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Happy Hour:
Quickie Bar Visits:
Jimmy Yeager saddles up to our cocktail table, looks me straight in the eye, and exclaims, "Jonathan Pogash - great to see you! How are 'ya?"
"I'm...doing well," I respond, embarrassed at the fact that I didn't recognize the bloke. "Where have we met?" I ask.
"Here...Aspen..." Jimmy says reluctantly.
Nope. Not here. Never been here. Well, came here when I was 16 years old, but that doesn't count. I was young...unable to experience the things I had experienced during this trip to Aspen.
Before we can figure it out, Jimmy tells me that Jill DeGroff just made a drawing of him and did a feature about him.
"The Cocktailian Calendar! I saw your drawing! October, right?" Jimmy asks. "That must be it."
We agree that we had probably met beforehand in person, and before we can disect the situation event further, Jimmy strides up to his bartender and shouts out over the packed crowd: "Strawberry-Jalepeno Margaritas for my pals over here."
As we sip our fresh strawberry jalapeno Tequila infusions, Jimmy chats along, infusing us with his vibrant energy and never-ending enthusiasm. He appreciates the craft of the cocktail...he thrives on industry people frequenting his establishment...he's humbling when told of the impact his bar/restaurant has on the working class folk of Aspen, Colorado.
Jimmy's is a desination - it's where you party before you go out to party, and it's where you always end up at the end of the night. The food is on par, and the drinks are fresh and balanced.
I was at Jimmy's nearly every day I was in Aspen. Some of the best times were spent on the patio, sipping Mezcal and slinging back beers 'til 2am.
The next time I'm in Aspen, I think I'll ask the cab driver at the airport to bring me directly to Jimmy's. I wouldn't be surprised if they respond with the folllowing: "Ah yes, Jimmy's. Tell Jimmy I said 'Hi.' Shall I schedule a pick-up there when you're ready to go back to the airport?"
"Yes, please," will be my response.
Jimmy's, An American Restaurant & Bar, is located at 208 S. Mill St, Aspen, CO
970-925-6020
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Booze Briefs:
What's New?
Good news, folks! The Cocktail Guru is expanding...
We're looking for some serious, experienced, able minded and bodied bartenders who consider themselves professionals to work on various projects in the upcoming future.
If you or someone you know lives in the following cities/states, please provide a short introduction and resume to jonathan@thecocktailguru.com:
New York City
Philadelphia
Washington, D.C.
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The Indy Spirits Expo
Today!! Wed, June 23rd
Some of the best independent spirits brands will be showing off their products in a booth by booth exposition.
*Special discount code for The Cocktail Guru readers:
"POG"
Get $15 off VIP admission, and $10 of regular admission!
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Cocktail Jam Series 2009
brought to you by POM Wonderful
My good pals at Pipeline Brands and POM Wonderful are joining forces to bring you a gathering of some of the finest bartenders in NYC. Bartenders will have the chance to play around with various brands and ingredients in a fun, laid-back setting. This will be the first in a series of Cocktail Jams to come. I've participated in these jams in the past, and boy are they a blast. I will do anything to spread the word and keep them going, as I know they benefit both bartender and participating brand alike.
The summer jam will be held on Mon, June 29th from 10pm-1am at Cabrito (50 Carmine St. in the W. Village)
If you are a working bartender, and are interested in attending, please email me.
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The USBG NY Chapter Local Competition
Our official USBGNY photographer, Elba Giron, took some really nice pics, and was even so kind as to include them on her blog. To see the pics and more, click here.
The USBGNY Council (from left to right): Treasurer Brian Van Flandern, VP Allen Katz, President Jonathan Pogash, and Madame Secretary Charlotte Voisey. |
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Boston is such a lovely city - 19th century town houses, crystal clear bays, big green monsters, and drinks to match.
I met Jackson Cannon on a trip to London about two years ago. He was just starting a family, and was eager to chat about his beverage program at Eastern Standard in Boston.
I had the chance to see Jackson once more this past month at his fine establishment. It was my first time there, and what better place to enjoy some fine rye whiskey than with Jax some of the best bartenders in Boston.
Click here for the full scoop.
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The Waldorf Cocktail
My current cocktail research is focused on the drinks of 1910 through around 1940. I know, I know - there are nearly 13 years within that time when drinks weren't around. Well, that's not entirely true. Many of our great American bartenders moved overseas during prohibition, opening up bars of their own, and continuing on with creating new drinks.
Just prior to prohibition, a great hotel existed on the corner of 33rd St. and 5th Avenue. (We all know the current Waldorf=Astoria Hotel on Park Avenue near 49th Street) Well, I'm referring to the old one: A grand hotel (see pic below) towering 13 stories above Manhattan, the Waldorf Hotel was the place to see and be seen. This was William Waldorf Astor's most prized project. His cousin, John Jacob Astor IV had to one up him by building the 17-story Astoria Hotel next door to the Waldorf. The Astor feuds lasted for years and years to come.
The Waldorf and Astoria Hotels joined forces several years later, and the hotel and several bars inside thrived right up until prohibition in 1920. The hotel shut it's doors in 1929, succumbing not only to the construction of the Empire State Building next door, but also to the ban of alcoholic beverages.
A great man by the name of A.S. Crockett wrote the Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book, a compilation of pre-prohibition recipes, some of which were created by the very bar-men of the Old Waldorf Bar. Crockett was the Old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel historian. He had a passion for the craft of bartending, and of preserving old drink recipes through to the repeal of prohibition. The book wasn't even published until 1935, nearly 5 years after the Empire State Building was completed.
The signature drink of the Waldorf Hotel was the Waldorf Cocktail. No, it doesn't have anything to do with a Waldorf Salad (although this was invented at the Old Waldorf Hotel). This delicate rye whiskey cocktail embodies New York City, and makes us think back to the hay day of that bar on the corner of 33rd Street and 5th Avenue. We can only dream that such a space were ever to exist once again.
In the meantime, we can enjoy a cocktail:
The Waldorf Cocktail
adapted from the Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book, A.S. Crockett, 1935
1 1/2 oz. Rye Whiskey
3/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth
1/4 oz. Absinthe
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
Directions: Stir all ingredients over cracked ice and strain into cocktail glass.
Garnish: orange peel (optional)
Execution notes: For the rye whiskey, I like switching it up between an in your face kind of rye, like Rittenhouse, and something a bit more mellow and soft, like (ri)1. For the sweet vermouth, try Cinzano or Carpano Antica. Again, these will yield very different cocktails.
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THE FUNNIES: ON THE ROCKS
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Jonathan Pogash is a beverage consultant, educator, and mixologist for bars, restaurants, and liquor brands.
Join the Cocktail Guru List.
Cheers,
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