Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/19027
Up with Love in Downtown New York ROSY EQUALS ROMANCE FOR THIS BOOKISH BARTENDER fi rst paved road in Manhattan—there is an Irish pub called Ulysses Folk House, a watering hole that boasts the city’s longest bar. Inside, you’ll fi nd bartender Ashley Schirmer, a young woman with a fresh, modern take on what’s romantic. W Schirmer keeps romance in mind when creating the Apple of My Eye, her love-themed Chambord Flavored Vodka cocktail, so named because of its golden rosy color, which she fi nds romantic, and also because of the garnish she created—a circular twist of orange peel that she fl oats on top of the drink. “It looks like a rose, and like a circle,” says Schirmer. “And that’s what love should be: never-ending and constantly perpetuating.” The drink itself is sweet, aromatic and, containing bitters, the slightest bit spicy—fl avors that bear a striking resemblance to love itself. Like any seasoned bartender, Schirmer loves mixing cocktails with Chambord liqueur and now with new Chambord Flavored Vodka. The brand, she says, can be “very romantic when you think of the things you make with it, like French Martinis and Kir Royales. It’s the epitome of romance in terms of spirits.” —Adriana DiGennaro Apple of My Eye 1½ oz. Chambord Flavored Vodka ½ oz. B&B liqueur 2 oz. apple juice 1 dropper Urban Moonshine Organic Citrus bitters 2 dashes Angostura bitters Shake and pour into a Martini glass. Garnish with a circular orange peel. Ashley Schirmer recalls her most romantic moment as a sweet one: “A boyfriend once proposed to me with a lollipop ring,” she says. “It was in the middle of a DJ set, so we were standing in a crowd of about 3,000 people. Out of nowhere, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.” 56 / the tasting panel / november 2010 ay downtown in New York’s Financial District on historic Stone Street—the Ashley Schirmer is well- versed in romance. PHOTO: DOUG YOUNG