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The American Mixologist Online® Newsletter Vol. 11, No. 28 All Rights Reserved
Drinks

Drinks for the Business Crowd: Corner the Market with Classic Offerings

The concept of "Miller Time" has evolved from an ad slogan to an entrenched social institution. When 5:00 PM rolls around, the kid in all of us does a Fred Flintstone as we race to gain some separation from work and begin enjoying what remains of our day.

After slugging it out it in the boardrooms and corner offices, your business crowd is looking to slip out of work mode and into a dry martini (apologies Robert Benchley).

"At Kahunaville we've had considerable success attracting a large and varied business crowd," states Mark Broadhurst, operations analyst for the fast growing chain restaurant. "Our approach has been to create a relaxed atmosphere that allows our guests to loosen their ties and forget about work. There's not a Wall Street Journal to be seen."

Here's our short list of offerings to tempt today's captains of industry.

MARTINIS
Its versatility has prompted a wave of new and intriguing martini variations that rival the appeal of the original. Consider substituting dry vermouth in your specialty martinis with Dubonnet, Lillet, Port, Madeira, or Sake. Splash in a liqueur or two to add a blast of flavor and an attractive hue. And why limit your martinis to just gin or vodka? Try adding a healthy dose of silver tequila, cognac or Scotch. The crowning touch is an equally fitting garnish. Popular options include garlic- or bleu cheese-stuffed olives, orange peels, fresh strawberries, and peeled shrimp.


MANHATTANS
The popular resurgence of bourbon has prompted a renewed interest in the most classic of whiskey cocktails, the Manhattan. One creative variation on a Manhattan is to substitute another type of aperitif for the vermouth. Another option includes adding a splash or two of a liqueur. Your options include Chambord, Frangelico, Amaretto, Grand Marnier, sambuca and Benedictine.


COSMOPOLITANS
A derivative of the Kamikaze, the popular appeal of the Cosmopolitan made it one of the standard bearers of the '90s. For those who refuse to leave well enough alone there's the Limón Cosmopolitan, made with the citrus-infused Bacardi Limón Rum. Another creative option to strongly consider is using Stolichnaya Limonnaya as the power train in your Cosmopolitan, or substitute Absolut Kurant for Citron in to make the Metropolitan.


CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS
The new breed of champagne cocktails are among the latest trends sweeping the country. These libations are light, effervescent and exceptionally delicious. With the advent of the reusable bottle-stopper that keeps champagne carbonated for days, you can pour champagne without being concerned that the unused portion will go flat and be wasted. Champagne is incomparable paired with about every type of fruit juice or puree imaginable.


BLOODY MARYS
Robust, nutritious, and loaded with taste, the business set has turned onto the Bloody Mary as a meal with an attitude. It's usually made with vodka, although gin, tequila, aquavit and flavored vodkas are popular substitutes. The secret, however, to a world class Bloody Mary is in the mix. If searching for the perfect scratch recipe sounds more involved than the time at-hand permits, bottled mixes offer a delicious, cost-effective alternative, one that rivals the most delectable scratch recipes. The final touch to any noteworthy Bloody Mary is the garnish. More than a mere embellishment, the garnish should be considered an ingredient in the drink.


The Original Guide to American Cocktails and Drinks - 5th Edition
The professional bartender's first choice in drink guides! This edition spans the breadth of mixology, including all the classic cocktails, infusions, the hottest Cosmopolitans, colorful and refreshing tropical drinks and ice cream drinks, Martinis and Manhattans, coffee drinks, plus much more. It also includes a great index and reviews of the hottest liquors and liqueurs on the market today. Improving since 1998, now in its 5th edition.

~ by Robert Plotkin ~ 344 pages ~ 6" x 9" ~ Item#: BCD05 ~ $14.95 ~



To Purchase The Original Guide to American Cocktails and Drinks
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The Original Guide to American Cocktails and Drinks - 5th Edition - Downloadable
Can't wait to have this item shipped? Order our Ebook version to get it immediately via email! (requires Acrobat Reader)

~ by Robert Plotkin ~ 8.5" x 11" ~ Item#: DL-BCD05 ~ $12.95 ~ To Purchase The Professional Bartender's Training Manual-Downloadable Version
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