Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/326040
june 2014 / the tasting panel / 95 Island Girl ◗ 1½ oz. Blue Chair Bay Coconut Rum ◗ 1 oz. pineapple juice ◗ 1 oz. orange juice ◗ 2 oz. lemon-lime soda Julius 2Nite ◗ 1½ oz. 2Nite Sicilian Blood Orange Vodka ◗ 1 oz. vanilla extract ◗ ½ oz. orange juice ◗ ½ oz. whipped cream COCONUT CREATION: BLUE CHAIR BAY COCONUT RUM (SRP $19.99) Oh, Barbados—what's not to love? From its darn- near perfect weather, to its sandy shores, the only thing that could make this picture prettier would be a nice flavored rum. Thanks to Blue Chair Bay, paradise is just a little more perfect. Coming from multi-platinum singer-songwriter Kenny Chesney, Blue Chair Bay Rum was a wel- come wake-up for our winter-beleaguered panelists. "Kenny wanted something that would taste like the islands and that he could enjoy with his friends," said Kevin Paschke, Central Regional Manager for Fishbowl Spirits. "He's very hands-on with every aspect, from production to packaging," says Paschke, who explains that the rum is distilled in oak casks on the beaches of Barbados at one of the oldest, most-respected distilleries in the Caribbean. Our panel got a sneak-peek-taste of Blue Chair Bay's newest flavor, Banana, rolling out this month. Stay tuned for the July issue of THE TASTING PANEL for more on this island spirit! Windy City Write-Up: "Nothing but fun! No burn on the spirit neat, and the cocktail is very good—bright and full of life!"—Paul Sauter "The coconut is very smooth, and the cocktail is tropical and refreshing with a balance of spirit and juice. 'Gluggable' for summer!"—Don Sritong "In both of these neat, I think the coconut and banana notes are well- integrated, and the cocktail is a really classic beach drink."—Jean Tomaro Kevin Paschke, Central Regional Manager, Fishbowl Spirits. AN IMPRESSIVE IMPORT: 2NITE SICILIAN BLOOD ORANGE VODKA (SRP $20) In times of harsh weather, are there any greater pleasures than sweet, simple sippers? The short answer is simply, no. Distilled in Italy, housed in a hand-painted Venetian glass bottle and made from GMO-free, organically-grown Tuscan semolina, 2Nite Sicilian Blood Orange vodka definitely offers a dramatic European flair. Throw in a flavor lineup that includes Alpine Mint and Caffe Espresso in addition to non-flavored, and you've got a portfolio that over-delivers for the price point and entices with exoticism. The 2Nite Sicilian Blood Orange was a natural base for Sara Clavor to use in treating our panel to a little throwback. "I thought I had to make a take on an Orange Julius!" explained Claver, a bartender at McGonigal's Pub in Barrington, IL. "It's got such a great orange flavor and natural sweetness that you really don't need to do too much to it," said Claver. Windy City Write-Up: "Sweet and heat! Nice, longer finish than expected, and the cocktail is great for dessert."—Andrew Macker "Nice fresh notes of blood orange with a slight orange bitter on the finish. A bold flavor for a vodka! The drink is much better and more interesting than a Chocolate Martini for dessert!"—Paul Graves "Sweet orange pith on the vodka neat is a really nice balance to the sweetness; the cocktail harkens back to youthful days at the mall—but way more fun!" —Rachel Burkons Sara Claver is a bartender at McGonigal's Pub. TP0614_072-101.indd 95 5/23/14 9:40 PM