Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/76623
Tatratea On-Premise With a great story behind the brand and a fl avor that inspires the trade to reimagine tea's cocktail- ability, THE TASTING PANEL decided to put Tatratea through its paces on-premise. We joined Dvorsky at The Winery, a restaurant in the heart of Orange County's Tustin neighborhood. "This is a fi ne dining restaurant, but Tatratea's not just for composed cocktails," explains Dvorsky, who also recommends sipping the spirit straight or consumed as a shot and for whom this is really just the beginning. "It's a really interesting spirit, unlike anything else I've ever tasted," admits longtime barman Patrick "Irish" Quinn, who got behind the stick to play with the product. Here's what Quinn came up with: At The Winery in Tustin, bartender Patrick "Irish" Quinn explores the possibilities with Tatratea. CRIMINAL ICED TEA ◗ 1½ oz. Tatratea 72% (144 proof) ◗ ½ oz. agave nectar ◗ ¼ oz. lime ◗ Shake and pour ingredients into a glass. Fill to the top with iced tea. Iced tea so good it's criminal. Made with "The Outlaw" (72%), summer- time just got a lot easier to swallow. Refreshing and so simple it could be on any bar menu. TEQUILA-TEA ◗ 1 oz. Tatratea 62% (124 proof) ◗ ¾ oz. silver tequila ◗ ¾ oz. St-Germain ◗ 1½ cranberry juice ◗ Splash of soda ◗ Fresh berries ◗ Muddle fresh berries, add Tatratea, St-Germain and cranberry juice. Shake, strain and top with a splash of soda. Garnish with a mint leaf. While Tatratea has the legs to stand on its own, it plays well with others too, as evidenced in the tequila-tea complexities of a composed cocktail. 102 / the tasting panel / august 2012 OUTLAW SHOOTER ◗ ¾ oz. Tatratea 72% (144 proof) ◗ ½ oz. grapefruit juice ◗ ½ sweet and sour ◗ Shake, strain and serve in a half-sugar-rimmed shot glass. Garnish with orange. Shots are always a hot commodity, and whether it goes down straight or in a composed shooter, Tatratea's blend of high- proof power and smooth fl avor make this an ideal shot component. TATRAPEACH ◗ ½ oz. Tatratea 42% (84 proof) ◗ Top with prosecco ◗ Garnish with mint and raspberry Adding a drop of liqueur to sparkling wine is a trade secret to quickly and easily dress up your standard sparkler. While this cocktail calls for the peachy goodness of Tatratea 42%, we think a splash of berry from Tatratea 62% would work nicely.