Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/35876
HOT-WEATHER COCKTAILS ARE COOLER THAN EVER, AS WE FOUND WHEN SPIRITS BRANDS JOINED US UNDER THE SUN AT OUR MOST RECENT SPEED TASTING FOR SOME VERY CONVINCING Poolside DRAGON BLEU: Roaring Success Created from a blend of wheat, barley and rye, Dragon Bleu is a French-produced vodka with simple smoothness and a flavor lineup that’s getting tongues wagging and palates watering. Dragon’s Rose and Ginger expressions are true-to-flavor offer- ings that can be nicely mixed into low-cal cocktails without high-sugar additives, and the classic expression is clean and smooth. Poolside Appeal: The brand’s Mixologist Extraordinaire, Rico Miller, a U.K.-native who flew to Scottsdale by way of Royal Oak, MI to present to our panel, blew us away with his sun-wor- shipping cocktail, the Ginger Solaris. “When it’s hot you need something light and refreshing,” explains Miller. Our Panel’s Palate: “There’s a lot of drama, labor and visual appeal here; possibly the most innovative drink of the day.” —Trudy Thomas “Red and white grapes are unde- rused in summer cocktails and the vanilla syrup is very cool!” —Mike Muncal THE GINGER SOLARIS ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 1½ oz. Dragon Bleu White Ginger ½ lemon, squeezed ¾ oz. limoncello ¾ oz. Rock Saké Junmai Daiginjo 6-8 white grapes 1 barspoon house-made vanilla sugar Garnish with a lemon-wheel “sun.” 88 / the tasting panel / july 201 1 Michigan-based mixologist Rico Miller. brands to join us at the spectacular Montelucia Resort & Spa, where five (!!) pools offer a refreshing refuge from the intense Arizona heat. Each brand’s mixologist made a presentation to our panel of top AZ buyers, and the results were, across the board, fresh, mouthwatering options that are perfect for those long summer days—with or without a pool. Persuasion W hat better setting than the sun-drenched landscape of Scottsdale, AZ to explore some of the most inventive and refreshing cocktails for summer sipping? We invited 15 spirit photos by David Huff