Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/65124
COVER STORY Meet the Newest TY KU: Coconut Nigori At last month's WSWA Convention, THE TASTING PANEL caught up with Southern Wine & Spirits Director of Mixology Francesco Lafranconi and team TY KU to get Lafranconi's thoughts as he tasted the just-released TY KU Coconut Nigori for the first time (Drink Extraordinary Tip Number Five: Nigori Saké is unfiltered, giving it a cloudy appearance). "The new sibling in the TY KU family, Coconut Nigori, is incred- ibly delicate and sophisticated. The coconut is so well integrated into the saké, but the saké is still allowed to come through," Lafranconi told us, moments after his first sip. "The tropical fruit is not overpowering, and there is good balance. It's so simple to become addicted to this product!" Lafranconi was so inspired that he created a recipe featuring the product: Meet TY KU Coconut Nigori, the shining star in the Exotic Feelings cocktail. Las Vegas's Social House is an on- premise evangelist for TY KU. General Manager Michael LaPorte and his staff turn to TY KU to help customers find the right saké to suit their needs. "There's something for everyone," he says. Exotic Feelings ◗ 3 oz. TY KY Coconut Nigori ◗ 1 oz. vanilla vodka ◗ 2 oz. Fever-Tree Ginger Beer ◗ 3 sprigs of fresh mint ◗ Juice of 1 lime wedge ◗ Muddle mint in a Collins glass briskly, then add remaining ingredients. Fill glass with ice, stir and serve with lime squeezed on top. Garnish with mint sprig and fresh-shaved coconut. calories of most vodkas), and TV's Millionaire Matchmaker, Patti Stanger, whose hit show will "feature TY KU as the fourth star" on the upcoming sixth season. These partnerships do double- duty, providing not only big-name endorsement, but also major outlets for continued education on the brand and the saké/soju categories as a whole. "Patti is very innovative, and is a great partner in helping us get our message out," explains Chrisomalis, "and Perez Hilton is an icon in the online world. He's aided our efforts to become the number one brand online in the industry—wine or spirits!—tremendously." But as TY KU has whittled away at the mystique surrounding the category, creating a larger space for saké in the cultural lexicon, the brand has secured a brand warrior like no other to propel saké's push into the spotlight: He's in our living rooms twice a week the hit TV show, The Voice, he's got a massive and loyal following online, he serenaded throngs of fans on the 50 yard line during this year's Superbowl halftime show and, oh yeah, he won two Grammys this year. He's CeeLo Green, but you can call him the Logun, the new Shogun of saké. "When we first started talking to CeeLo, we knew that this would be a perfect partnership," explains Fougner. 52 / the tasting panel / may 2012 PHOTO: DANIELLE "DEED" DEBRUNO CREDIT: FRANCESCO LAFRANCONI PHOTO: DANIELLE "DEED" DEBRUNO