Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/133302
Capacity: 30 oz. Height: 9" Sundance Film Festival and celebrity chef Brian Malarkey. It has also given the Snake Oil team the internal freedom to dive into all sorts of libation-based alchemy. "We like to play around with fun stuff like beets, sassafras and kumquats when we are developing drinks," states Frankie Thaheld, Snake Oil's Director of Culinary Mixology. "We are always experimenting with different kinds of flavors." Arguably, Snake Oil's combined sense of ambition and whimsy is best reflected through the bar program they created with the Southern California luxury movie theater chain Cineapolis. "Working with Cineapolis has been great because it has gotten us into the mentality not just of creating drinks, but of creating a whole experience," Esposito states. While Esposito and Thaheld are constantly concocting new drinks for the theater inspired by new and upcoming releases—you better believe they made one for The Great Gatsby—their creations are built around recognizable brands such as Stoli and Pimm's in order to appeal to the movie-going public. "Lots of different types of people go to the movies, so it's important that the cocktails we create for Cineapolis to be approachable and not esoteric," Thaheld explains. That's not to say that they don't have a trick up their sleeve. "Even though the cocktails may feel familiar," Thaheld states, "we still want to sneak in ingredients and flavors that will challenge people's expectations as well as their taste buds." Such drinkable chicanery may not cause hair growth, but it may cause palate broadening. And really, that's a pretty terrific side effect. YOUR CUSTOMER'S TASTEBUDS WILL THANK YOU. XL Pinot Noir Glass Snake Oil Cocktail Company has created bar programs for clients such as Southern California luxury theater chain Cineapolis. West Egg ◗ 1½ oz. Maker's Mark Bourbon ◗ 1 oz. strawberry purée ◗ ¾ oz. lemon juice ◗ ¾ oz. simple syrup ◗ 2 dashes Angostura Grape varietal specific shapes; starting at $5.95 per glass. Bitters ◗ Add all ingredients to a mixing tin. Shake with ice and pour into a bucket. Garnish with a half strawberry on the rim. TP0613_042-79.indd 69 Frankie Thaheld serves up a West Egg, a drink inspired by the new movie The Great Gatsby. Available through your distributor or at riedelop.com. june 2013 / the tasting panel / 69 5/23/13 4:33 PM