Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/61075
SIPPED & SCENE BLAINE ASHLEY HEADS TO PLACES TROPICAL FOR SOME Sun & Rum by Blaine Ashley David Delaney of Niche Hospitality was fi rst place winner in the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge. Delaney's winning cocktails: On Second Thought and Five Island Fizz. D uring my weeklong mid-February jaunt to the tropical islands of Trinidad & Tobago, for Carnival 2012, a press trip courtesy of the House of Angostura, I "wined" (the local term for Trini-style dancing), "played mas" (participated in Carnival in full costume) and drank my body weight in Angostura Rum—the 1919 with coconut water, the 1824 with soda and bitters and the 3 Year Old Reserva nice and neat. I also got the chance to visit the House of Angostura complete with a tour of their in-house museum, impressive butterfl y collection and an authentic local roti lunch with a side of LLB (lemon lime bitters). The main purpose of the trip, how- The judges: last year's winner, Andy Griffi ths; Vidia Doodnath, Executive Director of Technical Operations of Angostura; Tony Abou-Ganim, The Modern Mixologist; Eric Forget, Cellar Master of Hine Cognac; and mixologist/bitters expert Jacob Briars. 62 / the tasting panel / april 2012 ever, was the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge, which brought out 12 of the bartending industry's best to compete for the chance to win a cash prize of $10,000 and the coveted title of Angostura's Global Brand Ambassador. Competitors came from all over the world, including South Africa, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, St. Lucia, India and Russia. It was great to see Maxence Traverse of Le Boudoir in Hong Kong, Giusseppe Santamaria from Barcelona's Boutique Bar, Ezequiel Rodriguez of Frank's Bar in Buenos Aires, Nastassia Martin of London's Hyde Bar, Trinidad's own Carla Cupid of the Kapok Hotel, along with three U.S. mix masters: David Delaney of Niche Hospitality, Rachel Ford of the Monkey Bar in New York City and Kansas City's Ryan Maybee, owner of The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange and Manifesto Bar. Each fi nalist prepared a freestyle cocktail and an Angostura Rum cocktail for the judges. In the end, Tony Abou-Ganim and fellow judges—Eric Forget of Hine Cognac; last year's winner, Andy Griffi th; Angostura's own Executive Director of Operations, Vidia Doodnath; and renowned mixologist Jacob Briars—selected David Delaney of Massachusetts' Niche Hospitality as the Overall Winner with his Freestyle sip "On Second Thought" (Laird's Applejack, Bénédictine, Cherry Heering Liqueur, maple syrup, fresh-squeezed lemon juice and Angostura Bitters) and his rum-laden drink, the Five Island Fizz (Angostura's Five Year Old Gold Rum, Velvet Falernum, fresh-squeezed lime juice, Maraschino cherry liqueur, Barrits Ginger Beer and Angostura's Aromatic Bitters). Next stop was Delray Beach, Florida for just a few days of rejuvenation, fi ne wining and dining with an old friend. Each day after sunning and swimming, we hit a fantastic resto for dinner. Night one was the new Boston's Upstairs where we noshed on oysters Rockefeller and seabass and sipped Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay; on the second eve we enjoyed burrata and edamame, grilled calamari swimming in squid ink pasta. Florida left me feeling ultra-rejuvenated and more than ready to get back to the city I simply love and missed so much, NYC. Tonight, it's International Women's Day and I'm heading to Julie Reiner's Lani Kai to celebrate with the fabulous femmes of LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails) and Compass Box Whisky. Till next time. Cheers!