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Welcome to
The Cocktail Guru's Newsletter 
 

Jonathan by Jill

 illustration by Jill DeGroff

Volume 3, Issue 1
 

January 26, 2011

 


It's our 2nd anniversary of producing The Cocktail Guru Newsletter!

And this week we greet you direct from Cognac!

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Cheers,
Jonathan
IN THIS ISSUE
BOOZE BRIEFS: Vote for #52!...Cognac Cognac Cognac...Southern New England Bridal Expo...New things for the USBGNY
BUSINESS CLASS: Cognac Part 1
RECIPES GALORE: Wintry Wonders in Liquid Form
THE FUNNIES: Vintage Funnies
UPCOMING HAPPENINGS OF INTEREST
WINTER 2011
January 23-27th: 3rd Annual Italian Wine Week, NYC

www.italianmade.com/vino2011


4th Week of January: National Irish Coffee Week

January 26th: Cheers Beverage Conference, New Orleans, LA

www.cheersconference.com


February 21st: USBGNY Feb. Mixer w/ Botran Rum @ Compose

February 21st:  The Cocktail Lab at Astor Center, w/ Jonathan Pogash:  www.astorcenternyc.com

March 14-17th: USBG Leadership Conference, San Francisco, CA
 
Want to list your event here? Email me.
 
Also, visit our friends at www.insidefandb.com for more great event listings.
 
Booze Briefs:
 
What's New?


Vote for #52!

The MCC (Manhattan Cocktail Classic) is allowing us to exercise our right to vote - all seminars will be based on the public's interest and choices.  SO, I am asking each and every one of you (and whomever else you can convince) to click on the link below and vote for my seminar:

 
52. Christmas in May - A Jolly Jaunt Into the Booze-Ridden Tales of Charles Dickens
with Jonathan Pogash

http://www.manhattancocktailclassic.com/vote.html


Greetings from Cognac!

That's right, friends...I am writing to you from lovely, chilly, yet sunny, Cognac.  Mucho thanks to the BNIC (www.cognac.fr), without whom, none of this would be possible.

 

So far, my January jaunt in France has far exceeded my expectations.  We've toured several distilleries, ate marvelously well, and made some new friends along the way.

 

Scroll down a bit further for a more detailed look at the past 3 days I've spent in Cognac...

 

The Southern New England Bridal Expo

On January 9th, 2011, the Wedding Cocktail Design team headed up the I-95 corridor to lovely Providence, RI.  There, the Southern New England Bridal Expo awaited us and welcomed us with open arms.

This show was the cat's pajamas! 

We were featured in the Wine & Spirits pavilion along with several local wineries, including Sakonnet Vineyards and Westport WInery. 

We've posted a photo log of the trip on the blog.  Clicky below to see it all:

Brides & Cocktails in New England

 


The New USBG NY Chapter Board
 


The time has come...the torch has been passed...

Join me in congratulating our new USBG NY Chapter council:

Jason Littrell - President
Marshall Altier - Vice President
Nick Jarrett - Secretary
Hal Wolin - Treasurer

A good group if I do say so myself.

We've got tons of great events and educational experiences coming up, so I'd highly recommend that you
 
Is your brand interested in sponsoring one of the NY Chapter's monthly mixers, luncheons, or other events? 
 


Business Class:
  

Cognac: Part 1

Cognac and Cigars
 

I thought I'd spare you the hassle of reading too many words in this here newsletter, and just recommend that you click the link below to be transported to my blog (where I'll chat about Cognac, of course):

The Invasion of the Cognac Maniacs

 
 
RECIPES GALORE:

 Aperitifs 
Wintry Wonders:
Cognac Cocktails

The French 75 is one of my favorite classic Cognac cocktails.  The drink was created during World War I and was named after the French 75-millimeter artillery gun.  Harry Craddock's "Savoy Cocktail Book" popularized this drink to the masses, and although the original recipe contained Cognac as the base, the recipe has morphed into a Gin-based drink during the last 50 years or so.  Funny how those things happen...

We're keepin' it real with this one and providing the classic Cognac-Lemon-Sugar-Champagne combo for your palette's pleasure:

The Original French 75

1 oz. Cognac of your choice
3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz. simple syrup
Champagne

Directions: Shake the first 3 ingredients well with ice and strain into a chilled champagne flute.  Top off with the Champagne.

Garnish: lemon peel
 

The Summit Cocktail

This refreshing libation was created during the first ever International Cognac Summit in 2008.


 

It's easy to make at home, and we just so happened to have the recipe courtesy of the BNIC:

  • 1 zeste de citron vert (1 lime zest)
     
  • 4 fines lamelles de gingembre frais (4 thin slices of fresh ginger)
     
  • 4 cl de Cognac VSOP (I think you can understand this one)
     
  • 6 cl de limonade artisanale (sparkling lemonade)
  • Combine ingredients in a tall glass with ice and stir
     
The Funnies...
 
Vintage Funnies:
 
This comes to us via Mr. Brian Rea and his wonderful website, www.TheBarkeeper.com  This cartoon appeared in the 1950 book, "Authentic and Hilarious Bar Book," by Virgil F. Partch.  What a treasure, eh? (I meant the Cartoon, not Brian)
 
Vintage Cartoon 
 
 
 

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Jonathan Pogash is a beverage consultant, educator, and mixologist for bars, restaurants, and liquor brands.   
 
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Cheers,
 
Jonathan Pogash
The Cocktail Guru