Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1025306
september 2018 / the tasting panel / 77 I n the realm of celebrity, there's a rea- son some headliners' names—Elton, Cher, Britney—consistently dominate the marquee. These megawatt stars don't share the spotlight often, but some legends are better served when their talents collide. Such is the case with one of the industry's favorite historic pairings: Frank and Jack. Ole Blue Eyes and Old No. 7. The Chairman of the Board and, well, the bottle he was laid to rest with. If you live under a rock and still aren't following, we're talking about Frank Sinatra and the whiskey he chose to spend eternity with: Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. "Sinatra was one of the most iconic people on the planet who just happened to fall in love with Jack Daniel's," says U.S. Brand Ambassador Eric "ET" Tecosky. It was Tecosky's own love of Sinatra and Jack, in fact, that inspired him to create an exclusive pop-up din- ing experience worthy of the Rat Pack king himself: the Sinatra Supper Club. With Sinatra's pampered lifestyle serving as his inspiration, Tecosky has since launched these underground experiences in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, and San Francisco. "Sinatra spent his life wanting for nothing. If he needed a reservation, he got it; if his glass was empty, it was refilled," Tecosky says. "I wanted to create an event where each guest can have the Frank Sinatra experience. It's an evening full of delicious food, music, and laughter." This July, Tecosky took the concept on the road to the annual Tales of the Cocktail convention in New Orleans, a community he says is "all about friendship." "[Jack Daniel's founder] Jack Daniel and Frank Sinatra had that in common: taking care of their friends and loved ones," he adds. "It seemed natural to bring that to Tales and do the same for the people we love." With bartenders from around the country gathered for a magical evening—during which we can indeed confirm no one wanted for anything— Tecosky and Chris Fletcher, Assistant Master Distiller for Jack Daniel's, treated guests to a classic Italian family-style meal. Each course was accompanied by a signature Jack Daniel's cocktail created by bartenders who fit the Sinatra/Jack Daniel's "mold of hospitality." Each member of the all-women team has also all been featured in The Tasting Panel's very own collaboration with Tecosky and Jack Daniel's: Jack's Black Book. "Jack's Black Book and Sinatra Supper Club are both platforms for Jack Daniel's to give back something very cool to bartenders," Tecosky says. "This evening was extra special because I've felt that women in the industry still don't get all the credit they deserve, and we were able to spread that love around a bit tonight." With an appreciation for bartenders and Sinatra in equal measure, Jack Daniel's has found an ideal balance with the Sinatra Supper Club; Tecosky, however, says the concept is driven by more than just industry platitudes. "I really believe that even though Sinatra and Daniel never met, they would have connected, because while they may have lived very separate lives, they had the same intention," he adds. "Both went after their dreams, did things their own way, and were helpful and hospitable to people in need. It seems like a natural connection to make a dinner like this by taking their ideals and practices and bringing them to life in new ways." CHANNELING THE SPIRIT OF FRANK SINATRA WITH JACK DANIEL'S AT THE SINATRA SUPPER CLUB by Rachel Burkons photos by Claire Barrett Bartender Tokiwa Sears served up Jack Daniel's cocktails complete with handwritten notes bearing messages like "You are loved." At the Sinatra Supper Club, incredible food and libations are served up with the style and panache of Frank Sinatra himself. Each member of the Sinatra Supper Club's all-female bartending team is an alumnus of Jack's Black Book, produced by The Tasting Panel in partnership with Jack Daniel's. Pictured from left to right: Keyatta Mincey, Shannon Kroll, Layla Linn, and Tokiwa Sears.