The Tasting Panel magazine

September 2017

Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/869846

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 97 of 128

september 2017  /  the tasting panel  /  93 JACK DANIEL'S TAKES ON ORLANDO DURING THE 2017 WINES & SPIRITS WHOLESALERS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION by David Ransom / photos by Rafael Tongol A s part of this year's Wines & Spirits Wholesalers Association Convention (WSWA) in Orlando, Jack Daniel's—the legendary whiskey founded by Jasper Newton "Jack" Daniels in 1866 in Lynchburg, Tennessee—hosted a dinner for spirits cogno- scenti, brought in from around the country to lend their expert palates to judge the WSWA 2017 Wine and Spirits Competition. Held in a private dining room at Vito's Chop House in Orlando, the dinner was a take on the legendary private-room, family-style meals hosted by Frank Sinatra, according to Jack Daniel's Brand Ambassador Eric "ET" Tecosky (also a WSWA judge). Sinatra was a huge fan of Jack Daniel's and is widely considered to be one of the catalysts for propelling the brand into the mainstream. The meal and preceding cocktail hour fea- tured about a dozen cocktails curated from Jack Daniel's Black Book Vol. 2 (released in June) specifically to pair with the steakhouse-style menu at Vito's. The book, featuring more than 40 cocktails created by some of the country's leading bartenders, is an ode to the enduring popularity, significance and respect that Jack Daniel's commands from both sides of the bar. Judges included cocktail industry veterans Jonathan Pogash, The Cocktail Guru; Natalie Bovis of The Liquid Muse and a program affiliate for Jack Daniel's; Shawn Westhoven, Corporate Beverage Director of Newport Restaurant Group; and Charles Riley, Regional Director of Food and Beverage for Omni Mandalay Hotels, among others. Bartenders included Tiffany Cataldo of Boston's Granary Tavern, Brian McCollough of The Standard Pour in Dallas and "Miss Libation" Tokiwa Sears of JP Atlanta. "Jack Daniel's will be forever grateful to Frank Sinatra," ET told attendees, "for it was his love for Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey that helped it gain the international following it enjoys today. Tonight's dinner is an homage to that relationship, and a celebration of the creativity within the bartending and hospitality community to carry on the legacy of these great American spirits." The dinner happened to coincide with Tecosky's birthday. Eric "ET" Tecosky, Brand Ambassador for Jack Daniel's, hosted the dinner as a nod to Frank Sinatra, who was a noted fan of the whiskey. Available to guests were cocktails from Jack's Black Book, including Natalie Bovis' Chile and Chocolate featuring New Mexico Chimayo chiles.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of The Tasting Panel magazine - September 2017