Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/597666
november 2015 / the tasting panel / 103 Mexican Rocketfuel ◗ 1½ oz. Casa Noble Reposado ◗ ¾ oz. Byrrh Grand Quinquina ◗ ¾ oz. elderflower liqueur ◗ ¾ oz. lemon juice ◗ Arugula ◗ Soda Muddle arugula in shaker. Add remaining ingredients and shake with ice; strain into glass. Add a splash of soda. Le CÎROC Sour ◗ 1½ oz. CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka ◗ 2 dashes lavender bitters ◗ ½ oz. fresh lemon juice ◗ 1 oz. Concord grape/herbes de Provence syrup ◗ Specialty ice sphere In a mixing glass, start with two dashes of lavender bitters. Combine all other ingredients. Add ice and shake. Strain over a specialty ice sphere in a rocks glass. Serve. Mia Mastroianni, Cocktail Engineer at Soho House and Spike TV's Bar Rescue Mixology Expert. A sponsor for the evening, CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka sauntered confidently into Skybar both com- petition and red-carpet ready. The top-shelf spirit is distilled five times from fine French grapes, distinguish- ing itself from other vodkas made from grain; the fifth distillation takes place at Distillerie de Chevanceaux in the countryside of Southern France. The result: a fresh, smooth citrus taste and pleasant viscosity. What the Mixologist Loves: "I wanted to play with the flavors of France and the grape element. I made a syrup using the grapes and Herbes de Provence—lavender, rosemary, fennel, tarragon, thyme, sage, basil. The garnish is inside the ice sphere, which also has fig and cinnamon bitters frozen inside. As the ice melts, the last sip will taste different than the first. It's a variation on a classic sour." CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka Mia Mastroianni Chris Hewes, Beverage Guy, Avenue 31 in West Hollywood, CA. C asa Noble sources agave exclusively from its own fields near Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The hilly region spreads for more than 3,000 acres, where organic blue agave grows in the area's unique soil. The agave plants are cooked in traditional stone ovens for 38 hours and utilize 100 percent natural fermentation. Casa Noble Reposado is matured for 364 days in French white oak barrels—well beyond what official age requirements demand—yielding a smooth and full- bodied tequila. What the Mixologist Loves: "The first time I was introduced, I was like 'this is the best tequila' but I couldn't guess the brand. Casa Noble is a super old school spirit, founded in the 1700s! I also like the French influence, as the tequila is aged in French oak barrels. In the cocktail, wild baby arugula adds a fresh, peppery, but not offensive, flavor and rounds out the mouthfeel. You can drink 20 of these in one night." Casa Noble Tequila Reposado Constellation Brands: Chris Hewes