Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/391612
1 14 / the tasting panel / october 2014 SPEED TASTING REPORT More Panelists! (left to right): Ricardo Murcia, Property Mixologist at The Bellagio; Jeff Evans,GM/Sommelier at N9NE Steakhouse at The Palms; Juyoung Kang, Mixologist at BLVD Cocktail Company at The Linq; Dave Ponte, Bar Manager at NOBU, Caesars Palace (seated); Tim Weigel, Mixologist at Hakkasan, MGM Grand Hotel; and our host, Josh Monisavis, Bar Manager at NOBU Hard Rock. A city built in the lap of luxury, Las Vegas is an adult dreamland, catering to the ultimate wishes of visitors and offering opulence at every turn. Likewise, there are spirits that embody this level of class and elegance, with enough refinement to make even Sinatra sing. It's this inspira- tion that brought the following brands together at NOBU HARD ROCK for our latest Speed Tasting adventure: "Spirits with Sophistication." Each brand had ten minutes to prepare a sophisticated cocktail to best show off its illustrious flavor profile and tasteful character. WHEEL OF FORTUNE: ROCA PATRÓN Think of it: It takes a Mexican artisan, an entallador, almost a month to create just one tahona wheel from four tons of stone. It's this stone (roca in Spanish) that slowly and continually rolls over the cooked agave to break the fibers and release the juice. Labor intensive and time consuming, this traditional method of processing tequila is what sets Roca Patrón apart. The juice and fibers are then placed together into wood vats for 72 hour-fermentation, then put in copper pot stills and twice distilled. The Bets Are In: "Roca Patrón Silver, on its own, is broad and focused, tremendously textural, with sugared mocha and black tea notes. The aroma off the dehydrated grapefruit and the chipotle spice add herbal sweet and hot to this agave-resonant tequila. Fresh and delicious! " —Cody Fredrickson, Paris Las Vegas "The tequila has ginger, smoke, lemon and volcanic salt—reminiscent of a great mezcal. The drink, a great twist on the Paloma, balances the richness of the tequila. " —Jeff Evans, N9NE Steakhouse, The Palms Hotel David Homan, Nevada Area Manager at Patrón Spirits. MEET THE PANELISTS Josh Monisavis Bar Manager, NOBU Hard Rock Dave Ponte Bar Manager, NOBU Caesars Palace Cody Fredrickson Bartender, Paris Las Vegas Raul Faria Mixologist, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, Caesars Palace Juyoung Kang Mixologist, BLVD Cocktail Company at The LINQ Ricardo Murcia Property Mixologist, Bellagio Tim Weigel Mixologist, Hakkasan at MGM Grand Hotel Mariena Mercer Mixologist/GM, The Cosmopolitan Jeff Evans GM/Sommelier, N9NE Steakhouse at The Palms Jeremy Merritt Mixology Consultant Meridith May Publisher/Editorial Director, THE TASTING PANEL LA FLOR ♠ 1½ oz. Roca Patrón Silver ♠ ½ oz. green Chartreuse ♠ 1½ oz. fresh pink grapefruit juice ♠ 1 oz. grapefruit soda ♠ Dehydrated grapefruit slice garnish (brushed with agave nectar, pink Himalayan sea salt and dry chipotle pepper)