The Tasting Panel magazine

May 2011

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SPEED TASTING REPORT Redefined BRANDS MAKE IT THEIR OWN WITH OUR LATEST COCKTAIL CHALLENGE: A TWIST ON THE CLASSICS photos by Ryan Lely There’s something to be said for the art of taking a classic and re-envisioning, repackaging or remodeling it. But it’s not always easy to rethink something that’s been tried and true—especially a classic cocktail that’s been a palate-pleaser for generations. That’s where THE TASTING PANEL’s latest challenge comes in: Take a classic cocktail, and put your own twist on it. The other challenge: Use one of Funkin’s fresh purées. At our Cocktail Speed Tasting in San Francisco, held the day after the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, our panel of judges met at Hotel Monaco to watch and take names as brand representatives redefined celebrated drinks, while still staying true to the cocktails’ classic roots. Here are the cocktails—and some of the mixologists—who twisted the night away. In addition to the panelists’ notes, Anthony Dias Blue adds his scores! at Record Speed Our panel: back row (left to right): Steven Izzo, Beverage Director, Waterbar, San Francisco; Tony Abou-Ganim, noted mixolo- gist and Executive Judge, San Francisco World Spirits Competition; H. Joseph Ehrmann, proprietor, Elixir, San Francisco; Matt Stuhl, Regional F&B Director, Joie de Vivre Hotel Group; Anthony Dias Blue, Editor-in-Chief, THE TASTING PANEL Magazine and Executive Director, San Francisco World Spirits Competition; Kent Bearden, master mixologist, Las Vegas; Alex Carlton, founder, Funkin; Gregory Nasser, Assistant General Manager, Grand Café, Hotel Monaco, San Francisco. Front row (left to right): Amanda Womack, Store Manager, Cask, San Francisco; Meridith May, Publisher & Executive Editor, THE TASTING PANEL Magazine; Misty Kalkofen, celebrated mixologist, Drink, Boston. may 201 1 / the tasting panel / 97

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