WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey Launches at Seven Grand

A group of spirits cognoscenti gathered at Seven Grand last Thursday for the Los Angeles launch of WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey, a 100 proof, 100 percent rye whiskey, aged for a minimum of ten years in oak barrels. Founded in 2010, WhistlePig is hand-bottled at the WhistlePig Farm Distillery, located on a former dairy farm…

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Hatchi Mix 3: Julian Cox and Tequila in 3 Magical Acts

On Thursday, July 1st, the Hatchi Mix Series returns to Breadbar Century City, featuring guest mixologist Julian Cox (Rivera) and his Tequila in 3 Magical Acts menu of specialty cocktails. Inspired by the popular Hatchi Guest Chef Series, Hatchi Mix invites imbibers to experience the evolution of the cocktail, from the classic era to its…

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Stories from Behind the Bar: PDT

With a limit of just nine attendees, Stories from Behind the Bar: PDT was one of the first seminars to sell out almost immediately after online tickets went on sale. Since its opening in 2007, Please Don’t Tell (PDT) has garnered acclaim for its classically-inspired seasonal cocktails: at the Tales of the Cocktail 2009 Spirited Awards, PDT was named World’s Best Cocktail Bar and Managing Partner Jim Meehan was named American Bartender of the Year.

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March 25: Rivera Spring Cocktails Launch Party

Ah, spring: when a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of love…and a young mixologist turns to thoughts of a new cocktail menu. Fresh off his Rising Star Mixologist award, Julian Cox has been hard at work creating over a dozen new drinks for Rivera’s spring cocktail menu, debuting tonight. For the launch party, Julian’s…

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Rising Stars Shine at the 2010 StarChefs Revue

Last week, the best and brightest young stars in the Southern California culinary world gathered to showcase their talents at the 2010 StarChefs Rising Stars Revue. The tasting gala and awards ceremony, held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, featured food from up-and-coming culinary talent from the top restaurants in Los…

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All Roads Lead to Classic & Vintage Spirits

As the global cocktail renaissance marches on, mixologists and cocktail enthusiasts continue to utilize the highest quality spirits to anchor classic cocktails and new school creations alike. Founded by Domaine Select Wine Estates (DSWE) in 2009, Classic & Vintage Artisanal Spirits gathers many of these boutique spirits into a single impressive portfolio. Several of these…

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Tequila Semental Takes the Agave by the Horns

Founded by Efrain Lopez Gurza in 2007, Tequila Semental is an ultra premium line of triple distilled, 100% blue agave tequilas. According to its press materials, Tequila Semental derives its name from a special caste of “the bravest and most powerful bulls,” known as Sementals, that protected agave fields in ancient times. Gurza’s youthful experience…

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All the Booze That’s Fit to Print – January 2010

An occasional roundup of L.A. cocktail culture in various media. Before recapping a busy January 2010 (see below) let’s take one last look at December 2009 and the decade that was. In its Dec. 29th edition, the NY Times published A Decade of Invention and Reinvention, its look at mixology trends of the decade. Topping…

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The Tar Pit is Simply Swellegant

It all started with a text message from Rivera‘s Julian Cox: “You, me, Thursday Friends and Family, Tar Pit. You down?” Hmm…go to a sneak preview of the most talked-about bar in town? Gosh, tough call! After carefully pulling my car over to text my reply, plans were arranged and we headed out to a…

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It's Your Patriotic Duty: Celebrate Repeal Day December 5th

~ “What America needs now is a drink.” ~ President Franklin D. Roosevelt While the quote above may be more appropriate than ever, FDR said those words back in 1933, after 13 years of Prohibition were finally ended. From repealday.org: “On December 5th, 1933, Utah, the final state needed for a three quarters majority, ratified…

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