Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/133302
David Nepove, Director of Mixology, Southern Wine & Spirits of Northern California and Joel Teitlebaum, Portfolio Ambassador for the Artisanal Group, Northern California were in attendance to show their support for their SoCal counterparts. Rudy Ruiz, Executive Vice President, Spirits, Southern Wine & Spirits of America; Jack Brennan, Vice President, Southern Wine & Spirits of Northern California; and Jim Allen, Senior Vice President, Fine Wines, Southern Wine & Spirits of California were on hand to show their support for the suppliers in the Artisanal Group collection. When one of the nation's leading beverage educators transitions to the spirit production side, the results are bound to be interesting. So when Allen Katz, Director of Spirits Education & Mixology for Southern Wine & Spirits of New York joined ranks with industry vet Tom Potter, the duo created the New York Distilling Company, with two unique gins already winning over palates, and a rye in the works for next year. We listened in as Katz explained to two buyers from L.A. gastropub Waterloo & City, "Perry's Tot is the highest-proof gin distilled and sold in the U.S. Because it's 114 proof, and ounce and a half goes a long way in cocktails. You're gonna get five extra drinks per bottle." With buyers from some of L.A.'s top accounts in attendance, there was plenty of interaction between bartenders and brands. Naomi Schimeck, Bar Manager for The Spare Room, offered samples of Edinburgh Gin, saying, "I love working with this gin because it is equally beautiful in stirred and shaken cocktails." Todd and Ben Leyva, President and CEO of Benco Imports, respectively, were on hand to introduce buyers to Don Benito Tequila, which Ben says is a true "bartender's tequila." "There's nothing in our tequila but spring water and agave," comments Ben. "We're pure tequila—and that agave character is why we've been successful." 116 / the tasting panel / june 2013 TP0613_080-119.indd 116 5/23/13 5:31 PM