Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/21004
SHOTOLOGISTS MIKE MILLER, 43 Delilah’s, Chicago “T here’s a food factor that is reflected in the modern two-ounce pour,” says Mike Miller, owner of Delilah’s, a per- petually packed bar in Chicago. “But accessible items should also be part of the equation: that’s the business side of the shot. It shouldn’t have a limited applica- tion. And what we’re not doing is just taking classic recipes to make shots.” And the food aspect of Miller’s recipe for the Red Light is whipped cream, which floats magnificently above his liquid art, Mike Miller. topped by a nipple-like red cherry—a nod to Amsterdam’s Red Light district. Even though Miller carries 700 different spirits at Delilah’s he thinks HARLEM is a stand-out. “It defies the liqueur category.” Sugar O’Brien. SUGAR O’BRIEN, 40 Nove Italiano at The Palms, Las Vegas Bay’s Red Square restaurant in 1999. Becoming part of the city’s burgeoning cocktail culture, he gained a reputation for making homemade infusions and purées. The nickname “Sugar” is his Las Vegas moniker—we didn’t ask to see his driver’s license. T At what he calls “the best Italian restaurant in Vegas,” O’Brien says he has the freedom to play around with many ingredients. “It’s about enhance- ments,” he notes. “We try to influence our customers’ palates and to have them try certain spirit brands. That’s where shots come in handy: as samplers.” He makes his own pumpkin mix for his standout HARLEM shot recipe. ■ ■ HARLEMWEEN PUMPKIN Half HARLEM Kruiden Liqueur Half housemade pumpkin mix* * One can of pumpkin pie filling; add a can full of simple syrup and a can full of apple cider. Mix with a heaping teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice and a quarter teaspoon of citric acid. Nancy Orellana. 94 / the tasting panel / december 2010 he Albany, NY native was brought out to Las Vegas to open Mandalay NANCY ORELLANA, 35 Black Bear Bar & Grill, Hoboken, NJ N ancy Orellana took a break from the fast- paced world of the fashion industry three years ago to bartend. “What a differ- ence! I found out that I was really enjoying myself around customers and I never looked back.” She is proud to be named as one of the experts in the first wave of HARLEM Shotology. “This is the next logical step for our industry.” HARLEM NIGHTS ■ ■ ■ ■ 1 oz. HARLEM Kruiden Liqueur ½ oz. Grand Marnier ½ oz. Coca-Cola Shake with ice. RED LIGHT ■ ■ ■ ■ 1 oz. HARLEM Kruiden Liqueur ¾ oz. Effen Black Cherry vodka ¼ oz. vanilla-flavored alcoholic whipped cream Shake HARLEM and vodka vigorously with ice and strain into a glass. Add whipped cream and top with a cherry.