Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/14611
Thompson Beverly Hills: Where the Hip Sip A sophisticated clientele seeks the celebrity-friendly solitude of this tucked-away luxury hotel miraculously hidden in plain sight on Wilshire Boulevard. The ABH (Above Beverly Hills) 360-degree rooftop bar sets the scene for rollicking poolside parties and romantic star-studded nights. Six private cabanas with TVs and mini-fridges keep the Rock Saké cold. “We’ve been offering exclusive frozen Rock Saké drinks at our summer pool parties, and they’ve gone over extremely well,” says Jameel Gaskins, Food & Beverage Director of Thompson Beverly Hills. “There’s so many different things you can do with this quality product that we put it on our drinks list. Our customers know what they want and tend to order by brand. So why not have Rock Saké become their call saké of choice? “It’s up to us and Rock Saké to make guests knowledgeable about the product, and I think word of mouth and the mixed drinks we’re doing will speak volumes. Because it’s such a clean, fresh taste, we use fresh ingredients such as grapefruit, limes, lemons, strawberries—any of those fresh juices go extremely well with Rock Saké. We had been thinking about having frozen drinks for quite some time, but anyone can do a Daiquiri. But a frozen Rock Sakétini? I challenge anyone to tell me where they’ve seen that before.” —R.C.H. Rock Saké Cloud, an unfiltered nigori, (left) and Rock Saké junmai ginjo stand tall behind Thompson Beverly Hills’s signature poolside cocktails: Sweet Sakétini, served both frozen and straight up, and Ms. September, on the rocks and frozen. The Thompson Recipes: Ms. September 2 oz. Rock Saké (Cloud) 1 oz. St-Germain elderflower liqueur 1 oz. fresh lime juice 1 oz. fresh cucumber juice Serve frozen or on the rocks. Sweet Sakétini 1½ oz. Rock Saké (junmai ginjo) 1½ oz. Absolut Citron vodka Splash fresh grapefruit juice Splash fresh cranberry juice Splash fresh lime juice Serve frozen or straight up. Rock Saké founder Seth Podell and Jameel Gaskins, Food & Beverage Director of Thompson Beverly Hills, enjoy a Sweet Sakétini, a Ms. September cocktail and the Beverly Hills skyline from The Swarovski crys- tal–studded rooftop swimming pool of the Thompson Beverly Hills. august 2010 / the tasting panel / 35 PHOTO: TOM ZASADZINSKI PHOTO: TOM ZASADZINSKI