so popular, Bénédictine decided to start bottling their liqueur with brandy themselves -- in 1937. I named my cocktail after the abbey where the liqueur was born in Normandy, France.

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]]>21 Club21ClubBandBBenedictinefecampfrappeherbal liqueurHerbalLiqueurLenellItAllLenellSmothersLeNell Smothers2009-10-14T17:00:00+00:00Pizzeria Celebrates Bourbon Heritage Month with Drunken Piehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/16/pizzeria-celebrates-bourbon-heritage-month-with-drunken-pie/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/16/pizzeria-celebrates-bourbon-heritage-month-with-drunken-pie/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/16/pizzeria-celebrates-bourbon-heritage-month-with-drunken-pie/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Wouldn't this be
better with bourbon?
Photo: flickr, rick
A Louisville area pizzeria won't let a lack of hard-liquor license damper its Bourbon Heritage Month fun.

For the second consecutive year, Tony Boombozz pizzeria is saluting the state's leading spirit with bourbon pizza, a corn-liquor variation on the standard barbecued chicken pie.

According to the snack's rapidly evolving lore, Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge first nudged Tony Palmobino, who owns the four-outlet gourmet pizza chain, to create the pie at last year's Kentucky Bourbon Festival. He tinkered with a few concepts before settling on the bourbon-and-bacon concoction.

"We use hickory-grilled chicken, applewood bacon, asiago and mozzarella cheeses and then drizzle it with a bourbon barbecue sauce," explains Cindy Anderson, who manages Tony Boombozz's beer-and-wine-only Springhurst location. "It's delicious."

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]]>barbecue sauceBarbecuePizzaBarbecueSaucebourbonBourbonHeritageMonthpizzaHanna Raskin2009-09-16T11:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - The CiCihttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/03/lenell-it-all-the-cici/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/03/lenell-it-all-the-cici/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/03/lenell-it-all-the-cici/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The CiCi. Photo: LeNell Smothers
Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

My man and I just closed on a cozy little house in La Paz, Mexico that we lovingly named Casa Cóctel. While working on the lettering for the Casa Cóctel logo, I was reminded of a cocktail my pal Ben and I made up several years ago called the CiCi -- a blend of cachaça and Campari.

Sweetness often pairs well with bitterness so we went for the pure cane sweetness of a well-made cachaça but added in a touch of Campari, an Italian bitter aperitif made with orange.

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]]>cachacacamparicicilenell it alllenell smothersLenellItAllLenellSmothersLeNell Smothers2009-09-03T17:00:00+00:00Cocktail Ingredients Quizhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/cocktail-ingredients-quiz/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/cocktail-ingredients-quiz/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/cocktail-ingredients-quiz/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Can you identify the ingredients in a martini, cosmopolitan, Manhattan, Mai Tai, Long Island Iced Tea, Harvey Wallbager and more? See how well you know your cocktails.

Cocktail Ingredients Quiz

Crazy for Cosmopolitans? You'll need vodka, Cointreau or triple sec, lime juice, and one other ingredient to shake 'em up at home.

  • Grenadine
  • Orange juice
  • Cranberry juice
  • Pink grapefruit juice

Some folks get fancy with the recipe, but a traditionally-made Mai Tai gets its signature flavor from lime juice, dark rum, grenadine (or simple syrup), curacao and what other key ingredient?

  • Almond syrup
  • Mango juice
  • Coconut milk
  • Orange juice

Shaking up vodka, cream, and this variety of liqueur results in a White Russian.

  • Coffee
  • White chocolate
  • Vanilla
  • Peppermint

The rim of a Sidecar glass is coated in what tasty substance?

  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Cocoa
  • Honey

The non-alcoholic classic Shirley Temple contains ginger ale (or lemon-lime soda), orange juice and a sweet splash of what?

  • Fruit punch
  • Cranberry juice
  • Grenadine
  • Pineapple juice

Vodka or gin would need just this ingredient to be shaken or stirred into a gimlet.

  • Roses Lime Juice Cordial
  • Olive juice
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Pickle juice

Rye (or bourbon), vermouth, bitters and a cherry are the components of which classic cocktail?

  • Negroni
  • Old Fashioned
  • Manhattan
  • Rob Roy

Mix up rum, lime and Coca-Cola to make this drink.

  • Cuba Libre
  • El Presidente
  • Bronx
  • Corpse Reviver

Mint, sugar, lime, soda water and this liquor come together to be muddled into a mojito.

  • Cachaca
  • Tequila
  • Rum
  • Pisco

Standard ingredients in a Negroni include gin, vermouth and what other liquid?

  • Lemon juice
  • Egg whites
  • Angostura bitters
  • Campari

It's not just a punchline -- the Harvey Wallbanger is a fern bar staple featuring vodka, orange juice, and this odd liqueur.

  • Goldschlager
  • Rumplemintz
  • Galliano
  • Peach Schnaaps

When this is popped into a Martini in lieu of an olive, it becomes a Gibson.

  • Jalapeno pepper
  • Lime wedge
  • Gherkin
  • Cocktail onion

James Bond may be more commonly associated with the Martini, but writer Ian Fleming also had him slugging down Vespers, which are concocted from Lillet Blanc and which two liquors?

  • Brandy & Scotch
  • Gin & Vodka
  • Vodka & Bourbon
  • Bourbon & Brandy

Mix orange juice and this spirit for a hard-hitting Screwdriver.

  • Rum
  • Vodka
  • Champagne
  • Whiskey

Sure, you could ask for a vodka & cranberry with a lime wedge, but it's much more festive to order it this way:

  • Greyhound
  • Salty Dog
  • Cape Cod
  • Madras

If you've got bourbon, mint, and a splash of soda, you're on the right track to make the Derby Day classic, a Mint Julep. What's still missing?

  • Lime
  • Sugar
  • Bitters
  • Nothing

The Bloody Mary is a brunch standard, but this addition transforms it into a hearty Bloody Bull.

  • Beef broth
  • Red Bull
  • A whole hot pepper
  • Pepper vodka

Creme de menthe and cream are terribly tasty together, but if you want a Grasshopper, hop to the store for a bottle of:

  • Vanilla vodka
  • Creme de Cacao
  • Green food coloring
  • Mint extract

A Greyhound gets its distinctive flavor from vodka and this mixer:

  • Sweetened lime juice
  • Pineapple juice
  • Cranberry and orange juice
  • Grapefruit juice

We all know that a Long Island Iced Tea has no tea in the mix, but what liquor isn't part of the standard recipe?

  • Bourbon
  • Vodka
  • Rum
  • Tequila
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]]>bittersbloody maryBloodyMarybourboncamparicocktailscosmopolitansgimletsgingrenadineharvey wallbangerHarveyWallbangerlong island iced teaLongIslandIcedTeamai taiMaiTaimanhattanmartinimartinismint julepMintJulepmojitonegronirumscrewdrivershirley templeShirleyTemplesidecartequilatriple secTripleSecvermouthvodkawhite russianWhiteRussianSlashfood Editor2009-09-01T16:17:00+00:00LeNell It All - Are Some Spirits Too Good to Mix?http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/26/lenell-it-all-are-some-spirits-too-good-to-mix/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/26/lenell-it-all-are-some-spirits-too-good-to-mix/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/26/lenell-it-all-are-some-spirits-too-good-to-mix/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Margarita made with Partida Elegante tequila. Photo: Winemeup, Flickr.
Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

Is a spirit ever too good to use in a mixed drink? My answer to this question is inspired by Julia Child, who taught us that, when cooking with wine, use a wine you would be happy to drink, not just some cheap plonk.

And just because you are making a margarita doesn't mean you should grab the cheapest rot-gut tequila. I'm not saying that you have to break your family savings to drink well, but I am saying that I feel no guilt when I use a rare spirit in a cocktail.

My man and I recently closed on a cozy little house in La Paz, Mexico. To celebrate, we popped a bottle of Partida Elegante tequila. Priced upwards of $300, this is not an everyday sipper for most of us.

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]]>aged tequilaAgedTequilacocktailsLeNelllenell it allLeNell SmothersLenellItAllLenellSmothersmixersPartida ElegantePartida Elegante tequilaPartidaElegantePartidaEleganteTequilaTequilaLeNell Smothers2009-08-26T17:00:00+00:00What Spirits Should You Never Bring to a Party?http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/24/what-spirits-should-you-never-bring-to-a-party/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/24/what-spirits-should-you-never-bring-to-a-party/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/24/what-spirits-should-you-never-bring-to-a-party/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Jagermeister in the snow. Photo: janeyesee, Flickr
Our counterparts over at AOL U.K. recently ran an article entitled "Comedy Booze" lamenting the unfortunate habit some guests have of using parties to re-gift hard alcohol they found unfit to stomach back when they received it. From Greek ouzo to French pastis, it's a multi-culti takedown.

Of course, sometimes that famous Brit wit doesn't cross the pond. We know some folks who adore pastis, and others for whom a bottle of Jagermeister might be considered quite a smashing (or quite funny) addition to a party.

That said, we can certainly sympathize with the sentiment. After the jump, three things we think you should never bring to a party. Tell us what we missed!

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]]>alcoholAOL UKboozebritishcomedyhard alcohollistsManischewitzspiritsTriple secwellMike Pomranz2009-08-24T15:00:00+00:00Tru Blood Cocktailshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/07/tru-blood-cocktails/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/07/tru-blood-cocktails/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/07/tru-blood-cocktails/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Dutch Blood and Tru Blood. Photo: Sara Bonisteel
What do you do when you get a bottle of Tru Blood -- the real blood-orange soda inspired by the synthetic blood vampires like Bill Compton drink on HBO's "True Blood"?

If you're me, you head to a bar with a sinister name in an isolated part of town and see what a brilliant bartender can do.

Dutch Kills bartender Giuseppe Gonzalez happens to be a fan of the Southern Gothic tale and was downright delighted to play around with this new sweet soda, which has a faint, bitter caffeine aftertaste that goes well with bitters but can be problematic with other players on the liquor cabinet shelf.

Get the Dutch Blood recipe and more after the jump.

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]]>bill comptonBillComptoncocktailsdutch killsDutchKillseric northmanEricNorthmangiuseppe gonzalezGiuseppeGonzalezhbosookie stackhouseSookieStackhousesynthetic bloodSyntheticBloodtru bloodTruBloodtrue bloodTrueBloodvampiresSara Bonisteel2009-08-07T17:30:00+00:00LeNell It All - Ben's Good Humor Cocktailhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/04/lenell-it-all-bens-good-humor-cocktail/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/04/lenell-it-all-bens-good-humor-cocktail/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/04/lenell-it-all-bens-good-humor-cocktail/#commentsFiled under: , ,

drink
A Good Humor cocktail.
Photo: LeNell Smothers
Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

Back when my little liquor store LeNell's was in operation, my buddy Ben and I would experiment with cocktails during those last few late-night hours working at the shop. He was at my side during the opening of the store right up till the closing. As I shed tears during the process of losing my lease and having to shut down, he reminded me that it's all about the circle. We had built it together, and we were shutting it down together. I was reminded through the tears to keep finding joy and laughter.

Now I'm leaving town for Mexico; my man Demian and I are talking of big-life stuff like marriage and kids, and just bought a house. As for my best friend, he's gonna make me a great man of honor someday.

This is a cocktail of Ben's that reminds me of being a carefree kid in the summer, hearing that "ding ding" of the Good Humor ice cream truck, and running out with my change in hand to get an orange sherbet push-up pop.

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]]>bens good humorBensGoodHumorlenell it alllenell smothersLenellItAllLenellSmothersLeNell Smothers2009-08-04T16:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - The French Kisshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/28/lenell-it-all-the-french-kiss/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/28/lenell-it-all-the-french-kiss/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/28/lenell-it-all-the-french-kiss/#commentsFiled under: ,

frenchkiss
A French kiss.
Photo: LeNell Smothers.
Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

"How about a French Kiss?" I love to ask my dinner guests.

That usually gets someone's attention. One of the simplest, yet most delicious concoctions one can make to start off a party is a mixture of sweet and dry vermouths called a French Kiss. Vermouth is a classic ingredient in many aperitif cocktails, but many folks don't realize it's actually quite delicious just on its own with a few ice cubes.

If you are ever looking through old cocktail books and see "French" vermouth listed, it means dry vermouth. "Italian" in old books means the sweet version. (My mnemonic secret to help me remember which is which is to think of a "Dry-fel" Tower.)

French Kiss recipe after the jump.

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]]>cocktailslenell it alllenell smothersLenellItAllLenellSmothersthe french kissTheFrenchKissvermouthLeNell Smothers2009-07-28T13:00:00+00:00Tales of the Cocktail 2009 - The Recaphttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/14/tales-of-the-cocktail-2009-the-recap/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/14/tales-of-the-cocktail-2009-the-recap/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/14/tales-of-the-cocktail-2009-the-recap/#commentsFiled under: , ,

wax figure with cocktail shaker
Shaken and stirred at Tales. Photo: Sara Bonisteel
Well another Tales of the Cocktail has come and gone, and Slashfood made it through relatively unscathed. New Orleans was filled with the world's best bartenders who met to tipple together and share a bit of their mixology wisdom for throngs of (slightly tipsy) fans during the five-day bacchanal.

James Meehan of New York's PDT was named American Bartender of the Year on July 11, while "Imbibe!" author David Wondrich got a nod for his cocktail writing and Dale DeGroff for his latest book offering, "The Essential Cocktail."

Get our favorite moments and more photos after the jump.




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]]>cocktailsdale degroffDaleDegroffdavid wondrichDavidWondrichjames meehanJamesMeehannew orleansNewOrleanstales of the cocktailTalesOfTheCocktailSara Bonisteel2009-07-14T17:00:00+00:00Bastille Day Food and Drink Rounduphttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/14/bastille-day-food-and-drink-roundup/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/14/bastille-day-food-and-drink-roundup/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/14/bastille-day-food-and-drink-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

absinthe
Absinthe drip and sugar cube.
Photo: Alex Van Buren.
So we've been all about Bastille Day for the last 24 hours, from petanque to moules frites, brioche burger buns to a gorgeous vegetable tian and even a Francophile-friendly absinthe-spiked cocktail.

We're not the only ones itching to get out the door and toast our friends in the Old Country (or the wonderful eats and drinks they've sent our way). For those who will celebrating the occasion at home, Chow has recipes for three lovely terrines; Serious Eats discovers the tapenades of Provence; and one of Slashfood's own beer columnists breaks down Saison style beer at Gourmet while his colleague tackles eight great aperitifs, several of which are French.

Perhaps the triumph of the online articles, however, is France Magazine's enormous feature on aperitifs. From Lillet to Suze to Noilly Prat, it's all there, and we'll be printing it out and tucking it into our bag. (They've just unlocked the online files especially for Slashfood.) Happy celebrating!

View Poll

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]]>absinthealcoholbastille dayBastilleDaycelebrationchowcocktailsfrance magazineFranceMagazinegourmetholidaypollserious eatsSeriousEatsspiritsAlex Van Buren2009-07-14T16:00:00+00:00Starry Night Cooler - LeNell It Allhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/14/starry-night-cooler-lenell-it-all/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/14/starry-night-cooler-lenell-it-all/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/14/starry-night-cooler-lenell-it-all/#commentsFiled under: ,

starry cooler
Starry Night Cooler. Photo: LeNell Smothers.
Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

Absinthe has been blamed for a lot of rowdy behavior, but I don't think any French folks could blame it for the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. Absinthe actually had its peak in France in the late 1800s, but the trend lasted into the early 1900s. Although it originated in Switzerland, most production during the heyday of the Green Fairy took place in southern France.

The idea for Van Gogh's magnum opus, "Starry Night," is also said to have originated in southern France. Although it was created a full 100 years after the Bastille showdown, I figured I'd celebrate le quatorze juillet with a tribute to beautiful night skies (black currant syrup), a bit of revolution (gin) and a touch of madness (absinthe). I call this my Starry Night Cooler. Oh, yeah, and to beat off the summer heat, I threw in some seltzer and a bit of family-recipe lemonade.

The recipe for LeNell's Starry Night Cooler is after the jump.

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]]>absinthebastille dayBastilleDayblack currantBlackCurrantcocktailginlenell it alllenell smothersLenellItAllLenellSmothersrevolutionstarry night coolerStarryNightCoolerLeNell Smothers2009-07-14T15:00:00+00:00Tales of the Cocktail: A Short Survival Guidehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/10/tales-of-the-cocktail-a-short-survival-guide/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/10/tales-of-the-cocktail-a-short-survival-guide/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/10/tales-of-the-cocktail-a-short-survival-guide/#commentsFiled under: ,

tales of the cocktail tasting glasses
Tasting glasses at Tales of the Cocktail. Photo: nerdling/flickr

Drinking five tequila cocktails before 10 a.m. may be decadent - but, as Tales of the Cocktail attendees know, it can also be daunting.

The cocktail industry's premiere annual geekfest tests the hardihood of even the most seasoned drinkers. Alcohol is everywhere at Tales: Seminar presenters are required to serve no fewer than three cocktails during the course of their talks, and the schedule allows Tales-goers to attend four seminars a day. Not counting the tasting rooms, receptions and other special events where booze flows as freely as the mighty Mississip, that's still an epic amount of drinking.

So, in the interest of our readers' well-being, we present here a short guide to surviving Tales.



Continue reading Tales of the Cocktail: A Short Survival Guide

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]]>Hanna Raskin2009-07-10T18:00:00+00:00Tales of the Cocktail 2009 - Day Twohttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/10/tales-of-the-cocktail-2009-day-two/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/10/tales-of-the-cocktail-2009-day-two/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/10/tales-of-the-cocktail-2009-day-two/#commentsFiled under: , ,

jason littrell
The Randolph's Jason Littrell at Tales of the Cocktail. Photo: Sara Bonisteel
We're moving a little slower today -- in part because it's sweltering in New Orleans. We'd hate to blame the 40 different libations created by mixologists amid a Mardi Gras exhibition at the Presbytere for a spirited happy hour at Tales of the Cocktail, but that might be at play too.

Yesterday saw seminars on the hows of alcohol -- how to taste, how to pair, how to make vegan clover clubs (substitute soy lecithin for the egg whites). It also saw some of the world's most famous mixologists shaking their stuff -- Dale DeGroff, David Wondrich, Junior Merino. Keep following us on Twitter. And click on for a gallery of on-the-scene photos.

Continue reading Tales of the Cocktail 2009 - Day Two

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]]>new orleansNewOrleanstales of the cocktailTalesOfTheCocktailSara Bonisteel2009-07-10T12:30:00+00:00Loaded Firearms to Be Allowed in Tennessee Restaurants - By Lawhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/09/loaded-firearms-to-be-allowed-in-tennessee-restaurants-by-law/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/09/loaded-firearms-to-be-allowed-in-tennessee-restaurants-by-law/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/09/loaded-firearms-to-be-allowed-in-tennessee-restaurants-by-law/#commentsFiled under: , ,

jack
Whiskey, gun. Photo: Swift Benjamin, Flickr
Tennessee restaurateurs are fighting a new law that threatens to enshrine a tradition they believe is best left in the Old Wild West.

Unless a judge grants a last-minute injunction, Tennessee residents with the proper permits will be able to carry their concealed, loaded firearms into restaurants serving alcohol starting this coming Tuesday. That makes Tennessee the first state in the nation to expressly allow folks to tuck their guns into hidden holsters and sidle up to the bar.

Attorney David Randolph Smith, who's representing 10 citizens opposing the law, says in what some might consider an understatement, "the problem with having guns where alcohol is served is that fights and breaches of the peace are known to occur."

Or, as Nashville songster Travis Tritt put it more lyrically in one of his biggest hits: "Each time I drink, I start to think I'm 10-feet tall and bulletproof."

Continue reading Loaded Firearms to Be Allowed in Tennessee Restaurants - By Law

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]]>gunslawrestaurantrestaurantstennesseHanna Raskin2009-07-09T14:00:00+00:00Tales of the Cocktail 2009 - Day Onehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/09/tales-of-the-cocktail-2009-day-one/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/09/tales-of-the-cocktail-2009-day-one/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/09/tales-of-the-cocktail-2009-day-one/#commentsFiled under: , ,

classic cocktail shakers
About $45,000 worth of cocktail shakers. Photo: Sara Bonisteel
This year's Tales kicked off with a toast on Wednesday, and then mixologists and cocktail aficionados got down to the business of drink with seminars on everything from starting a bar to using fresh ingredients. Slashfood dropped by a talk on the history of truly classic -- and highly collectible -- cocktail shakers.

There we eyed these four beauties: a lighthouse, two Zeppelin shakers and Norman Bel Geddes' (real-life dad of Miss Ellie from TV's "Dallas") skyscraper design -- which the jovial Jim Walker told us in his most serious voice are worth more than an average year of college.

We're heading out to catch a streetcar to learn more about the molecular DNA of classic cocktails. Check back later for more photos and keep following us as we Tweet from the scene!

Get the official Tales cocktail after the jump.

Continue reading Tales of the Cocktail 2009 - Day One

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]]>new orleansNewOrleanstales of the cocktailTalesOfTheCocktailSara Bonisteel2009-07-09T10:30:00+00:00Tales of the Cocktail 2009http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/08/tales-of-the-cocktail-2009/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/08/tales-of-the-cocktail-2009/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/08/tales-of-the-cocktail-2009/#commentsFiled under: , ,

New Orleans has long been a cocktail town. Photo: nerdling/flickr
Tales of the Cocktail returns this week to New Orleans for its seventh year. Slashfood is on our way to discover the latest and greatest libations. We'll be Tweeting from the scene in the French Quarter. Check our Tweet feed here, and keep an eye out for new posts each day throughout the week. And if you're there, let's Tweet up!

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]]>new orleansNewOrleanstales of the cocktailTalesOfTheCocktailSara Bonisteel2009-07-08T10:30:00+00:00LeNell It Allhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/01/lenell-it-all/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/01/lenell-it-all/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/01/lenell-it-all/#commentsFiled under: , ,

LeNellAlabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things, most recently the owner of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

You survived the Derby Day parties, and your annual mint julep tickled everyone's fancies quite nicely. Now you are wondering what to do with that leftover bottle of bourbon.

How dare you have a leftover bottle of bourbon, first of all! But if you do, here's an easy way to get rid of it.

Continue reading LeNell It All

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]]>bourboncabotcheeselenell smotherslenellsLenellSmotherspairingsrogue creameryRogueCreameryLeNell Smothers2009-06-01T13:00:00+00:00