The Tasting Panel magazine

Tasting Panel October 2010

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Notes from The Great Vodka Debate in San Francisco A cold, dreary, gray day at the top of San Francisco’s Hotel Palomar sets the stage for a slightly heated debate about vodka. San Francisco spirits experts Jackie Patterson, Erick Castro, H. Joseph Ehrmann, Dominique Venegas, Reza Esmaili and Camper English weighed in with vodka arguments ranging from “Vodka helps you with your bottom line,” to “For being a perfectly clear spirit, it is shocking how un-transparent the vodka industry is.” Regardless of personal taste, most of the participants agreed on one simple fact: Vodka on its own is a basically neutral spirit; when mixed with other ingredients, it amplifi es them. If you are a skilled craftsman, then vodka becomes a true blank canvas for your creation. If you are simply a drink- slinger, then your cocktail will refl ect that. “To ignore such a large percentage of the drinking public only makes sense if your bar’s concept is based on that,” commented Ehrmann; “but if your clientele includes customers who want to drink vodka, and you don’t serve it because you want to turn them to something else based on your own prefer- ence, good luck to you. I hope it works out for you and your bottom line.” —Liza Gershman Erick Castro, bartender/GM of Rickhouse, and H. Joseph Ehrmann, proprietor of bar Elixir, speak to a packed house about vodka’s role in the modern cocktail. Brandon Josie and Aaron Gregory from 15 Romolo discuss one of their favorite vodkas with Rebecca Chapa.  october 2010 / the tasting panel / 29 Imported by Babco imports Manhassat New Jersey ALWAYS ABOUT QUALITY PHOTO: LIZA GERSHMAN PHOTO: LIZA GERSHMAN

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