An Absolut-ly naked marketing ploy

If you're in a duty free shop at some airport this summer and you see what appears to be a faulty, label-free bottle of Absolut vodka, you're wrong. It's exactly as the distiller intends.

The limited-run gimmick is Absolut No Label. The marketing people say it is intended "to challenge prejudice against sexual minorities."

Uh, huh.

The offering will be introduced in the duty free and travel retail market from June, with a global domestic launch following in September. The brand's new marketing tagline runs: "In An Absolut World, There Are No Labels", which is described as an initiative representing a completely new approach to LGBT marketing (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender).

"The vision from Absolut is to challenge the entire concept of labels and prejudice, in pursuit of a more diverse, vibrant and respectful world. For this purpose, Absolut introduces a unique naked bottle – one with no label, but plenty of attitude," explained Anders Olsson, global travel retail director for the Swedish company.

”For the first time, we’re facing the world stark naked. ... We do it in support of the people who spend their entire lives branded with labels by others. As a brand, we also question the relevance of the LGBT abbreviation in marketing.”

The Absolut Co. is part of Pernod Ricard. Globally, Absolut Vodka is the world’s fourth largest international selling spirit.

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The dawn of 'comfort cocktails'

"Comfort food" has become a routine part of today's American lexicon, so why not "comfort cocktails"?

I came across some that carried that label in the Baltimore Sun's "Midnight Sun" after-hours column. I don't know that I'd personally find any comfort in some of the concoctions, but to each his or her own.

If you're interested in the particulars of such drinks as Daddy's Girl, Choking Hazard and Wrong Island Iced Tea, go here -- and remember, keep your tongue firmly planted in your cheek.

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Scotsman newspaper launches whisky site

Scotland's prestigious newspaper the Scotsman has launched something that should be very well received in its own country and beyond.

It's Scotsman Whisky, a new Web site under the newspaper's online umbrella. Its grand opening announcement and mission statement reads:

Welcome to Scotsman Whisky, the site for whisky drinkers, industry professionals and those keen to get their first taste of Scotland's national drink.

With whisky writing from Scotland's top journalists, expert business coverage and up to the minute news, Scotsman Whisky offers an insight into the fascinating world of this historic spirit as it advances into the 21st Century.

Visit our interactive distillery map to find out more about whisky production, browse our features section for stories about your favourite dram, or check out our blog for news and gossip from the world of whisky.

There's fascinating footage to look at in our video section and if you want to find out about whisky events happening across the country then click on our whisky events listing.

Whisky may be regarded as the "world's most complex spirit", but our aim is to make it as simple and enjoyable as possible for you to find out more about this wonderful drink. So sit back and enjoy Scotsman Whisky: everything you need to know about whisky -- served straight.

I've added a live link to the site on my list of "Refreshing Links."

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A celebri-quote: Luke Goss

• Playing the role of the evil Prince Nuada Silverlance in the film "Hellboy II" took a lot of hard work for ex-singer Luke Goss, 40. He reveals his regimen in an interview with Gloucestershire.co.uk.

Q: You're up for an MTV movie award for 'Best Fight.' What was your daily workout?

A: 'Hellboy II' was nine weeks -- four hours a day fighting and learning to use the weapons, and an hour in the gym at night before dinner. Then vodka. It all seemed to work out!

[Go here for more celebri-quotes.]

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World Whiskies Awards have familiar look

A painstaking set of judging rounds resulted in a wide range of winners in the 2009 World Whiskies Awards, although two were repeats from 2008.

The annual competition, sponsored by Whisky Magazine, the UK publication that is the world's largest devoted to spirits, was run by Dave Broom, chairman of judges, with panels in Europe, the United States -- which included yours truly -- and one judge each for Canada and Japan.

As noted in the current issue of the magazine, "Impressively for the second year running in both the Grain and Whisky Liqueur categories, the winners retained their top spots showing great consistency."

They were Compass Box Hedonism in the "Grain" judging and Wild Turkey American Honey in the "Whisky Liqueur" judging.

The other major winners:

New Release: Highland Park 40 Years Old

Blended Malt Whisky: Taketsuru 21 Years Old

Blended Whisky: Hanky Bannister 40 Years Old

American Whiskey: Thomas H. Handy Rye

Single Malt Whisky: Highland Park 21 Years Old

Issue No. 79 of the magazine has all the category winners that vied for the major awards.

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Ministry of Rum competition a gold rush

Sixty-five rums were entered in this year's Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition in Miami Beach, FL.

Forty-four of them, or 68% of all those entered, were awarded gold medals.

The competition was organized by Edward Hamilton, author of several books on rum, and proprietor of the Ministry of Rum Web site.

The gold medalists, in alphabetical order:

Abuelo 7 year old
Abuelo 12 year old
Admiral Rodney
Bacardi 8
Bacardi Reserva Limitada
Barceló Imperial Rum
Bacardi Select Rum
Barceló Gran Añejo Rum
Bacardi 8
Bacardi Limitada Reserva
Bacardi Select
Batiste Rhum Agricole Blanc
Boca Loca Cachaça
Cabana Cachaça
Castries Rum Cream
Castro Rum
Cubaney 8 Años Solera Reserva
Cubaney 15 Años Solera Reserva
Cruzan Aged Dark Rum
Cruzan Single Barrel
Diplomatico Blanco
Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva
D J Cachaça
Dos Maderas PX
El Dorado 3 Year Old Cask Aged White Rum
El Dorado 5 Year Old Cask Aged Rum
Flor de Cana Rum Gold 4 year old
Hacienda Saruro
MaDoudou Vanille
Montanya Platino
Mount Gay Extra Old Barbados Rum
Opthimus 25 Años Summa Cum Laude
Rogue Dark Rum
Rogue Hazelnut Spiced Rum
Rum Jumbie
Rum Jumbie Coconut Splash
Seven Tiki Spiced
St. Nicholas Abbey 10 Years Old
Temptryst Applewood Light
Temptryst Hickory Light
Temptryst Peachwood Light
Tommy Bahama White Sand
Vizcaya Cask 21 Rum
Zaya

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Texas distillers can serve samples on-premises

Texas doesn't have many distilleries, but those it does have now will be able to ply their wares a little more easily.

Gov. Rick Perry has signed into law a piece of legislation that allows distilleries to serve free samples on premises, just as wineries have been allowed to do.

Dan Garrison, proprietor of Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, a tiny town in the Hill Country, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that "a while back, he invited a number of senators and representatives to visit his distillery but that the lawmakers weren’t able to taste the product at the end of the tour.

" 'It’s frustrating to come out and spend an hour walking around and not get an idea how good it is,' Garrison said."

There are only nine distilleries in Texas. Go here for my earlier report on the effort to create a 10th.

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Japan's Hibiki 12 YO debuts in London

Suntory is the king of Asian distillers, but it chose a foreign market for the world premier of its latest whisky.

Its Hibiki 12 Year Old premium blended whisky debuted today in London.

The Hibiki premium blended range has earned 15 gold medals and trophies in less than five years, including the title of "The World’s Best Blended Whisky" from its Hibiki 30 Year Old in both 2007 and 2008.

The distiller says London was chosen "due to the growing interest and demand for Suntory premium whiskies in the U.K. and to further support the Hibiki brand positioning on the world stage, by introducing it to whisky connoisseurs in an international capital."

The new expression was aged in Japanese plum liqueur "Umeshu" casks, which sweeten the liquor, made from a blend of malt and grain whiskies. It is filtered through bamboo charcoal and is bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof).

Suntory also produces the Hibiki in 17-, 21- and 30-year-old expressions.

Seiichi Koshimizu, Suntory’s chief blender and the first Japanese representative to be appointed a judge at the International Spirits Challenge, says, “Our goal was to create a uniquely Japanese whisky that is mellower and smoother than any other premium 12-year-old whisky in the world.

“Hibiki is a niche brand, and we understand that not many people can afford to buy such premium whiskies. By adding Hibiki 12 year-old to the range we seek to make the brand more affordable to whisky enthusiasts and to increase awareness of the marvellous flavors of Japanese whisky.”

The whisky is packaged in a 24-facet decanter inspired by the original 24 seasons in the Japanese year. It is selling in the U.K. at a suggested retail price of £39.99 to £42.99 a bottle, which translates to $60 to $65 US. The company has not announced when the new expression will be available in the American market.

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Kentucky craft distiller debuting Friday

Friday is a big day for the Corsair Artisan Distillery in Bowling Green, KY. That's when the micro-distillery has scheduled its grand opening and open house.

The new company, which is specializing in premium spirits, is located on Bowling Green's historic square on the backside of the Pushin building at East Main and College Street.

It's a 2,600-square-foot facility that includes a stillroom, work area, tasting bar and gift shop. The stillroom hosts two copper stills: a 240-gallon antique still and a 50-gallon hybrid pot still.

Darek Bell and Andrew Webber are co-founders of the small-batch distillery. They are making four spirits to begin with: gin, red absinthe, spiced rum and vanilla bean vodka.

They also are working on a variety of whiskey recipes. The first will be Wry Moon Unaged Rye Whiskey, which is crafted in extra small batches to produce a full peppery moonshine that preserves all the character of its rich rye mash.

Three aged whiskies are currently in the works as well: a four-grain whiskey, an aged rye whiskey and a Kentucky bourbon. The distillers say the micro-batch spirits will become available "as they reach their optimal character in the barrel-aging process."

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What's your drinking niche?

William M. Dowd photo

If you like finding out who shares your beverage tastes, the folks at The Harris Poll can be of some assistance.

The company has just released the findings of its online survey of 2,401 U.S. adults conducted last month.

First off, the survey found that near;ly three in ten adults (29%) drink alcohol, including beer or wine, at least once a week; 6% say they drink daily; 20% drink at least once a month; 12% say they drink several times a year; 6% drink at least once a year; 8% drink alcohol less often than once a year. However, 25% say they never drink alcohol.

Men are more likely to drink alcohol at least once a week than women are (40% vs. 19%). Women, however, are more likely to say they never drink alcohol (29% vs. 22%). Among generations, 33% of Echo Boomers (those aged 18-32) say they drink at least once a week compared to 26% of Gen Xers (those aged 33-44).

Easterners are much more likely to drink daily and at least once a week compared to other regions of the country. Thirty-seven percent of those living in the East drink alcohol at least once a week compared to 26% of Midwesterners, 28% of Southerners and 29% of Westerners. Also, 12% of Easterners drink daily compared to just 3% of both Midwesterners and Westerners.

What are they drinking?

Among those who drink alcohol at least several times a year, here's the breakdown:

• 67% drink beer
• 49% drink domestic wine
• 41% drink vodka
• 32% drink rum
• 29% drink imported wine
• 24% drink tequila
• 18% drink champagne
• 16% drink Canadian or Irish whiskey
• 15% drink bourbon
• 14% drink gin
• 14% drink cordials
• 13% drink Scotch

Full data tables and methodology are available online.

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Four Roses selects latest limited edition

Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge has chosen a Bourbon recipe to add to its limited edition single barrel collection.

Four Roses Single Barrel Limited Edition 2009 Release will be uncut and not chill filtered. It is expected to go on sale in June, with 1,800 bottles put in select markets.

Rutledge selected the 11-year-old whiskey from among the 10 recipes the distillery produces.

Four Roses is produced in a Spanish-mission style distillery in Lawrenceburg, KY.

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Oregon gin debuting this week

The slow but steady comeback of gin in the U.S. market gets another boost this Friday when Penney's Gin makes its debut.

The spirit is from McMenamins' Edgefield Distillers in Troutdale, OR. The distillery is part of the McMenamins company that also has eight hotels and 57 pubs in Oregon and Washington.

Penney's Gin, the company's first new liquor in four years, is a 90-proof American dry gin produced using English methods. It is named for Joe Penney, a late-1800s adventurer, gambler and Portland saloon owner who fell on hard times and retired to the county poor farm, now McMenamins Edgefield.

It will retail for $26.75 for the 750ml bottle.

McMenamins makes a variety of ales and beers such as Terminator Stout, Hammerhead, Ruby, Edgefield Wheat and Sunflower IPA, runs the Edgefield Winery, the Edgefield Distillery, and produces a line of roasted coffees.

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Meat and potatoes in a bottle

Who says you can't have it all? Black Rock Spirits is producing an Idaho potato-based, bacon-flavored vodka called Bakon. In a sense, meat-and-potatoes in a bottle.

Bakon made its public debut a week ago at the Belltown Bistro in Seattle, and went on sale in local liquor stores several days later.

However, unless you live in or visit a very specific northwestern part of the U.S. (see map), you'll have to be patient about locating a bottle.

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KY Bourbon Trail re-launches

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail today marked its 10th anniversary by unveiling a new logo, brochure, souvenir passport and commemorative T-shirt.

“This is a significant milestone for one of Kentucky’s most popular tourism attractions,” said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. “It’s also a perfect opportunity to introduce a fresh new look that reflects the growing bourbon revolution.”

The association created the Trail in 1999, inspired by the tourism and marketing opportunities in California’s wine country and Scotland’s whisky trails. The Trail features eight historic distilleries located in the Bluegrass country:

• Jim Beam
• Maker's Mark
• Buffalo Trace
• Four Roses
• Heaven Hill
• Tom Moore
• Wild Turkey
• Woodford Reserve

Visitors who collect stamps on their souvenir "passports" at all eight distilleries can redeem the passport for a free Kentucky Bourbon Trail T-shirt. This year’s shirt commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Trail.

The Trail also has added a Facebook page, and a revised web site Web site and Twitter page are due to be launched soon.

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Macleod releases 40-year-old Scotches to market

William M. Dowd photo illustration

• This is part of "Gotta Have ...", a series of occasional postings on unusual products.

Glengoyne Distillery is releasing a 40-year-old Highland Single Malt in limited quantities. Quite a decision for a 175-year-old distillery.

Iain Weir, marketing director for Ian Macleod Distillers which owns Glengoyne, said, “This is a world class, once-in-a-lifetime bottling. It was essential that the design and presentation of the Glengoyne 40 Year Old Highland Single Malt be a true reflection of its outstanding quality, and reinforces its position as one of the top luxury Limited Edition Single Malts available in the market today."

The expression is bottled in a a hand-blown Glencairn Crystal decanter, each of which has an individual number engraved in the base. An etching of the Scottish distillery is reflected up through the whisky.

The decanter is housed in a lacquered, piano-finished, solid oak wood presentation box, with gold plates on the front and hand-stitched cream leather interior. An accompanying cream leather and gold foil traditionally bound book, signed by Distillery Manager Robbie Hughes, provides tasting notes and detailed background on Glengoyne’s history as an independent distillery since 1833.

Just 250 crystal decanters will be available from specialist whisky outlets and in travel retail worldwide, retailing at £3,000 ($4,552 US).

However, if you're looking for a bargain-priced 40-year-old, Macleod also is launching a rare, limited-edition expression of its Springbank brand at just £800 ($1,213 US). It is from the Campbelltown distillery's Chieftain’s Single Malt Whisky collection.

Only 398 bottles of the natural strength, unchill-filtered whisky will be available. The distiller says it is the last and oldest Springbank cask available from the current Chieftain’s collection.

The bottle is presented in a silver leather-lined, solid oak box. Two silver plaques on the front display all the individual bottle details, as does the certificate of authenticity scroll, signed by Antony McCallum-Caron, Chieftain’s rare malt manager.

Weir notes, “The combination of age and the limited release of 398 bottles mean this will be a real collector’s item, with its unparalleled quality making it a joy to drink.”

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California vodka is truly organic

"Why does America buy into this 100-times distilled, diamond-filtered vodka crap? If it were really that pure, it would be organic!"

That's Allison Evanow, founder and CEO of Square One Organic Vodka, in a local television interview.

It's her mantra and her business plan to supply truly organic vodka to people who really care about such things. Working with master distiller Bill Scott, she has created a line of such spirits, made from 100% organic American rye through a proprietary certified organic fermentation process.

As the Northern California distiller explains it, the rye "receives only chemical-free compost, fresh water, and tender loving care during its entire growth cycle. The natural robust health of the plants themselves is their main defense against disease and infestation.

"Square One Organic Vodka then takes this organic philosophy right into the distillery, using only organic yeasts and natural nutrients in a process certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP). The only other ingredient is pure, fresh water from the pristine watershed of the nearby Teton Range."

In addition to the basic vodka, Square One also creates cucumber and botanical styles. The suggested retail prices are in the $30 range. Go here to find out where it is available.

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Bacardi adds flavor to RTD line

Bacardi has added a second flavor to its ready-to-drink (RTD) portfolio -- the Bacardi Classic Cocktail Raspberry Mojito.

The first flavor was the Original Bacardi Mojito. Both are made with Bacardi Superior Rum, natural lime and mint flavors. The new flavor has ripened raspberries added.

Says Gordon Chisholm, brand director, After the original mint and lime mojito, the raspberry mojito is one of the most popular mojitos requested at bars and nightclubs, so offering a convenient, ready-to-serve raspberry mojito for home entertaining was a natural extension for the brand."

The 15% alcohol by volume (30 proof) cocktail is available in a 750-ml size as well as a 1.75-liter at suggested retail prices of $12.99 and $19.99.

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Distillers group picks officers

FRANKFORT, KY -- Andrea Wilson, of Diageo North America in Louisville, has been named chair of the Kentucky Distillers' Association.

The 129-year-old group promotes and protects the commonwealth's signature bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

Chris Morris, master distiller at Brown-Forman in Louisville, has been named vice chairman. John Rhea, chief operating officer at Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, has been named secretary-treasurer.

Other board members are Jeff Conder of Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Meredith Moody of Buffalo Trace, David Hobbs of Heaven Hill Distilleries, and Tom Krekeler of Wild Turkey Distillery.

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Tennessee distilling sites may be expanded

The production of distilled spirits in Tennessee is legal in only three counties. That could soon change.

A bill introduced by State Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, to broaden that list has been approved by a 19-5 vote. The companion bill is awaiting a vote in the House.

Right now, only Lincoln, Moore and Coffee coiunties are allowed to host spirits production facilities. Under the bill, other counties would be eligible if they have approved retail package sales and liquor-by-the-drink sales through voter referendum.

The individual county commissions would decide which companies could produce the spirits.

Ketron (left) earlier had withdrawn his sponsorship of a bill that would allow sales of wine in supermarkets.

Ketron's 13th Senate District covers part of Rutherford County and all of Maury, Marshall and Lincoln counties in middle Tennessee. He is the secretary for the Senate State and Local Government Committee, serves on the Senate Education Committee and Senate Government Operations Committee, and is a member of the Joint House-Senate Education Oversight Committee. He was first elected in November 2002 and won re-election in 2006.

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Washington state hikes liquor markup

Liquor prices in Washington state will increase on August 1.

In a move to increase declining state revenues, the state's Liquor Control Board has approved a huge markup on prices.

The current markup on liquor sold in the state is 39.2%. Under the new rules, it will be 51.9%. In theory, the increase will run only through 2011, but that's a long way off and many things can happen in the interim.

The state is hoping the increase will make up for the $78.6 million to be removed from the Liquor Revolving Fund by lawmakers trying to deal with the state's $9 billion budget deficit.

The increase does not apply to beer and wine products. The Liquor Revolving Fund includes revenue from sales of spirits, beer and wine liter taxes, license fees and other related revenue sources.

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NY craft distillers get organized

New York State wines have a growing image around the country, but there's another adult beverage movement that is gaining traction as well.

The recent creation of the New York Craft Distillers Guild is evidence of that. An even dozen licensed craft distillers and the interest of the New York Farm Bureau created enough of a critical mass for such a group, whose first meeting was organized by the Hudson Valley Agri-Business Development Corporation.

“We want to make the firm statement that spirits production in New York is an agricultural undertaking,” says Todd Erling, executive director of HVADC, “distillers use agricultural products, and craft distilleries have the potential to create new markets for New York-grown fruits and grain while also creating a new tax source for the state.”

Changes in the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control Law have made it possible in recent years for small distillers to develop and flourish. With 12 licensed craft distillers, New York now has the highest concentration of distilleries of any state east of the Mississippi, according to the Guild. The distilleries are:

• Castle Spirits (Monroe)
• Delaware Phoenix Distillery (Walton)
• Finger Lakes Distilling (Burdett)
• Harvest Spirits (Valatie)
• Hidden Marsh Distillery (Seneca Falls)
• Knapp Vineyards (Romulus)
• Lake Placid Spirits (Lake Placid)
• Long Island Spirits (Baiting Hollow)
• Spirits by Battistella (Ithaca)
• Swedish Hill Winery (Romulus)
• Tuthilltown Spirits (Gardiner)
• Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery (Warwick)

Some of the distilleries are part of winemaking operations while others are standalone businesses. As a group, they produce spirits ranging from fruit brandies to vodka, rum and bourbon.

The number of distillers in New York is expected to double over the next five years, creating significant economic value for the state.

Ralph Erenzo, owner of Tuthilltown Spirits, notes "A small distillery operating at the limit of production allowed by their license can generate up to $1 million in annual excise and sales taxes to the state, not including the multiplier effect."

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Vermont eases wine, spirits sales law

Vermont winemakers and distillers got good news Tuesday when Gov. Jim Douglas signed a bill allowing them to sell more products on-site.

Previously, wineries could offer tastings or sell bottles of wine. Distilleries could do neither.

Now, wineries also may sell glasses of wine on-premises, and distilleries can offer tastings and sell bottles of their spirits.

In addition, wineries will be allowed to sell and offer tastings of other winemakers' wares, rent their sites for events such as weddings, and produce and sell fortified wines such as ports.

Vermont's first winery was founded 25 years ago, and the state now is home to 20.

Ed Metcalfe, of Whitingham, told the Associated Press he was on the fence about opening a distillery in Vermont if he couldn't sell his vodka and specialty liquors on site. He said the new law cinched it for him, allowing him to sell and offer tastings at the distillery he plans in Marlboro.

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Carbon dating catching whisky cheats

• From Scientific American magazine

Carbon dating, a valuable tool for placing ancient archaeological finds in context, is now being applied to date more modern treasures: pricey bottles of Scotch.

... 20th-century nuclear tests ... left their mark in the isotope record, significantly boosting levels of atmospheric carbon 14, the radioactive form of the element that researchers measure in carbon dating. ...

Stakes are high in the antique whiskey business -- a bottle of 1926 Macallan fetched $54,000 at Christie's New York in 2007 -- and forgeries appear to be commonplace.

[Go here for the full story and related links.]

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20-gallon cocktail a Vegas fundraiser

Introducing The Opportunitini.

The 20-gallon, gin-based martini was created at the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas as a fundraiser for Opportunity Village, a local not-for-profit that provides vocational training, job placement and respite to people with intellectual disabilities.

Proceeds from sale of individual drinks made from the giant cocktail were raised Tuesday with Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman pouring in the final bottle of gin.

The Opportunitini, in standard size, was created by bartenders at the Hard Rock and will be on the menu all summer.

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Smirnoff debuting RTD cocktails in Ireland

RTD -- the beverage industry acronym for "ready to drink" -- cocktails under the Smirnoff name will be unveiled on the Irish market next week.

Diageo, the international drinks company that owns Smirnoff, will offer mojito vodka cocktails beginning Tuesday, company executives told the news media yesterday. They are packaged in 70cl cocktail shaker-shaped bottles and will sell for €14.99 ($22 US) each.

In another matter, Diageo officials said plans to develop a premium-priced cachaça, the sugar cane-based Brazilian clear spirit, have been out off until the financial market improves.

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What will they think of next? (May edition)

This month marks a lot of things -- May Day, of course, plus Mother's Day, Memorial Day, National Hoagie Day, Limerick Day, Eliza Doolittle Day, National Hamburger Day, End Of The Middle Ages Day, National Macaroon Day...

But, in the world of international celebrations, Cinco de Mayo celebrations have grown from Mexico to be celebrated around the world. And with May 5th -- which commemorates a Mexican victory over the invading French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 -- looming, that Mexican cocktail icon klnown as the margarita comes to the fore. Here are three examples of innovative twists on the basic drink.

• TRIPLE ORANGE MARGARITA

Ronaldo P. Colli, mixologist at the Americano restaurant in San Francisco, was asked by the makers of Gran Gala Triple Orange Liqueur to come up with a seasonal margarita showcasing their product.

1 1/2 ounces ultra premium tequila
3/4 ounce Gran Gala Triple Orange
1 ounce orange juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
1/4 ounce agave nectar
1 lime wheel
1 orange peel

Pour Gran Gala, tequila, orange juice, lime juice, agave nectar and orange peel into a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled glass filled with ice. Strain into a chilled margarita glass if you prefer your margarita up. Garnish with a lime wheel and the same orange peel on top of the cocktail. Salted rim is traditional, but optional.

(Agave nectar is a natural sweetener. Adjust according to desired sweetness. Available at gourmet stores or from online retailers.)

• WHITECAP MARGARITA

This recipe comes courtesy of the Texas Margarita Web site.

2 ounces tequila
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup cream of coconut
1 cup ice

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. This makes one drink.

• POMEGRANATE MARGARITA

Celebrity chef Tyler Florence developed this particular recipe for the Food Network.

1/4 cup pomegranate juice, plus seeds for garnish
4 ounces tequila blanco
1 ounce Triple Sec
2 ounces fresh lime juice
12 ounces ice cubes
Margarita salt, optional

Combine all ingredients, except salt, in a blender and pulse until frothy and well combined. Rim glasses with lime juice using a lime wedge then dip in margarita salt, drop some fresh pomegranate seeds in the bottom of the glass and pour margarita mix over the top.

[Go here for my archive of monthly cocktail recipe collections.]

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