Derby Day with George Remus and Rossville Union
SPONSORED CONTENT
A few weeks ago, the folks at George Remus Bourbon and Rossville Union Rye Whiskey bet on me to make Derby Day cocktails. If you missed those recipes on my social accounts, here they are!
For George Remus, I went with my take on Patrick Halloran’s cocktail of the same name.
The George Remus Third Man
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz George Remus Bourbon
3/4 oz Campari
1 oz grapefruit juice
3/4 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
Instructions:
Shake all ingredients with ice until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a grapefruit twist.
For Rossville Union, I decided to reimagine the Kentucky Mule—the whiskey-forward alternative to the Moscow Mule.
The Rossville Union Blind Buck
Ingredients:
2 oz Rossville Union Rye Whiskey
1 strawberry, muddled
3/4 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 oz simple syrup
2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
ginger beer
Instructions:
Muddle strawberry in shaker. Add remaining ingredients. Shake with ice. Fine strain into a Collins glass and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a strawberry.
Please drink responsibly!
Ring in Spring with George Remus and Rossville Union
Celebrate Spring with these cocktails featuring George Remus Bourbon and Rossville Union Rye Whiskey.
SPONSORED CONTENT
In the immortal words of Biz Markie, “It’s Spring again!” George Remus Bourbon and Rossville Union Rye Whiskey asked me to make springtime cocktails and I was happy to oblige.
For George Remus, the “king of the bootleggers,” I created this riff on a Paper Plane. Named after the xx that Remus once owned, The George Remus Fleishman Flyer is a refreshing cocktail for when you want to get away! Check out the video below for step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients:
3/4 oz George Remus Bourbon
3/4 oz Aperol
3/4 oz amaro
3/4 oz lemon juice
Instructions:
Add bourbon, Aperol, amaro and lemon juice into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with two cocktail cherries.
For Rossville Union, I decided to use my favorite kind of whiskey in the cocktail that changed the game for me—the classic daiquiri! The Rossville Union Rye Shake is a simple enough cocktail to make, but its layered flavors are anything but. Watch the video below for step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients:
2 oz Rossville Union Rye Whiskey
1 oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
3/4 oz simple syrup
Instructions:
Add rye whiskey, lime juice and simple syrup to a shaker into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a coupe. Garnish with a seasonal berry of your choice.
Please drink responsibly!
Rémy Martin Releases Limited-Edition VSOP Inspired by 1980's
I have to say I was more than a bit “hype” (given the subject matter, I hope you’ll also allow a little old school lingo), when I saw this latest release from Rémy Martin.
“I used to let my tape rock/till my tape popped.” - Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy”
That’s long been one of my favorite lyrics. And while it feels very retro now given that cassettes have gone the way of the dinosaur, I have to say I was more than a bit “hype” (given the subject matter, I hope you’ll also allow a little old school lingo), when I saw this latest release from Rémy Martin.
The limited-edition VSOP bottle is inspired by the iconic design first commercialized in the 1980s and 1990s. The refreshed design with gold detailing pays homage to mixtape culture and invites imbibers to rediscover Remy.
Your favorite mixtape DJ, whether it be Kay Slay or DJ Drama, often told a lot about you, including where you from. Similarly, Rémy Martin’s terroir reflects the same quality of craft that can emerge from one distinct place.
“The Rémy Martin VSOP bottle has been an icon in music culture for generations, and we are thrilled to debut this refreshed limited-edition design,” said Tina Reejsinghani, Vice President at Rémy Martin Americas. “Musical artists of the past have shaped and inspired the sounds we hear in music today and that same timeless excellence is reflected in what we have celebrated with our Cognacs throughout our own history.”
Recently, the House launched “Ground’s Melody,” a two-part content series which revealed the figurative and literal parallels between music and its cognac. Last summer, they announced the first-ever “House Beats Challenge,” led by hit-making producers, where fans had the chance to submit a beat using sounds from their home for a chance to win a VIP event to foster mentorship.
The limited-edition Rémy Martin VSOP is available for $50.
Knappogue Castle Honors Cocktail Queens
Knappogue Castle Irish Whiskey honors some of the best women bartenders in the business.
I have always had a soft spot for Knappogue Castle Single Malt Irish Whiskey. In fact, the last event I attended in the “before time” was a Knappogue St. Patrick’s Day event. So, when I heard the brand enlisted 12 celebrated women bartenders, including a few of my faves, to create cocktails for the women who have inspired them in their careers, I was all in.
Launched last October, Knappogue began sharing these cocktail recipes on their social media channels every two weeks. The campaign will culminate on International Women’s Day (March 8). The lineup of women creating cocktails for the series includes bartenders Ezra Star (Boston), Meaghan Dorman (New York), Devon Tarby (Los Angeles), Mariena Mercer (Las Vegas), and Jenee Craver (Chicago) and my former podcast co-host Lucinda Sterling (New York).
As part of the campaign, Knappogue is encouraging all female bartenders to get involved. For every additional female-inspired recipe they receive, the brand will make a donation to a women’s charity of their choice.
The first recipe in the collection came from Denaya Jones, owner of Washington, D.C.’s DEEstilled drinks events company. Jones’ cocktail, Black is Gold, combines Knappogue Castle 12 Year with Nocino Walnut Liqueur, house-made plum-honey compote, and egg white.
“We feel humbled to be partnering with some of the top female bartenders in the US for our Women in Whiskey campaign,” says Jon Dubin, Knappogue Castle’s Brand Director. “In addition to being great ambassadors for the brand, we look forward to throwing the spotlight on these women and their careers. We can’t wait to share their extraordinary stories as well as their delicious Knappogue cocktails.”
All hail the queens!
Cointreau Scores With “Love Letter”
Last night (Feb. 7), Cointreau launched its “Love Letter,” a national campaign during up Super Bowl LV, to raise awareness on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on local restaurant and bar workers.
Created in collaboration with the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC), “Love Letter” was created for the industry, by the industry. Produced by creative agency Intuitive Content, founded by four-time James Beard award-winning TV personality, chef and IRC co-founder Andrew Zimmern, the campaign spotlights real restaurant and bar staff who have been impacted by the pandemic.
The spot encourages viewers to visit cointreau.com/saverestaurants to share a simple “Thank You” or a heartfelt “See You Soon” on social, tagging their favorite bar or restaurant with hashtag #SaveRestaurants. These “Love Letters” will raise awareness of the plight these small businesses continue to face.
More than one in six restaurants and bars have shut their doors since the pandemic began nearly a year ago, and up to 85 percent risk closing permanently. Temporary and permanent closures have left over 2.4 million people who work in restaurants and bars without a job, including over 370,000 who lost their jobs this past December.
“The global pandemic has threatened the family of restaurants, bars and industry partners that help create the exceptional moments and experiences customers hold near and dear when they order a Cointreau cocktail. We’re taking this opportunity to amplify their voices during one of the biggest moments of the year with our emotionally-charged ‘Love Letter,’ an authentic testament to the industry we love and are committed to see thrive again,” said Ian McLernon, President and CEO at Rémy Cointreau Americas. “Our on-premise partners have given Cointreau so much, and we want to do our part to show our support. We are thrilled to work alongside the Independent Restaurant Coalition to keep restaurants from disappearing forever.”
“Love Letter” marks a continuation of Cointreau’s aid for local bars and restaurants nationwide as the long road to recovery continues. They took immediate action at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic through the support of United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) and other immediate relief funds along with its ongoing support of the IRC.
“People cannot wait to go back to their favorite restaurants and bars when it's safe to do so, but there’s no guarantee the people who make those places special will be around,” said Andrew Zimmern, Founding Member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition. “We are grateful for the national platform Cointreau has provided and hope this kick-starts a national conversation on the challenges facing the creative and dedicated people who face innumerable challenges navigating the pandemic.”
Chicken Noodle, Chocolate Chips and Other Bar Rituals
There are often articles written about the latest trends in the hospitality industry. This is not one of them.
As much as I love the next big things in cocktailing, I also have an appreciation for the tried and true traditions that make bars the familiar and familial spots that they are. And given that 2020 was anything but tried or true, I thought we could all use a little tradition—even if they aren’t all being honored right now.
The following bars all have traditions, some might say rituals, that they do night in and night out -- at least every day that they’re open. Some you may have heard of and others you may not have, but either way we pay homage to those that keep with tradition.
NYC's Employees Only - The iconic bartender’s bar serves their legendary chicken soup at 3:45 AM (closing time) every night. Not sure what the restorative properties of the soup are but if you’re still at EO at that time of night/morning, you’ll likely need it.
Chicago's Punch House - When the clock strikes midnight, those seated at the bar of this hideaway are encouraged to take part in a traditional Irish drinking chant ("There are good ships, there are wood ships, there are ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships and may they always be.") while a staff member feeds the fish in the back bar aquarium -- giving a meaning to “tanked.”
Fayetteville’s Maxine's Tap Room - The historic bar’s founder, Maxine Miller, had a "last call” (lisen below) that was the same every night and is now immortalized in a recording you can listen to on a vintage pay phone at the bar. This tradition has also been upheld by the current owners and staff, who shout: “May I have your attention, please! You have ten minutes to drink, then get the hell out!”
Los Angeles' The Streamliner - While many of these rituals happen at the end of the night, this retro craft cocktail bar starts everyday with one. Located in LA’s Union Station, it opens everyday at exactly 3:03pm as an homage to train schedules. Trains never leave at the top of the hour. They are scheduled based on optimum times for both commuters and workers of the train companies, frequently running every 3 to 5 minutes. Who knew people in LA commuted via train?
Chicago's Scofflaw - Customers are treated to fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies at midnight
every night. There must be something about midnight in Chicago.
If you know of a bar tradition, please let me know as I would like this to be a living, breathing post that I keep updating. You can send them to me at bartimestoriespod@gmail.com.
Bombay Sapphire and Hebru Brantley Celebrate Black Lives
Bombay Sapphire gin’s first-ever limited edition artist designed bottle in collaboration with visual artist Hebru Brantley, The Chicago-based artist’s first ever bottle collaboration features distinct Afro-Futuristic designs as an extension of his signature work. The launch of the Hebru Brantley Limited Edition bottle will benefit the Chicago chapter of Black Lives Matter.
The limited-edition design reflects Brantley’s reinterpretation of the iconic blue Bombay Sapphire bottle, paying homage to his early roots in street art and featuring bold and vibrant hues along with some of his famous characters.
As an extension of Bombay Sapphire’s Stir Creativity, the Hebru Brantley Limited Edition embodies the brand’s mission to inspire and awaken the creative potential within everyone.
Recognized as one of the preeminent Black creatives at the forefront of culture, Brantley has been internationally lauded for his public works and solo shows, featuring pieces collected by Jay Z, Lenny Kravitz, George Lucas, LeBron James and more. His most recent project, Nevermore Park, transformed his former Chicago-based studio into an immersive pop-up art exhibit that attracted thousands of visitors.
I spoke with Brantley via email about art, the collaboration and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Bar Time Stories: What were your initial thoughts about the Bombay collaboration?
Hebru Brantley: It all started with me being a part of the Artisan Series back in 2011. I had a very successful Miami Art Week experience as a result, which was a turning point in my career. Since then, the brand has been a big supporter of my various creative ventures, like sponsoring the opening night of Nevermore Park, an immersive pop-up art experience and one of my most ambitious projects to date. Meanwhile, Bombay Sapphire approached me about doing a very special project, which was designing their first ever artist-designed limited-edition bottle. I want it to inspire hope for a better future and shine a light on the courage and resilience of Black people in America. It felt only right that Bombay Sapphire and I were able to do this together to benefit Black Lives Matter Chicago, to support the critical work they do in fighting for racial justice in my hometown.
BTS: What inspired this particular work of art?
HB: My reinterpretation of the iconic Bombay Sapphire bottle is an extension of the piece I submitted for the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series back in 2011. The work I submitted for the bottle design was a piece that mirrored the aesthetic of the bottle. From their logo to their crest, Bombay exudes this sense of royalty within the design, and I wanted to incorporate a narrative that speaks to that sense of royalty. I also knew I wanted the design to inspire hope for a better future and shine light on the courage and resilience of Black people in America. There are very few examples of Black prominence in fantasy, science fiction, adventure, and hero-type stories. That’s one of the reasons I created and continue to highlight strong heroic characters in my work – including on this bottle.
BTS: What is your take on how brands are advocating for social issues like Black Lives Matter?
HB: It has always been my mission and my message to advocate for the Black community through my artwork. I create work for people who are not accustomed to seeing themselves represented in arts and entertainment. I seek to change the conversation around what it means to be a person of color in American through my art. I think it important for brands to do the same when possible and utilize their platforms to help push change as it pertains to systemic racism and police brutality affecting Black Americans. I think at the moment most brands are missing the mark.
Exclusive: Angel’s Envy Addresses Black Lives Matter
In these tumultuous times of a pandemic and civil unrest behind the recent deaths of unarmed African-Americans at the hands of the police, brands of all kinds are walking a fine line. Do they speak up and take a stance, no matter what side, and risk alienating some of their consumers? Or do they say nothing... and risk the same. Well, for Angel's Envy the choice was clear by the statement they made on social media on June 10th (see the full statement below).
One of the strongest statements made by any distillery that we've seen, I wanted to know what inspired the Louisville-based brand. I spoke to Angel's Envy Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer Wes Henderson about the statement, how they plan to take action and more for this Bar Time Stories x The Whiskey Lifestyle exclusive.
Bar Time Stories: What inspired you all to make the statement? How did you get to that point?
Wes Henderson: So it's painted on our wall outside of the distillery. It is one of our philosophies. And it says, “To revere tradition and embrace progress.” And now more than ever, I think it's really important for us to think about that as we put in the work towards making real progress happen. There's definitely no ignoring the black community continues to suffer unjustly because of systematic racism. And we've seen that impact at Angel’s Envy in our backyard, with the death of Breonna Taylor here in town. So, it put it even more kind of at the forefront of our thoughts, but. That really was one of the driving thoughts behind it. If we got it painted on a wall, it doesn't mean anything unless we put it into action.
BTS: You guys are one of the few whiskey distilleries that have spoken out. Was there any concern when you all were talking internally about making the statement?
WH: There really wasn't any concern. I think we knew we couldn't remain silent about this. I think a knee jerk reaction for any business that will be for you to say anything is that, “Oh my gosh, what are people gonna think if I say something.” But silence really isn't an option. And I don't judge any of my fellow bourbon industry people for saying or not saying [something]. I think that everybody is in good faith, trying to make sure that what they say, the same as how we felt, was genuine. But the course of action plan that we had was meaningful and impactful. It wasn't just words on an Instagram page. Iit was something that had deep meaning and actions to back that up. So, that's kinda how we got there.
BTS: Those actionable steps are really important. How did the apprenticeship program come about? Was that something you all were already working on?
WH: It wasn’t in our plan. We've always been, I think, a diverse organization. There's definitely a clear underrepresentation of minority distillers and spirits industry professionals. I think this, like a lot of people, has pushed us to realize that we needed to take initiatives that go further. Certainly we've always considered those things. We've always made that a part of how we do business, but the question becomes “Can we do better?” And I think we can do better. The entire industry can do better. So, now we're in the early days of building out the program specifics, but I see a potential for a broad range of underrepresented groups in bourbon. I'm talking Black, women Latino... All over the board. They are all underrepresented groups that help to match our company to our consumer base and the world around us. We’ve put together a group internally that is working specifically on this project, the apprenticeship program, and those details will be forthcoming sooner rather than later. And I'm part of that group as well.
But positive and negative reactions, I'm not surprised. If you spend time watching the news or even looking at the comment section on social media, it's to be expected. But what's most important to us is making a statement that we knew was right. And truthfully, I don't see how anybody on this planet could read what we said and what we're going to do and have a problem with it. In a world that in a world the way it should be, let's put it like that, what we're proposing and the things that we said could be an issue. And of course, we know it is an issue to a lot of people, but I have no patience for that. I have no tolerance for that. We were going to say and do what's right.
BTS: Finally, that statement [mentioned in the post] ends with “the first step at working towards true progress.” What does true progress look like for Angel's Envy and/or you specifically?
WH: Oh, wow! There's a lot there. As I mentioned before, the first steps are concrete steps towards doing what we said we were going to do and doing it in a meaningful way. I think the first steps in progress are the recognition of things that we may not have perceived before or injustices that we allowed to happen over years and years and years. And personally, for me, I think that that has been a big awakening for me to think about things that I never thought about before. It’s not that I never cared about things. I just never thought about these things. And then I think that in some ways, we all take things for granted and to have an opportunity to really understand where other people are coming from, where our fellow humans are coming from is a turning point in the world. It is a great chance to finally start to make things better and make things right. And to waste that opportunity would be a horrible thing to do. So I love how our company's grown. I love how we've been very supportive already of social issues and other things like that, but I like how we’ve grown. Personally, I like how I've been able to learn and listen. And then by all of our actions and we do the right thing. That's what it's all about.
Allow Me To (Re)Introduce Myself!
Welcome to the home of Bar Time Stories! After months of thinking, talking and thinking some more, I’ve finally done it.
In the early days of Instagram, when food porn reigned supreme, the contrarian that I am started taking photos of drinks. Looking back, those early photos look terrible, but I became obsessed. I took photos at every date night, business trip or guys’ night out. Some vacations began to include detours to well-known bars, others had whole days blocked out to do distillery tours, and along the way, I started to learn more and more about cocktails and spirits.
In 2017, I was between day jobs and had what some might call an “a-ha” moment. I spent the early part of my career writing about entertainment, so why not take that knowledge and apply it to the world of hospitality. I wrote for one great publication, then another and another (more on all of those later).
Thanks to a welcoming industry, persistence and the help of friends (both old and new), Bar Time Stories (a name that my wife came up with) has offered me some amazing opportunities over these last few years and my hope is that those opportunities never run out.
So here is to Bar Time Stories, where everyone can discuss culture behind spirits, cocktails and bars. Cheers!