Here
it is, my notebook from the Nightclub & Bar Show. It was buried in the bag
of stuff that invariably follows you home from the "The Show," the one
containing the odd assortment of sales brochures, liquor samples, promotional
key chains and wind shield scrapers, hangover cures and radioactive condoms you
pick up walking the aisles of the exhibition floor. Despite my best intentions
to come back and cull through the stuff, file the junk and chuck the rest, I
typically cram the bag under my desk to collect dust.
Well,
this year is different, largely because there isn't an open parking space under
my desk. This year I'm going to make use of what I saw, heard and tasted during
my two-day trek along the three miles of aisles at the show. If you missed the
event, worry not; I bring you a report from the front.
•
Best New Product Launch -- Based
partially on the impenetrable throng at their booth the nod goes to Heaven
Hill's PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur. They treated attendees with chilled samples
and delectable PAMA-laced cocktails. The liqueur will do for the lofty
pomegranate what Chambord did for the black raspberry. Solid hit!
•
Busiest Booth -- The clear winner
was Red Bull. It still has the pulse of the industry and legions of die-hard
fans.
•
Best New Rums -- It was too close
to call, so I award a tie between 10 Cane Trinidadian and Rhum Clément. Both
newly arrived brands of rhum agricole have a fresh quality that wowed attendees
and kept both booths hopping.
•
Hottest Spirit at the Show -- No
question...Scorpion Mezcal. People were mesmerized by the stuff. It's a
fabulously smooth and delicious spirit bottled with an edible scorpion.
Scorpion Mezcal is like Wild Kingdom in every a bottle.
•
Best New Vodkas -- Here's another
well-deserved tie between Heavy Water, a Swedish wheat vodka and Xellent, a
Swiss vodka distilled from high-grade rye. Both are over-the-top sensational.
•
Best New Gin -- The hands-down
winner was Bafferts Mint, a delicate gin imbued with fresh mint. It's perfectly
balanced and the ideal companion to a chilled cocktail glass.
•
Best New Tequila -- Artisan Partida
100% Agave Tequila was the class of the field. It's a hot category, though,
with more than a dozen new tequilas, so expect a few new surprises. Look for El
Diamante del Cielo Añejo to make a run at it. The limited release, 100% agave
tequila is imported by Blavod Extreme Spirits USA.
•
Best Comeback -- After an extended
absence, welcome back Taylor's Velvet Falernum, a classic Barbadian elixir made
from lime, cane sugar, cloves and almonds. The 22-proof liqueur is a crucial
ingredient for recreating the original Mai Tai, Zombie and Vicious Virgin. Velvet Falernum is imported by Spirit of Hartford (spiritofhartford@msn.com).
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