1800 Tequila unveils drink mix line

If you're one of those people who has neither the time nor the inclination to round up all the ingredients for tequila cocktails but still wants the final results, 1800 Tequila may have what you need.

Proximo Spirits Inc. of Manhasset, Long Island, NY, has launched its 1800 Tequila brand 1800 Ultimate Mixes.

The mixes come in three flavors -- Utimate Margarita, Mojito, and Pomegranate Margarita.

The company says the Tetra Paks used for the mixes are a “green” alternative to traditional beverage packaging. The light, carton-based packages are made mainly from paper, and are recyclable.

Each new mixer is made with natural sweeteners, including Agave nectar derived from the Blue Agave plant used for the best tequilas. The consumer adds the tequila.

1800 Ultimate Mixes in Tetra Pak cartons now are available nationwide in three flavors, priced at $4.99 per 1-liter carton.

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A celebri-quote: Michael Bublé

• The singer Michael Bublé is known for his exhausting tour schedule that would test the endurance of anyone. During an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman," the host asked him how he handles such a hectic schedule.

"I used to finish after the show and I enjoyed a nice glass of scotch, a couple glasses of scotch and a ciggy ... but it killed me, I couldn't stay healthy. ...

"You have to be an athlete. You have to actually stay physically and mentally healthy."

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A celebri-quote: Sean Combs

• The music/clothing/vodka/video/whatever entrepreneur was quoted in the New York Post when discussing Ciroc vodka, the spirit for which he is the official spokesman:

"If you're not drinking Ciroc vodka, then you're drinking pee-pee."

Interesting choice of words for a guy who used to call himself P. Diddy.

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New line of tequilas is flaky

A new line of tequilas scheduled to hit the Mexican market next month already has a flaky reputation.

The Mexican company Vinos y Licores Azteca has come up with the new edition under the brand name El Conde Azul -- which translates to something like "The Blue Count" -- containing flakes of edible gold and silver.

The high-end liquor will later be exported to the United States and Europe.

The gold flakes are in the reposado and añejo expressions, while the blanco (white) has the digestible silver flakes.

The tequila is presented in handmade Italian crystal bottles with a 24-carat gold label and contain 100% blue agave artisanally distilled the Los Altos region of Jalisco state.

El Conde Azul was awarded the gold medal for quality at the 2009 International Wine and Spirit Competition.

The first shipment is of 5,000 bottles, to be distributed chiefly in Mexico and partly in the United States, Canada, Belgium, Britain and other parts of Europe. The company already plans to make the product a permanent feature of its catalogue, according to company president Melly Barajas.

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Indiana eases alcohol restrictions

Indiana has become the latest state to loosen some restrictions on its alcoholic beverage sales.

Under legislation overwhelmingly passed in the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Mitch Daniels, the state's bars, restaurants, microbreweries and liquor stores will, as of July 1:

• Be allowed to extend Sunday drinking hours to 3 a.m.
• Sell alcohol on Election Day.
• Conduct Sunday carryout sales at microbreweries.

The legislation, known as Senate Enrolled Act 75, also requires any establishments that have carryout sales to card all customers who appear younger than 50.

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Panamanian rum tops Polished Palate competition

Entries in the 5th annual Polished Palate International Rum Competition were divided into seven categories, but a discerning panel of judges did what doesn't happen nearly enough in wine and spirits tests. They did not award a "best of" in every category.

However, they did select a "Best in Show," honoring Master Distiller Francisco Fernandez's Zafra Master Reserve 21 Rum from Panama.

The event, held in the historic Ybor City area of Tampa, FL, drew 42 different rums. They were evaluated on five criteria: appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel and finish.

Khukri Rum from the tiny Himalayan nation of Nepal earned its fifth consecutive gold medal as well as its second "best of category" category Award.

Dori Bryant, president of the Polished Palate said, “It is obvious that rum’s star has already risen," said Dory Bryant, president of the Polished Palate. "The quality of new products entering the market, including those from Panama, Venezuela, Florida and Hawaii, bodes well for the industry."

The award winners ("best in category" listed in bold type, although as noted that designation was not awarded in all categories):

WHITE RUM

• Gold: Don Q Cristal, Puerto Rico; Diplomatico Blanco, Dominican Republic.
• Silver: Siesta Key Rum, Florida; Ron Barcelo Gran Platinum, Dominican Republic.
• Bronze: Carta Viejo Claro, Panama; Koloa White Hawaiian Rum, Hawaii.

GOLD RUM

• Gold: None.
• Silver: Bacardi Gold, Puerto Rico; Koloa Gold Hawaiian Rum, Hawaii.
• Bronze: Don Q Gold, Puerto Rico; Old Lahaina Premium Gold Hawaiian Rum, Hawaii.

DARK RUM

• Gold: Khukri Rum, Nepal; One Barrel Rum, Belize.
• Silver: Koloa Dark Hawaiian Rum, Hawaii; Carta Vieja Anejo, Panama.
• Bronze: Old Lahaina Premium Dark Rum, Hawaii.

RUM AGED UP TO 8 YEARS

• Gold: Ron Abuelo 7 Años, Panama; Bacardi 8, Puerto Rico; Ron Abuelo Añejo, Panama; Ron Medellin 8 Year Old, Colombia.
• Silver: Ron Barcelo Imperial, Dominican Republic; Plantation Barbados 5 Year Grande Reserve, Barbados; Ron Medellin 3 Year Old, Colombia; Ron Viejo de Caldas 3 Year Old, Colombia; Ron Viejo de Caldas Grand Reserve, Colombia.
• Bronze: Don Q Añejo, Puerto Rico; Ron Carupano Oro Reserva Especial, Venezuela.

RUM AGED 9-15 YEARS

• Gold: Ron Abuelo 12 Años, Panama; Don Q Grand Añejo, Puerto Rico; Ron Carupano Solera Centenaria Reserva Limitada, Venezuela.
• Silver: Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Venezuela; Plantation 20th Anniversary, Barbados; Vizcaya VXOP Cask 21 Cuban Style Rum, Dominican Republic.
• Bronze: None.

RUM AGED 15+ YEARS

• Gold: Zafra Master Reserve 21 Rum, Panama; Ron Añejo Carupano Legendario, Venezuela
• Silver: Bacardi Reserva Limitada, Puerto Rico; Ron Millonario Solera 15 Reserva Especial, Peru.
• Bronze: None.

FLAVORED RUM

• Gold: None.
• Silver: Don Q Coco, Puerto Rico; Don Q Limon, Puerto Rico.
• Bronze: Aguardiente Antioqueño Sin Azucar, Colombia.

The Polished Palate company has been hosting spirits competitions and tasting events since 2005, educating consumers on all aspects of each distilled spirit category. Through events and seminars hosted by recognized industry professionals, guests learn about the history & culture of each spirit, their impact on society, current trends and appropriate tasting techniques, while promoting responsible consumption, all in a festive format.

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'World's oldest' single malt

William M. Dowd photo illustration

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

What may well be the world's oldest single malt whisky was unveiled Thursday in a ceremony at Edinburgh Castle in the Scottish capital city.

Gordon and MacPhail's Mortlach 70-Year-Old Speyside was sampled at a launch party in Edinburgh Castle, where it was ushered through the doors by pipers and a military escort, a typical Scottish riff for special occasions.

"It matured for 70 years in the cask and that is what makes it the oldest whisky in the world," said a spokeswoman for Gordon and MacPhail.

The whisky was put into a former sherry hogshead cask made from Spanish oakood on October 15, 1938, by the grandfather of the company's managing directors, David and Michael Urquhart.

There will only be 54 full-size bottles -- such as the one shown at left -- priced at £10,000 each ($15,000 US), with 162 smaller bottles sold at £2,000 ($3,000 US). The bottle is of hand-blown, tear-shaped crystal with a silver stopper.

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Connecticut Sunday sales bill dead

Any hopes dealers and consumers in Connecticut had of legalized Sunday alcohol sales went belly up on Thursday.

A bill that would have allowed such activity died in the Program Review and Investigations Committee without being voted on. The committee did not meet today, which was the last day to act on any proposed bills for this legislative session.

State Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, who is co-chairman of the committee, said he did not force a vote on the Sunday sales bill because he did not have enough votes.

Ben Jenkins, a spokesman for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), said, "We applaud Senator Kissel's leadership for holding a public hearing on Sunday sales. Connecticut still faces a major budget shortfall, and we urge state leaders to continue considering Sunday sales as one means to raise some much-needed revenue."

DISCUS represents the national liquor manufacturers, who favor Sunday sales. Wine and spirits wholesalers and beer wholesalers have backed package store owners to prevent Sunday sales.

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Shocker! New vodkas hit the market

The latest wave in the never-ending flood of vodkas includes one that also wins the Chutzpah/Bad Taste Award.

Kabbalah is the newest brand of Russian Vodka, created by a beverage maker known as EZ Protocols. In fact, its entire formal name is "Kabbalah Vodka – With Christian Infants."

Kabbalah is the school of philosophy dealing with Judaic mysticism. The "With Christian Infants" line is a reference to the antisemitic old wive's tale that Jewish religious rites include using the blood of Christian babies.

The bottles feature a handmade "infant" inside, made of fortified glass.

Blecch!

• Ciroc's spokes-celebrity Puff Daddy ... er, P. Diddy ... er, Diddy ... Sean Combs has announced two new flavors: red berry and coconut, both 80 proof.

• Smirnoff, a Diageo subsidiary, has put root beer and dark roasted espresso flavored vodkas on the market as part of its Blue Label portfolio of 100-proof vodkas.

• SKYY Vodka has added a ginger flavor to its 80-proof lineup.

• Absolut Vodka now has something called Berri Açai, with infusions of açai, blueberry and pomegranate in an 80-proof base spirit.

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Virginia OKs spirits tasting events

The Commonwealth of Virginia has done away with its decades-old ban on liquor tastings at ABC stores.

Gov. Bob McDonnell has signed legislation sponsored by Delegate S. Chris Jones allowing adult consumers to sample up to three separate half-ounce servings of spirits in any one calendar day at a scheduled tasting event.

Previously, only beer and wine tastings were legal in Virginia.

Thirty-one states now allow spirits tastings at off-premises establishments, while 43 allow some form of spirits tastings.

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Anyone find a no-tomato discount?

It may or may not immediately affect your Bloody Mary, depending on your favorite watering hole’s recipe, but a harsh Southern winter has spoiled an estimated 80% of the Florida tomato crop.

Add to that the February 27 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that have wreaked havoc in produce-rich Chile and you have a severe tomato shortage.

We’re already seeing a reduction in the amount of tomatoes being put in sandwich shop items and even at full-service restaurants as prices skyrocket and availability shrinks. Those that are paying their suppliers more for tomatoes may well be passing the additional cost along to consumers if the shortage lasts.

When this happened several years ago, the same thing happened as far as consumer-impact. However, I don’t recall a single food purveyor who reduced his/her prices to the public even though in many cases you were getting less of a product.

If you come across a restaurant, sandwich shop or other vendor who is cutting prices to reflect the reduction or absence of tomatoes, let me know.

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Washington state distillers nearing expansion

Washington state moved a step closer to allowing spirits distillers to triple their annual output.

The state senate this week passed, 97-1, Senate Bill 6485, which allows the amount of spirits craft distilleries can produce from 20,000 to 60,000 gallons.

In addition, the state's two dozen craft distillers already licensed or awaiting a license would be allowed to sell spirits out-of-state and to more freely promote their products under certain conditions. Currently they may sell only directly to consumers or to the state Liquor Control Board.

The Senate and House must reconcile the different versions of the bill they passed before SB 6485 can be sent to the governor for signature into law.

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The whisk(e)y season is dear to Ireland, Scotland

The portal is about to open on a season dear to the Gaelic and Celtic folk of Ireland and Scotland and, indeed, their millions of descendants all over the U.S.

March 20 brings in Alban Eiler, known elsewhere as the spring solstice or vernal equinox. Weather be damned, it means spring has arrived and will last until June 20, the longest day of the year, when we will encounter Alban Heruin, the summer solstice.

Flanking that date we have such frolics as St. Patrick's Day on March 17 and Tartan Day on April 6, or close to it depending on festivitiy plans in different cities and towns.

St. Patrick's Day honors the patron saint of Ireland who drove the snakes into the sea where they became sharks, politicians and TV reality show producers.

Tartan Day celebrates that time in A.D. 1320 when King Robert the Bruce and his Scottish parliament sent off a letter called the Declaration of Arbroath to the Pope in Rome asking him to get the English off their backs. That worked so well that England rules Scotland to this day.

Both historic events, as well as the arrival of Easter, spring and a bunch of other traditional religious and secular days, will in this span be marked in many communities with once-a-year church attendance, parades, festivals, dances, silly hats and drink specials at your favorite pub -- featuring Scotch and Irish whiskies, in particular.

Scotch whiskies usually are distilled twice, Irish whiskies three or four times, thus increasing their purity and smoothness. In some instances, further aging in used bourbon or sherry casks or a bit of blending creates a crossover taste between the two categories.

American whiskies vary widely, from the single malts so beloved by the Scots to blended whiskies to bourbons to Tennessee sipping whiskey, which differs from bourbon in that it undergoes a charcoal filtration process.

As is the case with most such things, there is no right or wrong, best or worst. There is only personal preference.

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What will they think of next? (March 2009 edition)

Elegant cocktails and show biz go well together. They can either be made to commemorate a play, movie, book or song, or actually be part of such an artistic expression. This month, we're serving up a trio of such concoctions.

• MY FAIR LADY

This cocktail was created at London's Savoy Hotel in the 1950s to coincide with the production of "My Fair Lady," the musical stage play based on George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion."

1½ measures gin
2 teaspoons orange juice
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon creme de fraise
1 egg white

Thoroughly shake all ingredients together with ice,, strain into cocktal glass and garnish with an orange peel.

• THE JACKIE COLLINS

This drink was created by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck in honor of steamy-novel writer Jackie Collins' 25th book, "Drop Dead Beautiful."

7 raspberries
2 ounces vodka
2 ounces lemonade
One-half fresh lime
1½ ounces club soda
Simple syrup
1 fresh mint leaf

Muddle raspberries in a shaker with a splash of simple syrup. Add icem then the vodka and the lemonade. Squeeze juice of half a lime. Shake all ingredients vigorously. Add the club soda, then shake once more. Strain into a highball glass and garnish with a raspberry and the mint leaf.

• EYES WIDE SHUT

This recipe was created to honor the odd mix of Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise in the offbeat 1999 movie of the same name. The disparate ingredients are colorful and pleasing in combination.

½ ounce Southern Comfort peach liqueur
½ ounce Crown Royal Canadian whiskey
½ ounce amaretto almond liqueur
½ ounce orange juice
½ ounce pineapple juice
½ ounce cranberry juice
Splash grenadine syrup

Place ice in shaker and add all ingredients. Shake well and strain into cocktail glass filled with ice. Garnish with orange slice and cherry.

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