The Tasting Panel magazine

August 2012

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NEW YORK CITY SIPS Of Schooners and story and photos by Lana Bortolot Butterflies I t's not always easy getting the message across—especially in the lazy, attention-challenged months of summer. So Bowmore tried a different approach, creating an event sure to catch the notice of even the most blasé New Yorker. The heritage whiskey chartered a topsail schooner to sail around New York harbor and introduce summertime cocktails made with the single malt scotch. Bowmore on board. The Islay single malt is the fuel in David Wondrich's McKittrick Punch, as served aboard a schooner in New York harbor. Mixologist Jared Schubert flew in from Atlanta to create rooftop cocktails for Mariposa, the first-ever agave nectar liqueur. Full of spirits and high spirits, the sailing event was the first of several that will grace select waters in the U.S. The promotion is meant to evoke the romantic waters of Loch Indaal on the isle of Islay, site of the Bowmore Distillery. Cocktail historian David Wondrich, a specialist in punch, created the McKittrick Punch made with Bowmore 15 Years Old Darkest. Also onboard: Legend and the 12 Years Old. The party contin- ued after the sail at Demi Monde, the Financial District's under-the-radar speakeasy, where the three Bowmore expressions were featured in classic Rob Roys and an Alex Day–created cocktail, the Smoke Screen, with lime juice and green Chartreuse. A SoHo penthouse rooftop proved to be the perfect perch from which to prove "Butterflies are Free," at the launch party for Mariposa (Spanish for butterfly), the first-ever agave nectar liqueur. Mixologist Jared Schubert flew in from Atlanta to present his four specially-created cocktail against the dramatic backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. The cocktail menu included reposado tequila, brut champagne, Kentucky bourbon and gin, showing the range and versatility of the sweetner. The event concluded with the release of dozens of Monarch butterflies into the air—a nod to the winged beauty that's indigenous to the Tequila region. The product launch will roll out in Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Denver and Chicago this summer. It was Madeira Madness in Manhattan when IVBAM, the Madeira Institute, sponsored a chef demo at the Astor Center. Chef George Mendes Celebrating madeira (left to right): Kimberly Koharki of Astor Center; Paula Cabaco, IVBAM President; Chef George Mendes, Aldea; and Rui Boa Vista Marques, Director, AICEP Portugal Global. of Aldea, served up a seven-course tasting menu, paired with a specific madeira. Concentrating on savory flavors, the tasting demonstrated that fortified wines don't have to be relegated to the dessert table. It was the third such event in Manhattan this month: IVBAM also sponsored an educational tasting at the Institute of Culinary Education, and the Wine Media Guild held a madeira lunch at its monthly members-only meeting, sponsored by Wine for Dummies co-author Ed McCarthy. 30 / the tasting panel / august 2012

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