Mango-a-go-go in Albany penthouse

April L. Dowd photos

Absolut's painted pourers pose.
When the invitations go out to a penthouse party for a new flavored vodka, and the penthouse is atop an in-progress restaurant to be named for and run by one of the Northeast's top celebrity chefs, party planners have to be careful to keep the emphasis on the new product.

This week, Absolut Mango was the flavor du jour, the recently-released expression the latest in a long line of flavored vodkas from the Swedish distiller.

And the restaurant was Dale Miller: The Art of Dining, now receiving the finishing touches before opening opposite the Times Union Center in downtown Albany.

Miller himself, one of a comparative handful of Certified Master Chefs in the U.S., was making the rounds as guests snapped up all sorts of tidbits made with Absolut Mango. But the eyes kept going to gowned young ladies carrying lighted trays of such cocktails as an Absolut Mango Brazilian Cosmo and an Absolut Mango Metropolitan (see recipes below), and other young ladies anything but gowned.

A pair of models clad in short-shorts, body paint and smiles poured the Absolut down an ice chute to chill it and into little sampling cups for the assembled guests.

The mango version joins Absolut's flavor portfolio that already included Apeach, Citron, Kurant, Mandrin, Pears, Peppar, Raspberri, Ruby Red and Vanilia.

The business plan calls for Miller to be back in the kitchen by spring, cokking for a new 65-seat restaurant on the ground floor of a 14-story office tower called Keycorp Plaza (30 South Pearl Street).

It's a great space that once housed a restaurant called Starr's and then one called Dividends, but hasn't been in use for years.

Miller, 48, a native of Amsterdam, NY, is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (Class of '79) in Hyde Park, and presently sits on the school's board.

Miller, not so incidentally, received the Chef Professionalism Award at the American Culinary Federation’s Northeast regional conference held early this month in Boston. The citation says it is given to the chef who “exemplifies the highest standard of professionalism through certification, continuing education and training, culinary competitions and community involvement.”

Miller is one of eight Northeastern honorees who will compete with other regional winners at the ACF’s national conference in Florida in July.

Miller initially gained fame with his own Stone Ends restaurant in suburban Albany, then as executive chef of the iconic Jack's Oyster House in Albany, and briefly was general manager and executive chef of the Inn at Erlowest on Lake George before deciding to head back to Albany.

Bar Notes: The above-mentioned cocktails contain: for the Brazilian Cosmo, mango vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, cranberry juice and orange juice stirred with ice and strained into a cocktail glass; for the Mango Metropolitan, mango vodka, Triple Sec, lime juice and mango juices, stirred or shaken with ice and strained into a cocktail glass.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

I'm baaack

William M. Dowd photo

Mmmm. Cheeseburger in Paradise!

I just returned last night (Wednesday) from a trip to St. Croix, in the American Virgin Islands, to visit the Cruzan Rom Distillery and handle other business, thus the lack of recent posts.

Thanks to the gazillion readers who kept checking back in that quiet period. It was nice you were reading while I was enjoying a cheeseburger and a tropical breeze.

Since I was one hour ahead of the continental U.S. (much of the Caribbean goes by Atlantic Time), I have looked into the future for you. I can report that ...

What's that? I'm not allowed to reveal the future? OK, Sarah Connor, if you say so.

And now, we return you to your regularly scheduled blog.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Diageo helps AIDS group's Oscar party

A year-long event partnership between Diageo and the Elton John AIDS Foundation has resulted in a trio of specialty cocktails created for the foundation's gala dinner and Academy Awards viewing party set for the Pacific Design Center in Hollywood this Sunday.

Diageo's Ciroc Ultra Premium Vodka was used to create the "Ciroc Chic" (right) and "Simply Scrumptious" drinks to be served at the custom designed Ciroc Ice Bar. The first is vodka mixed with pomegranate and pineapple juices, served in a chilled martini glass garnished with a lemon twist. The second is a mix of vodka, lemon juice, pear nectar and Cointreau, garnished with cinnamon.

Godiva will feature the "Godiva Carameltini," a blend of Godiva Caramel Milk Chocolate Liqueur and vodka, served in a chilled martini glass with a caramel swirl.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation, which the singer/composer established in 1992, focuses on the support of community-based prevention education programs, harm reduction programs, and direct services to those living with HIV/AIDS. The organization's outreach efforts include physical and mental health services, HIV testing and counseling, food distribution, assisted living services, social services and volunteer recruitment and support.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

A celebri-quote: William Elliott Whitmore

• William Elliott Whitmore is a rising young singer/musician from Iowa who specializes in Mississippi Delta-style blues. He was interviewed during a campus stop to promote his new CD, "Animals."

Q: Anyone who listens to even a tiny bit of your music knows your love for whiskey. What do you prefer to drink?

A: Hell, I don’t know any of the really nice brands. I’d have to say my favorite is Templeton Rye. It’s made right here in Iowa, which is how I got turned on to it. It’s the only distillery — well, the only legal distillery — in Iowa.

The word is that it was one of Al Capone’s favorites, and he would drive to Iowa just to bootleg it back to Chicago. But I don’t discriminate. I’ll drink any kind.

[Go here for more celebri-quotes.]

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Hendrix vodka hits sour note in court

Celebrity-backed spirits have always been a curiosity. Why anyone would buy a product simply because the name of someone famous is attached to it is beyond me.

At least I don't have to wonder about Electric Hendrix Vodka anymore.

A federal judge in Seattle has ordered the vodka, named for the late rock legend and Seattle native Jimi Hendrix -- who died in 1970, pulled from store shelves, all advertising and marketing of it to be stopped, and $3.2 million in damages paid for trademark infringement.

That, dear readers, is a whopper of a decision.

The legal wrangle has been going on since Seattle businessman Craig Dieffenbach and Hendrix's half-brother, Leon Hendrix, began marketing Electric Hendrix Vodka in 2005. The purple-tinged bottles carried an image of the iconic guitar player with a large Afro haircut.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly gave the vodka company 10 days to comply with the order. The ruling permanently barred Electric Hendrix from commercially using, advertising or challenging the trademarks and logos controlled by Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix, two companies owned by the Jimi Hendrix estate. The judge also barred the vodka company from registering identical or "confusingly similar" trademarks to those owned by the estate, according to court documents.

Zilly initially ruled in the estate's favor in October, but Dieffenbach filed an appeal with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, court documents say. The two sides entered a settlement agreement in December, and Dieffenbach's appeal was voluntarily dismissed. The matter returned to Zilly's court, where he issued a permanent injunction and awarded $3.2 million in damages.

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2007, ends a long dispute between different factions of the Hendrix family over the estate. The musician died without a will, and his estate went to his father, Al Hendrix. Janie Hendrix inherited control when Al Hendrix, her adoptive father, died in 2002. Leon Hendrix, who was cut out of the will by his father, took Janie to court in 2004 for a share of the $80 million estate. Dieffenbach funded Leon's court battle.

Do celebrity endorsements affect vodka purchasing decisions? Sobieski Vodka had a camera crew ask bartenders and patrons people that question. View the video here.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

'Guys & Dolls' classic cocktail returns

Anytime a James Bond movie comes out, all of us drinks writers immediately pounce on what 007 is drinking in his latest flick. But classic plays and films rarely change their drinks menus despite many revivals.

A good example is “Guys and Dolls,” the classic musical comedy about gamblers and their gals that debuted on stage in 1950, was made into a movie in 1955, and since then has regularly returned to the stage.

The latest revival is the Broadway show scheduled to open in New York on March 1, starring Oliver Platt and Lauren Graham as Sky Masterson and Sarah Brown.

In the play, they travel to Havana, Cuba, where Sarah orders a Dulce de Leche cocktail.

The folks at Bacardi have jumped on this opportunity to remind consumers about the drink that now has survived more than a half-century. And, of course, they'd prefer it be made with their own products.

Here's the recipe for a Dulce de Leche:

1 ounce Bacardi Superior Rum (or any good rum)
½ ounce Dark Godiva Liqueur (or any other dark chocolate liqueur)
½ ounce sweetened condensed milk

Shake all ingredients very well in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with a pinch of ground cinnamon and shaved chocolate.

The movie version of "Guys & Dolls," by the immortal writer Damon Runyon, starred Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons and Vivian Blaine.

Runyon, a New York sportswriter-turned short-story writer and poet, wrote a series of stories under the umbrella name "Guys & Dolls" in 1932. Two of them, on which the play was based, were called "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure."

Runyon (spelled Runyan at birth but changed later due to a typographical error he kept) was known for being very specific about drinks in his work. He frequently mentioned the Tom & Jerry, a hot holiday drink, in his short stories.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Latest Washington rye a new approach

William M. Dowd photos

If you missed the first round of whiskey released at George Washington's re-constructed distillery, take heart. More is on the way.

Two weeks of distillation began this week at the facility located near Mount Vernon, VA, to generate 100 gallons of whiskey using Washington’s recipe. Half will be bottled and sold at Mount Vernon, starting probably in June. It will be sold unaged, as Washington sold it, by the pint for an expected price in the $100 range.

Mount Vernon’s first attempt at original distilling in the summer of 2007 yielded roughly a dozen gallons, all of which are being aged and which will be sold as whiskey starting in the fall.

It will be interesting to see the difference between the first batch that was released and the one currently being created.

The first was a unique "vatted" product made by marrying and re-aging at Mount Vernon portions of 11 American brands: Jack Daniel's, Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, Maker's Mark, George Dickel, Virginia Gentleman, Very Old Barton, I.W.Harper, Woodford Reserve, Rebel Yell and Platte Valley.

The product was created under the auspices of the Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) by master distillers at Mount Vernon on August 17, 2005, utilizing the contents of special barrels that had been aging on the mansion grounds since 2001. Samples of it were doled out on opening day. My tasting notes on the small samples showed some pleasant surprises:

"Remarkable color for something only in the wood for a year. ... Obviously, the maturation process had been sped up by using small, 10-gallon casks which surround the raw whiskey with very accessible oak. ... Fine nose, promising spiciness and herbal nuances. ... Much of the expected initial heat usually present in young whiskey was missing, leaving a warm yet palatable initial taste, along with the expected spice from the rye grain, and a satisfactory finish. ... All in all, a definitely promising young whiskey that I'd love to re-taste a year or two from now."

This time, former Maker's Mark master distiller Dave Pickerill is heading a team of Mount Vernon employees – historians, historic trades interpreters, archaeologists, and educators – working with Washington’s recipe.

Mount Vernon and distillery shops currently sell a $25 commemorative gift box set that includes a shot glass and a 50ml bottle of the 2005 blend.

Footnotes: A daily blog is documenting the whiskeymakers' work. You can access it here. ... George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill re-open for the season on April 1, and remain open until October 31. Visitors will be able to see costumed distillers working with 18th Century-style equipment. The complex is located three miles from the main Mount Vernon Estate. ... Go here to read about opening day -- and a bit of Washington's distilling history.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Anti-tax protest doesn't make a splash

William M. Dowd photo

Presidents and master distillers from some of Kentucky's leading distilleries joined a protest Tuesday in Frankfort over a proposed retail tax on all alcohol products. However, on Wednesday the bill they were fighting received approval in one section of the state legislature.

The current liquor taxes include an 11% wholesale tax on packaged liquor, a 6% tax on drinks purchased in bars and restaurants, an 8-cent-per-gallon tax on beer, a 50-cent-per-gallon tax on wine and a $1.92-per-gallon tax on distilled spirits.

The protest was in reaction to a House committee approval for a 6% additional tax on alcoholic beverages in stores. The measure then passed the full house Wednesday and is expected to go to the full senate by the weekend, according to Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville.

More than 400 people — many of whom work in Kentucky's signature bourbon industry — attended the Tuesday rally, which culminated in the bourbon "tea party," a play on the Boston Tea Party, the most famous American colonial tax protest.

A convoy of trucks from breweries and distilleries circled the Capitol building while individuals such as Wild Turkey's iconic master distiller Jimmy Russell (at right in photo with a tour group at the distillery) poured bottles of bourbon on the Capitol's front steps in protest.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Bourbon splashes in KY protest

William M. Dowd photo

From the Associated Press:

FRANKFORT, KY -- It wasn't quite the Boston Tea Party. The proof was a little higher. Kentucky bourbon industry officials stood shoulder-to-shoulder Tuesday and poured spirits on the state Capitol's front steps to protest a proposed 6% sales tax on all booze.

"They've always been taxing us to death over the years," said Jimmy Russell, master distiller at Lawrenceburg, KY-based Wild Turkey (see in photo explaining the whiskey-making process to visitors), moments after pouring out an entire bottle of bourbon into a pile of melting snow.

Beer and bourbon trucks circled the Capitol all morning. A few hundred people holding signs and wearing stickers gathered in the Rotunda to shout their opposition.

[Go here for the full story.]

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

More bison grass vodka on the way

Bison grass vodka has been enjoyed in Poland and most other European countries for generations. But, it took several decades of sparring between U.S. regulators and would-be importers to get it here.

In 2007, Zubrowka Bison Grass Flavored Vodka was the first to be sold in the U.S., at a suggested retail price of $26.

Now, Bak's brand bison grass vodka is the latest to arrive on our shores. It is distilled from zubrowka, or bison grass, that grows in the fertile fields of eastern Poland which are populated by huge bison.

Folklore says hunters celebrated a bison kill with their vodka that had been flavored with bison grass, which they believed had nutrients that increased stamina and virility. Bak's includes an extract of bison grass.

“We are extremely pleased to bring a touch of Polish nobility to America. Our creation is set to redefine the flavored vodka category with its one-of-a-kind vitality and mystical characteristics. We’ve showcased the aphrodisiac qualities in specialty cocktails at renowned accounts such as Tavern on The Green, The Grand Central Oyster Bar, & City Crab to name a few," said Adam Bak, CEO of Adamba Imports International, sole U.S. importer of Bak's.

The triple-distilled, 82-proof potato vodka should shortly be available in most major U.S. markets, including New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Florida, Virginia and Washington DC.

Suggested retail price: $29 for the one-liter bottle.

It was widely believed that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration opposed bison grass vodka because it contained coumarin. As I reported back in '07:

"Coumarin is a chemical compound also known as benzopyrone. In certain concentrations it is highly toxic. It has been found in bison grass, tonka beans, vanilla extract and even cigarettes. Its scent, usually described as 'new-mown hay,' is a pleasant, sweet one which had led to its use in perfumes since the 1800s.

"The U.S. government has long had rigid restrictions -- but not an overall, outright ban -- on imported goods containing coumarin. Coumarin itself is used in medical products such as anti-coagulants.

"As restrictions have been eased in recent years on various imports, principally from India and South Korea, with no apparent ill effects, globally coumarin is being viewed with less suspicion.

"I checked with the Pesticide Action Network North America's PAN Pesticides Database, which says coumarin is not banned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or by any government agency."

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

'Age Reverser' cocktail debuts

Public relations agencies are always on the lookout for some current event that will help them sell their clients' wares.

The drinks industry is no exception. So, it was no surprise when Catherine Pappas, representing 10 Cane Rum, sent me a list of Academy Award-themed cocktail recipes based on said rum.

In the interest of balance, I can't post every recipe sent to me, but I did particularly like the one called "Benjamin's Age Reverser," referring, obviously, to "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." That's the Brad Pitt film version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's tale of a man born old who gets younger all the time.

The gimmick, besides the use of 10 Cane, is the inclusion of pomegranate juice, which researchers tell us is rich in anti-oxidants and, therefore, good for us.

Here's the recipe:

2 ounces 10 Cane Rum
1 ounce pomegranate juice
3/4 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice
Dash of simple syrup

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice, shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and/or a lemon twist.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Four Roses a memorable bouquet

William M. Dowd photo

Have you ever tried not to treat yourself to a spirit you've really enjoyed but are nearly out of?

It's not always a matter of price, or even local availability. Sometimes it's a matter of liking a limited-edition spirit too much and knowing it can never be reproduced. Ever.

Or, as I did, you've found a rudimentary pleasure in the back of a dusty old liquor cabinet no one has opened literally in years.

Meet my slowly-dwindling quart bottle of Four Roses Premium American Whiskey. That's it in the picture. Take a close look at the yellow price sticker: $6.39.

I came across the bottle when my recently-widowed stepfather was closing up his house and moving to assisted living quarters. In his day, he had been known to enjoy a drop or three of bourbon, rye and blended American whiskies. He's gradually gotten out of the habit as the years went along, and what was left in his cabinet was a collection of oddities.

There's no real way to precisely date the bottle of Four Roses, except to say I know it was purchased in Maryland (the tax stamp still is on it) some time in the late 1960s.

Four Roses as a bourbon and blended whiskey entity has had an erratic lifespan. Formerly the nation's top-selling bourbon in the 1930s, '40s and '50s, the brand virtually disappeared in the '60s when then-owner Seagram began selling the bourbon exclusively overseas. Then, under new owner Kirin, the Japanese brewer, Four Roses Bourbon was returned to the U.S. in 2002 with distribution limited to Kentucky, and at the same time, the blended whiskey was discontinued to focus solely on bourbon. Then, in 2007, the brand expanded bourbon distribution to New York, New Jersey, Tennessee and Illinois with further expansion planned.

Today, Four Roses is exclusively a bourbon label, which may make the remaining half-bottle of the Premium American Whiskey I have worth at least its original retail price.

Master Distiller Jim Rutledge, already a member of the Bourbon Hall of Fame, was named a “Baron of Bourbon” by The Bourbon Review trade industry magazine for its 2008/09 issue, recognizing his expertise and notable achievements in the field. The publication qualifies a baron as someone “who possesses great power or influence in some field of activity.” It lists as of one Rutledge’s biggest accomplishments the oversight of the 2002 re-introduction of Four Roses to the U.S. domestic market, after a four-decade absence.

Since that return, Four Roses has introduced a single barrel and several small-batch bourbons, as well as a series of limited-edition commemmorative bottlings. Its Four Roses Single Barrel now is Kentucky’s top-selling bourbon in the single-barrel category.

But, back to my 40+year-old, 80-proof treasure. My day-to-day drink is a Jim Beam Bourbon Manhattan on the rocks. Since digging through that old liquor cabinet, I've been occasionally substituting the blended Four Roses for the bourbon, adding a healthy dash of angostura bitters that I don't regularly use in my Beam Manhattan, and a bit of Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth (4-to-1 ratio with the whiskey), all vigorously stirred in a big cut-glass Old Fashioned tumbler with fresh ice cubes, and garnished with a maraschino cherry.

I'm not quite sure if the pleasure I'm getting is from the quality of the drink itself, or partially from the memories of bygone years it evokes. Either way, I'm ahead of the game, and I saved $6.39.

Footnotes: The label on my old Four Roses bottle lists Baltimore, MD, and Lawrenceburg, IN, for the company. Today, it is made near Lawrenceburg, KY, in a 1910 Spanish-style distillery that is open to the public for free tours. Details here. ... Four Roses also offers a tour of its one-of-a-kind single story rick warehouse facilities in Cox’s Creek, about an hour's drive from the distillery. ... Go here for a look at a Four Roses special marking the company's 120th anniversary.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Dominican rum figure dies

George Arzeno Brugal, president of the Dominican Republic’s largest rum distiller, died in Tampa, FL, Friday while taking part in government-sponsored talks to deal with the effects of the global economic crisis.

Luis Conception, a company spokesman, confirmed Brugal's death, saying he had not been ill and that his children were with him when he died.

Brugal was president of the rum and beverage company Brugal, founded in 1888.A year ago this month it sold 83% of the company's shares to The Edrington Group, a Scottish distilling company, for $400 million.

He also was president of the Brugal Foundation which has made major grants to non-profit Dominican institutions for the past decade.

Brugal distills a variety of rums, such as Barceló and Bermúdez, in addition to the Brugal label.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Bacon + whiskey = ecstasy

Two things Americans in particular like a lot of are bacon and whiskey. In their quest to make everything as convenient as possible, some mixologists have been experimenting with ways to merge the twin treats. Here is one such effort. Enjoy.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Pussycat Dolls surprise Serbia

Nicole Scherzinger (center) and some of The Pussycat Dolls
Blic Online is all a-twitter over the demands of The Pussycat Dolls, the red-hot American musical stage act set to perform in Belgrade, Serbia, later this month.

While their insistence on certain drinks, foods and other perks are commonplace in the U.S., U.K. and other parts of the West, they're apparently unexpected in that part of the former Yugoslavia.

Blic is the show biz Web site most popular in Serbia. Here's part of its breathless report:

"Girls from an American band 'Pussycat Dolls,' who will perform in Belgrade on February 25, have demanded from the organizers to provide them with whiskey, vodka, protein drinks, champagne, different kinds of cheese … Nicole Scherzinger and her colleagues have also expressed wish to be provided with staff, but fluent in English and wearing recognizable uniforms, but not T-shirts, tuxedos or evening suits."

You can read the rest of the story here. And, by the way, if you've been hiding under a rock and are not familiar with The Pussycat Dolls, you can click here to visit their official Web site.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

SWA not giving up on Glen Breton

I live in the outskirts of a state capital community heavily populated by people, cats, deer, wild turkeys, politicians -- and lawyers. Some of us view the latter as different than you and I.

Nevertheless, some of the species can be nice guys, such as David Williamson (left), public affairs manager of the Scotch Whisky Association. I've had a dram or two with him on his home turf in Scotland, and we've debated a number of topics in courteous fashion.

William M. Dowd photo

Thus, I know whereof Williamson speaks when he insists some pertinent details of the SWA's legal battles against the Canadian whisky Glen Breton are not over despite several governmental bodies ruling in favor of Glenora Distillers' use of that name.

The SWA contends the name Glen Breton misleads consumers into believing the whisky is distilled and matured in Scotland. A Canadian federal court initially agreed with the SWA. Then Canada's Trade-Marks Opposition Board sided with Glenora. So, the SWA took its case to court again, but the Federal Court of Appeal upheld Glenora's registration of Glen Breton as the trademark of its single malt.

Says Williamson:

"I wanted to make you aware that some of the wider reporting of the recent court ruling was inaccurate. The post ruling statement by Glenora Distillers International Ltd. claimed that the Canadian appeal court found that the name Glen Breton does not mislead consumers as to the product's origin. That statement is wrong.

"What the court actually said was: 'I believe it is fair to say that Glenora has marketed its product as being like a single-malt Scotch in all but name.' The court added, 'More importantly, Justice Harrington found that there was actual confusion in the marketplace, and that some consumers were not aware that Glenora's product was not a Scotch distilled in Scotland.'

"In reaching this conclusion, he had particular regard to evidence that Glenora's whisky had been listed on several bar and restaurant lists under the heading 'Scotch,' albeit occasionally with some sort of note attempting to clarify that it was Canadian. There was also evidence before him that similar mistakes had been made by a few independent critics and reviewers. Justice Harrington did not accept the argument that any confusion was due to the fact that Glen Breton has many of the characteristics of a Scotch -- flavor, aroma, and so forth -- and found on a balance of probabilities that the confusion was due to the use of a 'glen-prefixed mark.'

"In short, the court did not determine 'that the name Glen Breton does not mislead.' On the contrary, the appeal court did not question Mr. Justice Harrington's findings that the name Glen Breton had caused confusion. Rather, the court's ruling was based on the interpretation of a particular provision of the Canadian Trade Marks Act, a perverse result of which is that a trademark acknowledged in both courts as having caused 'actual confusion in the marketplace' has been allowed.

"We find it surprising that the court has allowed this confusion to be perpetuated, and we are considering an appeal."

Stay tuned for the next round in this ongoing kerfuffle.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Finlandia Cup competition under ice

Top U.S. entry Christina Misiura and overall winner Ritya Dimas.

Kittila, Finland, may not be the drinks capital of the world, but for one day it got a lot of attention.

Twenty-nine bartenders who won regional competitions to advance to the finals of the 11th annual International Finlandia Vodka Cup were there to compete for the overall best in three categories -- the aperitif, long drink and “quick mix."

The competition was held in a "snow dome" made of snow and ice hand cut from a nearby river. Handcrafted ice bars lined the inside of the igloo. Competitors had to deal not only with time constraints, but with the cold, which made ingredients react differently.

In "quick mix," contestants were given drink ingredients 10 minutes prior to the competition. They had to invent a new drink recipe, then mix the concoction within an additional five minutes. Extra time resulted in losing points.

Every drink the bartenders crafted had to be a new one based on Finlandia Vodka or one of its infusions -- cranberry, lime, redberry, mango, wild berries or grapefruit.

The winner was Raditya Dimas, a native of Indonesia working in Dubai, who amassed 298 of a possible 312 points.

The top American finisher was Christina Misiura (left) of Orlando, FL. She tied for third in the aperitif category and placed sixth in the long drink, coming in 13th overall.

Dimas's winning recipes:

• THE QUICKY TINI (aperitif)

4.5 cl Finlandia Cranberry Fusion vodka
1.5 cl strawberry liqueur
1.5 cl passion fruit syrup
3 cl lemon juice
Method: Shake and strain into a martini glass, garnish with a lemon slice and a mint-leaf tip.

• JAKARTA RED DRAGON (long drink)

6 cl Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion
1 piece apple
3 cl passion fruit syrup
3 cl raspberry puree
3 cl cranberry juice
Method: Muddle, shake and strain into a highball glass. Garnish with a red currant, grapefruit peel, and mint-leaf tip.

• THANK YOU WITH LOVE (quick mix)

6 cl Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion
3 cl sugar syrup
6 cl Pomegranate juice
3 slices pink grapefruit

Muddle, shake and strain into a martini. glass, Garnish with a grapefruit slice.

And, Christina Misiura's drinks recipes:

• LEMON BLISS (aperitif)

1¾ ounces Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion
1½ ounces St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
¾ ounce simple syrup
Lemongrass

Method: Muddle lemongrass, syrup, juice. Add Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion and St. Germain. Shake and strain into a martini glass and garnish with lemongrass and grapefruit flower.

• POMEGRANATE CRUSH (long drink)

1¼ ounces Finlandia Wild Berry Fusion
1 ounce pomegranate juice
2 fresh orange slices (rind removed)
¾ ounce simple syrup
Splash of fresh sour mix

Method: In glass to be used for serving, muddle orange slices, pomegranate juice and simple syrup. Add Finlandia Wild Berry Fusion and splash of sour. Add ice and shake. Garnish with orange/raspberry/blackberry pinwheel.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Belvedere launches 9-ingredient vodka

Belvedere Vodka is not one of the pack that comes up with new products seemingly every few months. But when it does add to its product line, it does so with a flourish.

The Polish company, named for the country's presidential palace, has just launched Belvedere IX in conjunction with Parisian graffiti artist Andre Saraiva who designed the label.

It is part of the distiller's "Luxury Reborn" marketing campaign. The new product -- pronounced "one X" -- is made with the usual Dankowskie Gold Rye for which Belvedere is known as well as nine ingredients usually reserved for gin: ginseng, guarana, acai. ginger, sweet almond, jasmine, eucalyptus, cinnamon and black cherry.

They're distilled individually in micro-batches, then blended with 50% abv (100 proof) Belvedere vodka and artesian water.

Belvedere IX is launching exclusively in nightclubs this week, starting Thursday at My House in Los Angeles. It is targeted to be in liquor stores this spring.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Bill's e-Mailbox: What's in a name?

Q: I had a friend swear that he had Patron Vodka and it was the best stuff he's ever tasted. I know that Patron purchased Ultimat, but are they also putting out their own labeled vodka? Thank you for your reply.

-- Eduard Herman, Gladstone, MO

A: Greg Cohen of The Patrón Spirits Co. tells me the vodka has nothing to do with his company. "Our only vodka is Ultimat," he says, which the company purchased and re-launched.

Despite the similarity in the spellings of the two products, Patrón Tequila is pronounced pah-trone and Patron Vodka -- without the accented O -- is pronounced pay-troon. At left is the Patron Vodka bottle.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

'Pesticide-free' Scotch unveiled

There are some Scotch distillers who may take umbrage with the inference from the marketing language used by a new whisky called Naked Scot.

Australian liquor producer ASM Liquor has the whisky distilled on the Isle of Mull and aged three years before being put in a cylindrical glass bottle embossed with a map of Scotland and finished with a tartan-pattern topper..

ASM claims its whisky is free from residual herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides. And its CEO, Julian Moss, says, "Consumers really have very little choice and frequently pay a premium for poor quality products."

The overall inference being that many other Scotches are riddled with chemicals.

Naked Scot is a premium blended Highland scotch with a peaty single-malt character. It is the sixth spirit to be released from ASM Liquor, a boutique distillery.

Other spirits in ASM Liquor’s range include Vodka O, Kinky Nero dark rum, Kinky Lux white rum, Jinn Dry Gin and Tequila Blu.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Virginia keeps its ABC stores

A Virginia state senator has proposed a bill to privatize the state's ABC liquor and wine stores and give private businesspeople the opportunity to sell alcoholic beverages.

It didn't stand a chance.

Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, proposed the bill to the Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee Friday morning. The committee voted 13 to 2 to kill the bill.

"The time for state run ABC stores has come and gone. It's time to enter the post-prohibition era," he said. " ... I think it's about time that Virginia join the vast majority of other states."

Thirty four states have privatized alcohol sales. However, Virginia's ABC stores do not keep any of the money they earn. All revenues is sent directly to the state treasury, which last year received ABC revenue of $103,410, 283.

Opposition to the privatization bill was primarly because other senators were fearful of cutting off a state revenue stream in a recessionary economy.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.