Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/306378
82 / the tasting panel / may 2014 PHOTO: JEREMY BALL PHOTO: JEREMY BALL There's a steady vibe of confidence that flows through the Peninsula, and it doesn't just come from the hotel. It resonates strongly from the guests and locals that visit the posh Beverly Hills venue; a discerning crowd with a well-developed taste for the finer things in life. That sense of customer self-assurance—and how to satiate it—is the prime mover behind the Peninsula's relationship with Pernod Ricard and its Prestige Brand portfolio. "To us, luxury is all about having extraordinary options," explains James Overbaugh, The Peninsula's Executive Assistant Manager of Food & Beverage Operations. "The Prestige portfolio is such a fantastic match for us and our guests because of its great diversity." That partnership is strongly evidenced through the hotel's craft cocktail pro- gram; a list featuring Prestige Brand-based concoctions that feel timeless and not trendy. According to Overbaugh, the list was built to honor the libation acumen of its clientele. "We seek to use labels from the Prestige portfolio in our craft cocktails because we know that our guests are educated enough on the quality of the brands," he states. "Using Prestige brands allows us to acknowledge their discerning tastes." At The Peninsula's famous rooftop pool, which features stunning views of the Beverly Hills skyline, Justin Kleineider, Prestige Lifestyle Manager, Pernod Ricard USA, joins Chivas Master Blender Colin Scott, The Peninsula's Executive Assistant Manager of F&B James Overbaugh and Susan Kimball, Prestige Sales Director, Pernod Ricard USA. A ROOFTOP REVERIE: The Peninsula Beverly Hills OLD HOLLYWOOD GLAM: The Beverly Hills Hotel If your hotel shares a name with the home of Rodeo Drive and creates a mood that organically references Hollywood's Golden Age, you better bring the luxury in a big way. So it just makes sense that The Beverly Hills Hotel would have an esteemed partnership with Pernod Ricard and their Prestige Brand portfolio. "Their portfolio is like a one-stop shop for luxury," states Robert Rouleau, Director of Cabana Café and Pool at the Beverly Hills Hotel. "We love it because the brands that it contains can be enjoyed by anybody at any place at our venue, from the person enjoying a cocktail made with Absolut ELYX by the pool to the guy winding down the evening on the patio with a cigar and a glass of Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque." While the hotel's offerings are designed to put classic luxury at the fore- front—it is the only venue in the Los Angeles area that serves Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque by the glass—the glamorous allure of the property means that their notion of opulence cannot be rigid. "We don't necessarily have a typical customer," Rouleau states. "We attract guests from all ends of the spectrum. Our partnership with the Prestige brands allows us to offer ways to meet their definition of luxury, whatever that may be." The Beverly Hills Hotel is the only account in Los Angeles to feature Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque by the glass. TP0514_072-101.indd 82 4/24/14 11:00 PM