#BarHacks

Flipping through an open book
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

5 Books to Read this Month: November 2023

5 Books to Read this Month: November 2023

by David Klemt

Flipping through an open book

Our inspiring and informative November book selections will help you and your team transform your operations and F&B programming.

This month, we look at a new branding and marketing book. We also dive into agave spirits and cuisine from the Canadian Prairies.

There’s an eye-opening exploration into the topic of technology, culture, and the “alignment problem,” as well.

To review the book recommendations from October 2023, click here.

Let’s jump in!

The Restaurant Marketing Mindset: A Comprehensive Guide to Establishing Your Restaurant’s Brand, from Concept to Launch and Beyond

If you haven’t had the opportunity to hear Chip Klose speak, look into his books. His latest The Restaurant Marketing Mindset, came out in early October. As the title suggests, this book is for anyone who’s struggling with branding and marketing, or who simply wants a fresh perspective on this crucial element of operations.

From Amazon: “Restaurants boast some of the highest failure rates of any industry, yet even worse is the sheer number of concepts that struggle just to break even. In The Restaurant Marketing Mindset, Chip Klose introduces a series of mindset shifts and actionable frameworks to help owners and operators finally take control of their marketing.

With more than twenty years of operational experience—plus an MBA in food marketing—Klose has the authority, experience, and track record needed to speak confidently on the subject. Each lesson stacks one on top of the other, giving the reader a step-by-step plan to attract more diners, retain those diners, and spark word of mouth with the ones who matter most.

This book is for any chef, owner, or operator who’s ever felt overwhelmed when it comes to marketing their restaurant. Each chapter is filled with powerful insights to help you build a more profitable (and sustainable) business.”

Pick it up today!

Prairie: Seasonal, Farm-Fresh Recipes Celebrating the Canadian Prairies

This engaging cookbook features 1oo traditional and creative recipes highlighting Canadian Prairie cuisine. These seasonal, farm-to-table recipes are sure to impress your guests.

From Amazon: “No matter the season, the Prairies are all about preserving every ounce of food, so of course there’s also tons of helpful tips and tricks on reducing food waste. There’s even a Staples chapter with recipes for stocking your pantry to keep you cooking all year long. Both a love letter to Canada’s grandest provinces and an indispensable collection of recipes, Prairie is as inviting and bountiful as the region it celebrates.”

Agave Spirits: The Past, Present, and Future of Mezcals

The authors of this informative book visited eight Mexican states to learn all they could about mezcal. By extension, they learned not only about traditional production but also where this hugely popular spirits category is headed for the future.

From Amazon: “The result of the authors’ fieldwork and on-the-ground interviews with mezcaleros in eight Mexican states, Agave Spirits shows how traditional methods of mezcal production are inspiring a new generation of individuals, including women, both in and beyond the industry. And as they reach back into a rich, centuries-long history, Nabhan and Suro Pinera make clear that understanding the story behind a bottle of mezcal, more than any other drink, will not only reveal what lies ahead for the tradition―including its ability to adapt in the face of the climate crisis―but will also enrich the drinking experience for readers.”

The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values

When we build automated systems, we’re placing a lot of trust in our expertise. And because humans are fallible, the systems we build are far from perfect.

From Amazon: “Today’s ‘machine-learning’ systems, trained by data, are so effective that we’ve invited them to see and hear for us—and to make decisions on our behalf. But alarm bells are ringing. Recent years have seen an eruption of concern as the field of machine learning advances. When the systems we attempt to teach will not, in the end, do what we want or what we expect, ethical and potentially existential risks emerge. Researchers call this the alignment problem.”

Hacking the New Normal: Hitting the Reset Button on the Hospitality Industry

The world around us has changed. The food and beverage industry has changed. The hospitality industry has changed. But will some ways of life change for the better? Will perhaps the restaurant, bar, and hospitality industry come out even stronger? With the right changes to the previous status quo, it is possible. There’s no question, resets are major undertakings, but a major reset will provide us with a clean start and that’s what this industry needs.

Pick up KRG Hospitality president Doug Radkey’s second book today! Click here.

Image: Mikołaj on Unsplash

KRG Hospitality. Business Coach. Restaurant Coach. Hotel Coach. Hospitality Coach. Mindset Coach.

Flipping through an open book
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

5 Books to Read this Month: October 2023

5 Books to Read this Month: October 2023

by David Klemt

Flipping through an open book

Our inspiring and informative October book selections will help you and your team transform your vision for your business into a successful story.

This month, we’re taking a good look at independent hotel operations, including checking out the wonderful guest experience a rustic lodge can deliver. We also dive into operations and brand strategy.

Oh, and we get inspiration from a company founder who turned $50 into a $30 billion-per-year, globally recognized brand.

To review the book recommendations from September 2023, click here.

Let’s jump in!

INDIE HOTEL: Why Hoteliers Are Breaking Free from Chains and Choosing Independence

I picked up INDIE HOTEL just a day or two after it was released. Written by Jeremy Wells, one of the brilliant minds behind the recently opened Ozarker Lodge, this book examines the shifting hospitality landscape.

From Amazon: “The hospitality industry is exciting and always evolving. One of the most exciting shifts in recent years is the growing popularity of independent, boutique hotels. While chains are here to stay, I believe the days of franchise domination are numbered. Traveler preferences are changing, and technology, once available only to chains, is becoming more accessible. As a result, more and more hoteliers will continue to make the leap into independence—breaking free from chains and enjoying a newfound freedom.”

Order your copy today!

Lodge: An Indoorsy Tour of America’s National Parks

We’re firm believers of looking everywhere for inspiration. Lodge may not be a how-to book for hoteliers but it speaks to the importance of the guest experience. Moreover, it shows that while midscale and luxury hotels and resorts seem to popping up all over, a rustic lodge that encourages disconnecting and recharging definitely still has its place in hospitality.

From Amazon: “Max Humphrey shines a light on 10 rustic National Park lodges in all their airy, timeworn splendor. No historic photos here; the images of the architecture and interiors are as they look today, highlighting these storied places in a fresh, alluring way. Sure, the lobbies are the main stage, but Humphrey touches on grand dining rooms, guest rooms, and rustic canteens alike. He writes about the buildings themselves in terms of the historical goings-on at the time, why they were built, and the players involved, highlighting notable architectural moments and period-specific furnishings. A smattering of pop culture history adds extra bursts of levity throughout.”

Grab it today.

Future Hospitality: Impactful Brand Experiences that Drive Sustainable Growth, Happier Guests, and Inspired Staff

Since the latest Jeremy Wells book kicks off this list, let’s take a look at his first book.

Future Hospitality drives home a simple but powerful principle that KRG shares. Put simply, hospitality is a mindset. This book also explains how an operator’s brand strategy plays a significant role in embodying that important principle.

From Amazon: “The purpose of this book is to help you understand the significance of making people feel good, and how the principles of strategic brand development can dramatically influence how you go about doing it.

“Without the core foundational component of a brand strategy in place at your business, I believe that you’ll be fighting an uphill battle that you don’t need to fight. If your business means anything to you, then you need to make it mean something to others.”

Order your copy here.

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE

Again, we don’t always have to look at the hospitality industry for inspiration or lessons. We can learn from businesses that appear to have nothing to do with our own.

There are several lessons we can learn from Phil Knight and his leadership of Nike. For example, the following quotes are attributed to Knight:

  • “Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.”
  • “Let everyone else call your idea crazy; just keep going. Don’t stop. Don’t even think about stopping until you get there, and don’t give much thought to where ‘there’ is. Whatever comes, just don’t stop.”

From Amazon: “In 1962, fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his father and created a company with a simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost athletic shoes from Japan. Selling the shoes from the boot of his Plymouth, Knight grossed $8000 in his first year. Today, Nike’s annual sales top $30 billion. In an age of start-ups, Nike is the ne plus ultra of all start-ups, and the swoosh has become a revolutionary, globe-spanning icon, one of the most ubiquitous and recognisable symbols in the world today.”

Pick up your copy.

Bar Hacks: Developing The Fundamentals for an Epic Bar

If you have yet to read Bar Hacks, written by KRG Hospitality president and Bar Hacks podcast creator Doug Radkey, you need to pick your copy up today.

Without an understanding and appreciation of the fundamentals, long-term success is essentially an impossibility.

Image: Mikołaj on Unsplash

KRG Hospitality. Boutique Hotels. Resorts. Properties. Consultant. Feasibility Study. Business Plan

The Guildhall in London, England
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

The World’s 50 Best Hotels: 2023

World’s 50 Best Reveals the top Hotels

by David Klemt

The Guildhall in London, England

The inaugural ceremony took place at Guildhall in London, England.

The World’s 50 Best launches their inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels list and recognizes the finest hotels and resorts across six continents.

Mark Sansom, content director for the World’s 50 Best Bars, revealed this new list on episode 90 of the Bar Hacks podcast. That episode was published in January of this year.

Adding the World’s 50 Best Hotels to the World’s 50 Best portfolio makes perfect sense.

The organization first began ranking restaurants in 2002. In 2013, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants introduced regional lists, including Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Then came the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2009. In 2012, the list celebrated its inaugural awards ceremony. The first regional list was launched in 2016, and North America’s 50 Best Bars was kicked off in 2022.

F&B, of course, pairs perfectly with travel. To have food, beverage, and travel under one umbrella shows the World’s 50 Best’s commitment to evolving and celebrating the best of hospitality as a whole.

As you’ll see below, this inaugural list is undeniably impressive. The World’s 50 Best Hotels have set an incredible standard with this list of properties.

That begs a question: If these are the winners for 2023, what amazing hotels and resorts will earn placements on the list in the coming years?

Congratulations to the first 50 winners to earn spots on the list!

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023: 50 to 11

  1. Hôtel de Crillon (Paris, France)
  2. Six Sense Ibiza (Portinatx, Ibiza, Spain)
  3. Equinox New York (New York City, New York, United States of America)
  4. The Savoy (London, England, United Kingdom)
  5. NoMad London (London, England, United Kingdom)
  6. The Oberoi Amarvilas (Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India)
  7. Atlantis the Royal (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
  8. Badrutt’s Palace (St. Moritz, Switzerland)
  9. The Siam (Bangkok, Thailand)
  10. Eden Rock (St. Barths)
  11. Desa Potato Head (Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia)
  12. Hoshinoya Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)
  13. Amangalla (Galle, Sri Lanka)
  14. The Newt (Bruton, England, United Kingdom)(winner of the Carlo Alberto Best Boutique Hotel)
  15. Soneva Jani (Maldives)
  16. Four Seasons Astir Palace (Athens, Greece)
  17. Cheval Blanc (Paris, France)
  18. Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc (Antibes, France)
  19. Gleneagles Hotel (Auchterarder, Scotland, United Kingdom)(featured on the Bar Hacks podcast)(winner of the Art of Hospitality Award)
  20. La Réserve (Paris, France)
  21. Park Hyatt Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan)
  22. Le Bristol (Paris, France)
  23. Capella Singapore (Singapore)
  24. Rosewood São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil)
  25. The Maybourne Riviera (Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France)
  26. Aman New York (New York City, New York, United States of America)
  27. Four Seasons Madrid (Madrid, Spain)
  28. Royal Mansour (Marrakech, Morocco)
  29. The Connaught (London, England, United Kingdom)
  30. Borgo Egnazia (Savelletri, Puglia, Italy)
  31. Le Sirenuse (Positano, Campania, Italy)
  32. Hotel Esencia (Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico)
  33. Nihi Sumba (Wanokaka, Sumba Island, Indonesia)
  34. Raffles Singapore (Singapore)
  35. Claridge’s (London, England, United Kingdom)
  36. Singita Lodges – Kruger National Park (Kruger National Park, South Africa)(winner of the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award)
  37. Aman Venice (Venice, Veneta, Italy)
  38. Chablé Yucatán (Chocholá, Yucatán, Mexico)
  39. The Calile (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)
  40. Capella Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand)(winner of the Nikka Best New Hotel Award)

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023: 10 to One

  1. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand)
  2. Four Seasons Firenze (Florence, Tuscany, Italy)
  3. One&Only Mandarina (Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico)
  4. Soneva Fushi (Maldives)(winner of the Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel Award)
  5. La Mamounia (Marrakech, Morocco)
  6. Aman Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)
  7. The Upper House (Hong Kong)
  8. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (Bangkok, Thailand)
  9. Rosewood Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
  10. Passalacqua (Moltrasio, Como, Italy)

The Lodge at Blue Sky, a property in the Auberge Resorts Collection, in Park City, Utah, USA, earned the Lavazza One to Watch Award. Also, 28-year industry veteran Sonu Shivdasani OBE, the co-founder and CEO of Soneva, took home the SevenRooms Icon Award.

This year’s top hotel, Passalacqua, has been welcoming guests for barely a year. However, the property itself was built in the late 1700s for Count Andrea Lucini Passalacqua.

After undergoing a three-year restoration, the intimate hotel proudly offers guests stunning views of Lake Como. Owned by the family behind the 84-key Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Passalacqua features just 24 keys. The suites are spread out between the primary villa, the country-house-styled Palazz, and Casa al Lago, which is located close to the waters of Lake Como.

This is truly a deserving winner, an ultra-luxe but relaxing resort. Moreover, Passalacqua shows that a resort with just two dozen keys can compete against hotels several times its size.

Image: David Holbrook

KRG Hospitality. Boutique Hotels. Resorts. Properties. Consultant. Feasibility Study. Business Plan

Lynn House making Old Fashioned cocktails for Elijah Craig
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Prepare Now for Old Fashioned Week

Prepare Now for Old Fashioned Week

by David Klemt

Lynn House making Old Fashioned cocktails for Elijah Craig

Lynn House making Old Fashioneds for Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week.

It may be nearly two months away but it’s not too early to register your bar and team for Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week.

This year’s event, the fourth annual Old Fashioned Week, will take place from Friday, October 13 to Sunday, October 22.

As was the case in 2022, the Southern Smoke Foundation will be this year’s beneficiary. In 2020 and 2021, Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week raised a combined $200,000 for the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation.

Just last year, to add context, Old Fashioned Week helped make it possible for Southern Smoke to provide nearly $110,000 in relief grants to food and beverage workers.

Those interested in participating this year can register their venue for free via this link. Create an Old Fashioned LTO menu—or simply make standard Old Fashioneds with Elijah Craig bourbon—and Elijah Craig will donate $1 for every Old Fashioned sold (up to $100,000).

There really couldn’t be a simpler way to deliver a fantastic, classic cocktail experience to guests while supporting a great cause.

Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Cocktail Contest

There’s more to Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week. You and your bartenders have the opportunity to participate in a cocktail contest, too.

From now until October 31, anyone who wants to throw their hat in the ring can submit their recipe for their own signature Old Fashioned.

The winner of the Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Cocktail Contest will win $5,000. They’ll also have their winning recipe included in Elijah Craig’s 2024 cocktail recipe book.

Recipes can be submitted through this link. For contest rules and judging criteria, please click here.

To learn more about Elijah Craig and the Old Fashioned, check out episode 52 of the Bar Hacks podcast with special guest Lynn House.

Four unique takes on the Old Fashioned can be found below.

4 Day Weekend

Recipe by Stephanie Andrews

  • 2 oz. Elijah Craig Bourbon
  • 1/2 oz. Grilled Peach Gomme Syrup (see note)
  • 4 dashes Lapsang Souchong Tea–Honey Mustard Bitters (see note)
  • BBQ Spritz (see note)
  • Grilled peach slice to garnish
  • Lemon zest to garnish

Prepare an Old Fashioned glass with a large ice sphere or cube. Add ice and first three ingredients to mixing glass. Stir, then strain into prepared glass. Mist BBQ spritz over drink, then garnish.

Note for syrup: Prepare five ripe peaches, removing pits and slicing into pieces. Grill over high heat until peach pieces have grill marks. Dissolve two tablespoons gum arabic in one quart of water in saucepan, whisking constantly. When gum arabic has dissolved fully, add four cups sugar. Again, whisk until dissolved fully. Add peach pieces and steep overnight. Strain, discard peaches, and store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to two months.

Note for bitters: Add 750ml of neutral grain spirit, two tablespoons Lapsang souchong tea leaves, and two tablespoons black tea leaves to a mason jar and shake vigorously. Next, add the peel of one lemon, one cinnamon stick, one teaspoon grains of paradise, and one tablespoon honey mustard to mason jar. Allow mixture to rest for one to two weeks, then strain into a bottle. Bitters may be stored for up to two months at room temperature.

Note for spritz: This recipe is a bit…different. Char eight high-quality beef hotdogs on a grill. Once charred, chop hotdogs into small pieces, place into a sous-vide bag with 750ml of Elijah Craig bourbon, and cook for two hours at 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Strain and pout into an atomizer or mister. The spritz can be stored for up to two months at room temperature.

Borrowed Time

Recipe by Alec Bales

  • 1.25 oz. Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
  • 0.75 oz. St. Lucian Bounty dark rum
  • 0.25 oz. Sorghum syrup
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 2 dashes Regans’ orange bitters
  • Round of lemon peel to garnish

Stir all ingredients except for garnish in a rocks glass. Stir, add ice, then stir again. Express oils from lemon peel, then drop into glass to garnish.

A Swallow’s Leave

Recipe by Caer Maiko

  • 2 oz. Butter chestnut–infused Elijah Craig bourbon (see note)
  • 0.25 oz. Soy-caramel syrup (see note)
  • 3 dashes Adzuki bean–Angostura bitters (see note)
  • Coin-shaped orange peel to garnish

As with the recipe above, add all ingredients minus garnish to an Old Fashioned glass, add ice, and stir. Flame the orange peel, then drop into glass to garnish

Note for infusion: Melt a teaspoon of unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add eight shelled chestnuts to pan. Cook chestnuts until lightly charred and butter is lightly browned. Add a 750ml bottle of Elijah Craig bourbon and, while still warm, the contents of the saucepan to a mason jar. Leave jar in a freezer for eight hours, then fine strain back into original bottle.

Note for syrup: Simmer three ounces brown sugar, three ounces turbinado sugar, and a half-ounce soy sauce in six ounces of water in a saucepan over medium heat for ten minutes. Ensure all solids dissolve fully, then let cool and pour into appropriate container.

Note for bitters: Wash the syrup from a half-cup of canned adzuki beans. Place into a glass container with four ounces of Angostura bitters. Muddle, then cover container and leave for 12 to 24 hours before passing mixture through a strainer into another appropriate container.

Santiago’s Luck

Recipe by Jake Powell; makes 10 servings

  • 15 oz. Elijah Craig bourbon
  • 5 oz. Cold-brew concentrate
  • 1.5 oz. Yellow Chartreuse
  • 1.5 oz. Amaro Nonino
  • 1.5 oz. Cinnamon-infused banana liqueur (preferably Tempus Fugit; see note)
  • 0.25 oz. Orange bitters
  • Optional: Pinch of salt
  • Orange twist to garnish

Add all ingredients, minus garnish but including pinch of salt if you so choose, to a 750ml bottle. One serving is two ounces over a large ice sphere or cube in a rocks glass.

Note for infusion: Prepare a 750ml bottle of banana liqueur by adding three or four cinnamon sticks to it. Let sit for 24 hours at room temperature, then strain into either a separate 750ml bottle or into another container, then back into original bottle.

Image: Elijah Craig

KRG Hospitality Beverage Programming

Chef Brian Duffy biting into a sandwich
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

BBQ Brawl: ‘Cue Tips from Chef Brian Duffy

BBQ Brawl: ‘Cue Tips from Chef Brian Duffy

by David Klemt

Chef Brian Duffy biting into a sandwich

Friend of the Bar Hacks podcast and KRG Hospitality Chef Brian Duffy is rocking it on season four of Food Network‘s BBQ Brawl.

And he’s dropping barbecue and cooking jewels while killing it on multiple styles of grill.

When we meet Chef Duffy on episode one of BBQ Brawl, he’s introduced as “The Renowned Restaurateur.” This makes sense given the fact that he has helped open more than 100 restaurants throughout his career.

Regarding grilling and barbecuing, Chef Duffy will use elements of whatever style he thinks will work best for a given situation. As he explains it, his barbecue “isn’t bound by the rules of any one style.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chef Brian Duffy (@chefbriduff)

I also want to point out that there’s what appears to be a 1950s-era Dodge Power Wagon, perhaps a Series 1 or Series 2 model, on Star Hill Farm, where this show was filmed. This isn’t relevant in any way to cooking, grilling, or barbecue. I’m just a Car and Motorcyle Guy® and I noticed the Power Wagon immediately.

Also, be sure to check out episode 33 and episode 53 of the Bar Hacks podcast to hear from the chef himself.

Alright, let’s check out some tips and tricks from Chef Duffy that he has shared on season four of BBQ Brawl. Like he said to the camera in the first moments of episode one, “Students, meet your pit master.”

Episode 1

If you want your food to be charred, you need to commit.

“You’ve gotta let it sit. Don’t move it,” says Chef Duffy. “Let that char happen.”

It’s just that simple. Patience is a cooking technique.

Dishes

Signature Tacos

  • Mulita, a Mexican street taco made by dipping a tortilla in birria broth.
  • Togorashi- and ancho-chili-smoked red Snapper taco with “a fun little slaw.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chef Brian Duffy (@chefbriduff)

Team Challenge: “California Smoke” menu (Fire delivery: Santa Maria grill)

  • Cabbage, kale, Swiss chard medley with beans
  • Scallops and smoked crab salad with preserved lemon gremolata and avocado (collaboration with Chef Larissa Da Costa; Chef Duffy prepared the smoked crab salad)

Episode 2

One interesting bit of Chef Duffy trivia is that he has knife skills that rival John Wick’s. I’m confident in saying that they could’ve raided Chef Duffy’s impressive carbon steel knife collection to film the melee scene in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.

Now, he does nick himself during the advantage challenge in this episode. The nick requires Chef Duffy to double-glove up. However, this is a fluke. Check out his knife skills below:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chef Brian Duffy (@chefbriduff)

Dishes

Elimination Challenge:”Due West” menu (Fire delivery: Santa Maria grill. Direct-contact coal roasting)

  • Cast iron skillet-cooked mushroom gravy (portobello, maitake, shiitake, rosemary, garlic, butter) for Pitmaster Robert Smith’s quail.
  • Hot coal-roasted butternut squash topped with crispy, grilled pork belly

Episode 3

While Chef Duffy is no stranger to the pitmastery of fish, he’s always done so in a controlled environment.

Well, this competition show is much more chaotic than a standard restaurant kitchen. Of course, chaos doesn’t cramp Chef Duffy’s style too much.

In preparing his salt-crusted branzino in episode three, he chars lemons and limes, then squeezes them over the fish and creates a mixture with egg whites. After salting, Chef Duffy once again shows that patience is a key element of technique: he leaves the stuffed and salted branzinos to rest.

Chef Duffy also puts another of his specialties on full display in this episode: fried rice. Anyone who has seen Chef Duffy do a fried rice demo knows how good his preparations are.

During this episode, he prepares fried rice in a wok on a Santa Maria grill. For this element of his dish he chooses basmati, in part for its fragrance. Along with carrots and green beans, Chef Duffy’s BBQ Brawl fried rice includes onion, garlic, and bacon. He then hits it with ponzu and soy sauces.

You may think the bacon is the star of this fried rice, but that isn’t the case. The real standout is freshly prepared salt-cured eggs. For this element of the dish, Chef Duff places yolks directly onto a bed of salt.

“What that does is it pulls the moisture out of that yolk,” explains Chef Duffy, “so that you have a little bit more of a firm yolk.”

To complete the salt-cured egg preparation, the salt is rinsed off just before serving the rice.

Dishes

Elimination Challenge: “Sea-Food and Eat It” menu (Fire delivery: Santa Maria grill, smoker)

  • Bacon and basmati fried rice with salmon, topped with salt-cured egg
  • Smoked, salt-crusted branzino

Episode 4

Chef Duffy hates crispy bacon. The reasoning behind this hatred is simple: flavor.

If bacon is cooked too crisply—or more accurately, burnt—it won’t impart much, if any, flavor. You may get ash flavor but you really won’t get bacon.

When stunned team leader Chef Sunny Anderson questions Chef Duffy about his opinion of crispy bacon, he explains his position succinctly: “Because it’s useless.”

It’s fair to say he’d rather switch teams than allow someone to prepare crispy bacon for any of his dishes.

“I want you to know I like your fire,” responds Chef Anderson. “But crispy bacon is life, okay?”

Dishes

Signature Chicken Wings (Fire delivery: Cast aluminum kamado grill)

  • Butter poached fried and grilled wings with habanero, Aleppo, and ghost peppers

Elimination Challenge: “Hometown Heat” menu (Fire delivery: Smoker, cast aluminum kamado grill, cast iron skillet, Big Green Egg)

  • Manzano and Fresno peppers stuffed with spicy pork sausage
  • Irish soda bread stuffed with caramelized onion and bacon, topped with citrus-cream cheese glaze (prepared in collaboration with Chef Anderson)

Episode 5

To enhance the experience of a mac and cheese made with creamy béchamel sauce, try this tip from Chef Duffy. Instead of using only all-purpose flour, also use cassava flour.

Doing so will add some impressive stretchiness to the sauce, and the proof will be in the cheese pull. Also, cassava flour delivers a silky texture a traditional roux just can’t match.

Dishes

Elimination Challenge: “Brazilian BBQ Fusion Feast” menu (Smoker, charcoal grill, cast aluminum kamado grill, cast iron skillets)

  • Skillet mac and cheese made with cotija, smoked gouda, sharp Cheddar, and gruyère topped with farofa (prepared in a skillet on top of a grill)
  • Brazilian-spiced and smoked spatchcock citrus chicken

Episode 6

On this episode,the teams prepare whole suckling pig via live-fire cooking methods. Due to the ranking of the teams in episode five, Team Bobby chooses their method first, followed by Team Anne. Team Sunny doesn’t get to choose; they have to take whatever the other two teams don’t select.

Team Bobby selects the cinder block smoker, and Team Anne chooses the hand-crank rotisserie spit. Team Sunny has to cook via an incredibly rustic method: a bed of hot embers.

Chefs Duffy and Chuck Matto decide to wrap their suckling pig in banana leaves before then wrapping the entire animal in foil. As Chef Matto explains, banana leaf acts as an insulator. The pig is placed directly on the hot embers, additional stones are placed around it, more coals are added, and then the team adds a layer of burlap.

To ensure an even cook without any burning, Chef Duffy explains that they’ll check temperatures every 20 to 30 minutes, rotating the pig each time.

When cooking pig, Chef Duffy notes there are certain things to check to ensure it’s cooked fully. There’s temperature, of course, but he also shares this tip: note how easily the thermometer goes into the meat when checking temp.

Dishes

Advantage Challenge: Banana Leaf Challenge (Fire delivery: Santa Maria grill)

  • Southern-inspired, Caribbean spiced and seasoned catfish (prepared with banana-leaf wrap)

Elimination Challenge: “Campfire Whole Hog” menu (Fire delivery: Bed of hot embers, Santa Maria grill, cast aluminum kamado grill)

  • Campfire whole hog with California/Kansas City barbecue sauces (in collaboration with Chef Matto), with special attention paid to honoring the animal’s head
  • Four-pork chili
  • Potato salad

Episode 7

Chef Duffy swings for the fences on this episode and decides to grill octopus. However, it takes hours to cook octopus properly and ensure it’s tender enough to eat.

Of course, Chef Duffy has a plan, and it includes using three cooking methods in a five-step process. First, he throws it on a charcoal grill to impart flavors. Next, he boils the octopus. After that, the octopus goes back to the grill. Then, Chef Duff sous vides the octopus at 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally, the octopus goes back to the grill.

Or, to describe the process more simply, Chef Duffy goes grill, water, grill, sous-vide, grill.

Dishes

Elimination Challenge:  (Fire delivery: Charcoal grill, Big Green Egg

  • Grilled octopus over a white bean and sweet corn purée
  • Grilled watermelon, feta, and pickled cucumber salad (cold-pickled cucumbers for acid and flavor)

Image: Chef Brian Duffy

Novo Fogo Organic Cachaça Drinkee passion fruit cachaça
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Drinkee: Novo Fogo x SOFI TUKKER

Introducing Drinkee, Novo Fogo x SOFI TUKKER

by David Klemt

Novo Fogo Organic Cachaça Drinkee passion fruit cachaça

A month after announcing the reformulation of their award-winning cachaça-forward RTDs, Novo Fogo is proud to announce the launch of Drinkee.

Drinkee, the first Brazilian passion fruit cachaça made for the American market, is a direct result of a new partnership.

Listeners of our Bar Hacks podcast will recall that Novo Fogo founder and CEO Dragos Axinte was our guest for episode 97. It’s on this episode that Axinte discusses Novo Fogo’s partnership with Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern, known globally as SOFI TUKKER.

Axinte shares his thoughts on partnerships and collaboration when talking about teaming up with Hawley-Weld and Halpern. While the partnership “felt right to both sides,” the parties still went through a “complex, long negotiation” before finalizing their deal. The Novo Fogo and SOFI TUKKER teams may have known deep down that the partnership was right but they took the time to prove that feeling was good for business and a long-term relationship.

In addition to SOFI TUKKER serving as global ambassadors for Novo Fogo, Hawley-Weld and Halpern are also co-owners of the Brazilian brand. The dance music duo was heavily involved in the development and launch of Drinkee.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by SOFI TUKKER (@sofitukker)

The newest addition to the Novo Fogo lineup is essentially Brazil in a bottle. Start with Novo Fogo Silver, infuse it with authentic Brazilian flavors, and you get Drinkee. This new expression is named for SOFI TUKKER’s debut song of the same name, and delivers notes of Brazilian passion fruit, orange peel, vanilla, pure cane sugar, and oak.

To learn more about Novo Fogo Drinkee, please read the press release below. While we’re eager to spend time with this new bottle, we’re excited for more collaborative Novo Fogo x SOFI TUKKER products to enter the market.

Cheers!

NOVO FOGO ANNOUNCES A PASSION FRUIT CACHAÇA NAMED DRINKEE

Developed with SOFI TUKKER, Drinkee is the first Brazilian Passion Fruit Cachaça made for the American market

SEATTLE, WA (Aug. 21, 2023) – Novo Fogo announces a new product to their lineup of USDA-certified organic Brazilian cachaças: Novo Fogo Passion Fruit Cachaça, fancifully named after SOFI TUKKER’s hit song, “Drinkee.” A first for the American market, this all-natural sugarcane spirit culminates months of product development among the Novo Fogo distillery team in Morretes, Brazil, and the multi-Grammy-nominated dance music superstars SOFI TUKKER, who are co-owners and global brand ambassadors of Novo Fogo.

The partners’ ambition was to share the beloved flavors of Brazil in a bottled, full-proof spirit that drops a beat of fresh tropical flavor into any cocktail. To achieve this, they experimented with various infusions of tropical ingredients to harmoniously complement the rainforest flavors of Novo Fogo Silver Cachaça. The resulting spirit amplifies the beloved notes of Brazilian passion fruit and fresh cane distillate, supported by background rhythms of orange peel, vanilla, pure cane sugar, and oak. Drinkee stands proudly when sipped neat or on the rocks, but it really starts to dance in cocktails of all kinds. Few things match the perfection of a Caipirinha made with the pulp of a fresh passion fruit, sipped under a backdrop of tropical birdsong and Brazilian rainforest, but a Caipirinha simply shaken with Passion Fruit Cachaça, lime, and sugar is a close second, wherever you enjoy it.

Tucker Halpern, half of the eponymous duo SOFI TUKKER, says of this cachaça: “I am beyond proud of where this product ended up. It feels surreal to have been in the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil testing the different ingredient combinations to make the perfect Passion Fruit Cachaça. It truly tastes the way our song ‘Drinkee’ sounds, and the way Brazil makes us feel. We’re so excited for everyone to try it!” 

Novo Fogo Passion Fruit Cachaça was created to be as inclusive as SOFI TUKKER’s music: it is an approachable introduction to cachaça newcomers, and simultaneously an elegant base spirit for bartenders and enthusiasts to supercharge their cocktails with bold tropical flavors. Drinkee will pair perfectly with another upcoming Novo Fogo x SOFI TUKKER collaboration named after their song “Energia.” That future product is inspired by Sophie Hawley-Weld, who enjoys alcohol-free drinks and is passionate about Brazil’s rainforest environment and the plant-based beverages that grow therein. 

Like all Novo Fogo’s handcrafted Brazilian spirits, Passion Fruit Cachaça is an emissary of Brazilian culture and rainforest conservation, and a symbol for the shared values that connected Novo Fogo and SOFI TUKKER in the first place. The duo says of the partnership: “We have a lot in common with Novo Fogo – we share a core love of Brazil, fun, and environmentalism. Cachaça is Tuck’s favorite drink and Soph doesn’t drink alcohol, but she’s still at the same party… both having the best time. This partnership works because Novo Fogo is so much more than cachaça and spirits; they are a powerful rainforest preservation steward, and we’re enthusiastic participants in the reforestation project The Un-Endangered Forest™. So if you do decide to drink, we hope you’ll drink Novo Fogo because you’ll be planting trees in the Brazilian rainforest at the same time! We’re excited to help introduce this classic Brazilian drink to more people around the world.”

Novo Fogo Passion Fruit Cachaça is sold to distributors nationwide by 375 Park Avenue Spirits. It is now available for pre-order on www.novofogo.com.

About Novo Fogo

A passionate advocate for sustainable practices in the spirits industry, Novo Fogo is a carbon-negative company that produces USDA-certified 100% organic cachaças at its zero-waste distillery in the heart of Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest. Its production methods prioritize human and environmental sustainability; the company is proud of its all-female distiller team and its legacy reforestation project, The Un-Endangered Forest™, which seeks to restore 44 species of threatened native trees. Extending this ethos to its cocktail audience, Novo Fogo has been a trailblazer for sponsoring health and wellness initiatives for spirit industry members. The company’s product line intersects traditional Brazilian culture with modern cocktail trends of healthier drinking, such as low carbs, low ABV, and low calories. Seeking to build a business that can last 100 years, Novo Fogo has partnered with multi-Grammy-nominated global dance music duo SOFI TUKKER to foster increased awareness towards its brand of conscientious capitalism. Find Your Own Brazilian Zen™ by visiting https://www.novofogo.com.

About SOFI TUKKER

SOFI TUKKER – best friends Sophie Hawley-Weld & Tucker Halpern – have a global reputation as the most vibrant, positive and community-driven dance music group out there. The duo met senior year at Brown University, where Tucker was a basketball jock and Sophie studied conflict resolution and Brazilian Portuguese. In 2015 they put out their debut single “Drinkee,” which was nominated for a GRAMMY, followed by a 2nd nomination for their debut album Treehouse. They have since earned Platinum & Gold record sales, several #1 records, over a billion streams, and campaigns for Apple (“Best Friend”), Peloton (“Purple Hat”) and Smartwater (“Wet Tennis”). 2023 saw Tucker & Sophie as the faces of colorful G-Star Raw & Baboon to the Moon collections, and the continuation of their own fashion label, WET TENNIS. Their new single “Jacaré” is a celebration of Brazil and the LGBTQ+ community, with lyrics by the Brazilian poet Chacal. SOFI TUKKER have collaborated with artists around the world, such as Amadou & Mariam, Mahmut Orhan, Bomba Estéreo & Pabllo Vittar. In the first half of 2023, the duo released “Sacrifice” with Kx5 (Kaskade & Deadmau5) and contributed two songs to the debut album from LP Giobbi. Meanwhile their versatility as a live act has them packing festival fields, selling out headline tours and returning to Vegas for their DJ residency. They debuted their immersive new live show at Coachella, followed by Governors Ball, Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Lollapalooza, Osheaga & more. 

Image: Novo Fogo Organic Cachaça

KRG Hospitality. Bar Consultant. Nightclub. Lounge. Mixology. Cocktails.

Bib & Tucker Double Char bourbon bottle and cocktail
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Double Char Bourbon Launches Nationwide

Bib & Tucker Double Char Bourbon Launches Nationwide

by David Klemt

Bib & Tucker Double Char bourbon bottle and cocktail

A smoky bourbon that draws inspiration from the savory side of the culinary world is finally, mercifully available throughout the US.

We’ve been waiting patiently, having shared the news of this new release back in June. We’re excited to be able to update that story: Everyone can finally get their hands on this unique small-batch bourbon.

Double Char is an innovative Tennessee bourbon rested for six years in new white American oak barrels that weighs in at 88 proof. And whether people to choose to snap bottles up online or off-premise, this smoky sipper from Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon is ready for action.

What this means for operators and bar teams, of course, is that the bourbon lovers and bourbon-curious among guests will expect to find Double Char on bar menus across the country.

This is great news for bar and restaurant operators who encourage collaboration between front- and back-of-house teams. Double Char has been described as “a smoky sweet BBQ in a bottle.” This culinary inspiration will allow bartenders and chefs to work together to wow guests with specialty cocktails that pair incredible well with all manner of rich, savory, smoky dishes.

I, for one, foresee mouthwatering LTO cocktails and specialty prix fixe experiences centered on Double Char on the horizon.

To learn more about Bib & Tucker Double Char, click here or review the press release below. And to learn more about Bib & Tucker, click here to listen to episode 59 of the Bar Hacks podcast.

Cheers!

Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon Announces Double Char Innovation

New Savory, Smoky Bourbon Inspired by the Flavor of Food Smoked on the Open Flame

STAMFORD, Conn., May 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/—Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon is proudly announcing the release of Bib & Tucker Double Char Bourbon.

Inspired by the turn of the century, when food was cooked on the open flame, this new bourbon is aged twice to create savory smoky notes and an exceptionally smooth finish. Bib & Tucker Double Char is first aged for six years in the rolling hills of Tennessee in new white American oak, followed by a minimum of five months in a second heavily charred and smoked new barrel. This unique fire-forged double char aging method creates the rich and deep flavor of Bib & Tucker Double Char.

“I can’t wait for consumers to try this delicious expression,” said Tom Steffanci, President of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits. “Double Char spends just the right amount of time in the second heavily charred barrel, creating a savory, smoky character that adds a whole new dimension to the bourbon.”

As a Tennessee bourbon, Bib & Tucker follows the Lincoln County process unique to the state, meaning the bourbon is filtered through sugar maple charcoal before going into the barrel for aging.

For Double Char, to pay homage to the Lincoln County process, the second barrel is smoked with sugar maple before being filled with the brand’s 6-year aged bourbon. The perfect amount of time in the barrels, the char, and the sugar maple barrel smoking process delivers a bourbon with an inviting savory white smoke flavor not found in any other whiskey on the market.

Bib & Tucker Double Char Tasting Notes:

  • Nose: A touch of smoke with immediate notes of toasted oak and dulce de leche, background notes of cinnamon and clove
  • Palate: Vanilla and sugar maple surrounded with white smoke, hints of sweet corn and toasted cinnamon
  • Finish: Medium to long finish with oak, white smoke and vanilla
  • Color: Deep rich mahogany with copper undertones

The lineup of Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon includes:

  • The Classic Six: 6-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey – SRP: $54.99; 92 proof/46% ABV
  • Double Char: 6-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey – SRP: $54.99; 88 proof/44% ABV
  • 10-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey – SRP: $89.99; 92 proof/46% ABV

Bib & Tucker Double Char will be available nationally, in-store and online, beginning August 2023.

Image: Bib & Tucker

Bartender presenting cocktail
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Cheers to the Spirited Awards Winners!

Cheers to the 2023 Spirited Awards Winners!

by David Klemt

Bartender presenting cocktail

A toast to the nominees and winners!

Cheers to each of the winning bars, teams, and individuals taking home awards from the 17th annual Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail 2023 in New Orleans!

Spirits educator, advocate, and bartender’s bartender Tiffanie Barriere earned the well-deserved Tales Visionary Award. Master Distiller Desmond Payne, MBE, took home the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award.

Compellingly, a number of so-called secondary and tertiary markets are taking awards back to their home cities. These include Albuquerque, Phoenix, and Portland. Nothing against primary markets like New York City and Los Angeles, but it’s wonderful to see other cities grab the spotlight and shine, make their marks, and let everyone know, “We’ve arrived—don’t sleep on us!”

Unfortunately, Canada didn’t take home any international awards from Tales this year, nor did Las Vegas. Next year, hopefully.

Barcelona, however, can boast that it’s the home of the Spirited Award winner for the World’s Best Bar.

As far as our little experiment with artificial intelligence attempting to predict Spirited Awards winners, the chatbot we selected didn’t do very well. That said, it did accurately guess six out of the 24 awards we presented to the bot for a 25-percent success rate: Best US Brand Ambassador; International Bartender of the Year; Best International Bar Mentor; Best International Restaurant Bar; Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series; and Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing.

Raise a glass and toast this year’s Spirited Awards winners. Cheers!

US Categories

US Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard USA

Christine Wiseman, Marygold’s Brasserie / Broken Shaker (Miami, Florida)

Best US Bar Mentor presented BarSmarts

Chris Patino

Best US Brand Ambassador presented Libbey

Vance Henderson (Hendrick’s Gin)*

Best US Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Happy Accidents (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Best US Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka

Century Grand (Phoenix, Arizona)

Best US Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose

Hey Love at The Jupiter (Portland, Oregon)

Best US Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo

Café La Trova (Miami, Florida)

Best New US Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Martiny’s (New York, New York)

Timeless US Award

Tiki-Ti (Los Angeles, California)

International Categories

International Bartender of the Year presented by The Busker

Giorgio Bargiani, Connaught Bar (London, England, United Kingdom)*

Best International Bar Mentor presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Agostino Perrone*

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Nicola Riske (The Macallan)

Best International Bar Team presented by Angostura Caribbean Rum

ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Patr​​ón Tequila

SIPS (Barcelona, Spain)

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier

Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel (Singapore)

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Analogue Initiative (Singapore)*

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Line Athens (Athens, Greece)

Timeless International Award

Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel (Singapore)

Global Categories

Tales Visionary Award

Tiffanie Barriere

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award

Desmond Payne, MBE

World’s Best Bar

SIPS (Barcelona, Spain)

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

Martini & Rossi Floreale Non Alcoholic Aperitivo

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Double Chicken Please (New York, New York)

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Raised by Wolves (San Diego, California)

Writing & Media Categories

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Punch

Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

The Speakeasy Podcast*

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

“The Great Mezcal Heist” by Emma Janzen, for Eater*

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

The Bartender’s Manifesto by Toby Maloney with Emma Janzen

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Modern Caribbean Rum: A Contemporary Reference to the Region’s Essential Spirit by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith

Congratulations to each of the venues, teams, and individual winners! Cheers!

Bar Hacks Guests

The following Spirited Awards presenters, winners, and TOTC team have appeared on the Bar Hacks podcast. Give these episodes a listen to learn more about these amazing people!

Vance Henderson (episode 20)

Episode 48, Episode 65, and the Hurricane Ida Emergency Episode with Eileen Wayner

Lynn House (episode 52)

Kellie Thorn and Lola Thomas (episode 72)

Roberta Mariani (episode 84)

* Denotes an accurate prediction by DeepAI‘s AI Chat chatbot.

Image: Christian Fridell on Pexels

KRG Hospitality. Bar Consultant. Nightclub. Lounge. Mixology. Cocktails.

A dock and door in the Charente-Maritime department of France
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

The Year of Pineau des Charentes?

The Year of Pineau des Charentes?

by David Klemt

A dock and door in the Charente-Maritime department of France

A pier and door in the Charente-Maritime department of France, home of Pineau des Charentes.

Take Cognac’s eponymous and legendary brandy, add grape juice or grape must, mature the blend, and you get Pineau des Charentes.

Pineau, a less unwieldy name for this vin de liqueur, comes in white, red, and rosé styles. Unfortunately, owing to Pineau not being as famous as Cognac, these fortified wines aren’t very well known to the general public.

However, bartenders and bar owners are trying to turn that around. In fact, the iconic Ivy Mix theorized last week that 2023 could become the Year of Pineau.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ivy Mix (@ivymix)

Toward the bottom of her post, Mix says it’s “[t]time to [p]lay with Pineau!” She also includes a recipe for a Pineau-led version of the Saturn cocktail.

Pineau is excellent for hot summer days, and it plays well in tiki or nautical drinks and other cocktails.

Of course, Mix’s post got me thinking: Do enough people know about Pineau to help guide their guests in discovering it and adding it to their beverage rotation?

So, below you’ll get a crash course in Pineau des Charentes, your and your guests’ new favorite fortified wine.

Mix has been a guest of the Bar Hacks podcast, featuring on episode 54 and episode 58 if you’d like to learn more about her approach to hospitality.

A Happy Accident?

If you know anything about me, you know I love a good drink origin story. This is mainly due to the fact that there are either disputes or we’re simply perpetuating a guess or theory.

Well, Pineau des Charentes has a bit of a “foggy” origin itself.

From what I can find, this vin de liqueur traces its roots back to a winemaker in the late 1500s—supposedly. Rumor has it that he put grape must—freshly crushed grape juice—into what he mistook for an empty barrel. In reality, the barrel, which was put to rest for a few years, contained Cognac.

Bippity, boppity, booze, Pineau was born. In 1921, a winemaker in Burie, a commune in Charente-Maritime, commercialized Pineau.

How it’s Made

Production, while controlled, is straightforward.

In most cases, a single house handles production on their own. They grow the grapes that become brandy, they make the juice by pressing more grapes, and they add the juice to the eau de vie.

For the curious, the grapes most often used in the production of Pineau are:

  • Cabernet Franc
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Colombard
  • Folle Blanche
  • Jurancon
  • Merlot
  • Merlot Blanc
  • Meslier St Francois
  • Montils
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Semillon
  • Ugni Blanc

Many people are probably familiar with the term for blending eau de vie with juice: assemblage. However, they may be less familiar with the result of assemblage: mutage. This step simply stops the fermentation process.

With assemblage completed—the ratios are highly controlled—the blend is matured. A white Pineau must spend 18 months maturing, 12 of those months in an oak barrel. For a red Pineau, those numbers are 12 months and eight months.

Then, the Pineau is bottled. As mentioned at the start of this section, Pineau is controlled; it’s subject to the rules of the vin de liqueur Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, or AOC. So, Pineau must be bottled within its AOC region.

Types of Pineau des Charentes

At the top of this article I mention that there are white, red, and rosé Pineaus. In other words, there will be a familiarity with Pineau from the wine drinkers amongst guests. This can, of course, make it easier to introduce it to them.

White Pineau, the most widely known style, is broken down into:

  • blanc, minimum aging (18 months, 12 in oak barrels);
  • vieux blanc, spending at least five years in oak casks; and
  • très vieux blanc, resting for at least 10 years in oak.

That brings us to red Pineau and its age breakdown:

  • rouge, minimum aging (12 months, eight in oak casks);
  • vieux rouge, resting for a minimum of five years in oak; and
  • très vieux rouge, spending at least 10 years in oak barrels.

Red is the most popular style of Pineau in its home region.

Now, when it comes to rosé Pineau, the aging is very similar to red or rouge. However, the line of separation, based upon maceration time, is quite thin.

Speaking of familiarity, by the way, many well-known Cognac houses also produce Pineau. This means guests should recognize names like Rémy Martin, Pierre Ferrand, and Hardy.

How it Tastes

All of this leads us to the big question that will be on your bar team and guests’ minds: What does Pineau taste like?

Generally speaking, Pineau is sweet. However, it’s not sweet in an overwhelming way. Rather, your guest-facing team members can explain that Pineau is described as having a natural sweetness. Older styles also tend to deliver more complex profiles, including flavors such as honey and nuts.

Of course, the best way to know how to describe a given Pineau in your inventory is to taste your team on each expression.

Pineau is most often enjoyed chilled and served in a tulip-shaped glass. However, as Mix and other bartenders will tell you, Pineau performs very well as a base or modifier in cocktails.

And at 16- to 22-percent ABV (most often 17 percent), Pineau is similar in proof to Sherry and Port. In fact, I recommend creating a fortified wine flight (premium price for premium products and a premium experience) that allows guests to compare Sherry, Port, and Pineau.

To get things started, Mix’s Pineau-based Saturn recipe is below. Cheers!

Venus’s Point

  • 1.5 oz. Pineau de Charentes White ​(Mix uses Pierre Ferrand in the Instagram post above)
  • 0.5 oz Agricole Rhum (Mix uses JM in the Instagram post above)​
  • 0.75 oz. Fresh lemon juice​
  • 0.25 oz. Passionfruit syrup​
  • 0.25 oz. Orgeat​
  • Lemon wheel​ to garnish

Simply shake, strain, serve up, and garnish.

Image: Les Argonautes on Unsplash

KRG Hospitality. Bar Consultant. Nightclub. Lounge. Mixology. Cocktails.

Redesigned and reformulated Novo Fogo ready-to-drink canned cocktails
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Novo Fogo Reformulates Brazilian RTDs

Novo Fogo Reformulates and Redesigns Brazilian RTDs

by David Klemt

Redesigned and reformulated Novo Fogo ready-to-drink canned cocktails

Just before Tales of the Cocktail kicks off, Novo Fogo Organic Cachaça announces the reformulation of their award-winning ready-to-drink cocktail line.

As founder and CEO Dragos Axinte reveals on episode 97 of the Bar Hacks podcast, the RTD series now features key changes.

For example, the RTDs now come in 12-ounce slim cans rather than their original eight-ounce cans. As you can see, the design is also much more colorful and eye-catching.

Of course, the changes aren’t simply cosmetic. Inside the can, each expression represents a new recipe. The last iteration of Novo Fogo RTDs was delicious and showcased their Silver Cachaça brilliantly. However, the new formulation offers even more robust flavor and drops the sweetness a bit.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dragoș Axinte (@treerestrial)

Most importantly, the new RTDs are truly a pioneering beverage. Novo Fogo’s new canned cocktails are the first RTDs made with Brazilian cachaça ever to achieve USDA Organic certification.

This means that Novo Fogo’s entire lineup, from core expressions to special releases, is USDA-certified 100-percent organic. That’s a huge win for the company, for operators who feature their products, and for operators’ guests.

Operators will be able to introduce these new 12-ounce, nine-percent ABV RTDs to their guests shortly. They’re perfect as a refreshing summer cocktail, served on ice in buckets with limes for garnish.

NOVO FOGO ANNOUNCES NEW BRAZILIAN ORGANIC COCKTAIL

RTD Line Sets Industry Standard as the First-Ever USDA-Certified Organic Canned Cocktail Made with Brazilian Cachaça

SEATTLE, WA—Novo Fogo Organic Cachaça today announces that they have completely redesigned and reformulated their popular line of award-winning Brazilian canned cocktails, offering consumers a fresh way to experience their carbonated twist on Brazil’s national cocktail, the Caipirinha. Novo Fogo Brazilian Organic Cocktails come in three tropical flavors and are USDA-certified organic.

The award-winning, sustainability-oriented cachaça producer makes handcrafted cachaça from estate-grown sugarcane in Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest and is a pioneer in spirit-based ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages. For over six years, Novo Fogo’s canned cocktails have introduced North American drinkers to Brazilian cachaça in an approachable, convenient, and delicious format. The current product evolution represents a giant leap forward in organic ingredient certification, packaging design, and flavor.

Novo Fogo’s Brazilian Organic Cocktails highlight three traditional Brazilian flavors—Lime, Passion Fruit, and Mango—that complement the base spirit of Novo Fogo Silver Cachaça, beloved by bartenders across the globe. The 100% natural ingredients have been reformulated to create a cocktail that is now certified organic by the USDA, a first for any cachaça-based RTD and a big win for Mother Earth. This breakthrough now makes Novo Fogo’s entire product line USDA-certified organic.

The colorful design of the 12 oz sleek cans evokes Novo Fogo’s origins in the Brazilian rainforest and emerged in collaboration with multi-Grammy-nominated dance music duo, SOFI TUKKER, who became co-owners and global ambassadors of Novo Fogo in October 2022. SOFI TUKKER’s vibrant, inclusive, and global perspective on electronic music has attracted legions of adoring fans worldwide, and Novo Fogo’s Brazilian Organic Cocktails are poised to accompany SOFI TUKKER’s music as the perfect concert cocktail.

Novo Fogo Brazilian Organic Cocktails feature new recipes that are full-flavored and not too sweet, each at 9% ABV with 150 calories and 12 grams of carbohydrates per serving. The aluminum cans have grown to 12 oz in volume, with 1.8 proper cocktail servings per can. Although they are new in every way, these updated cocktails continue to combine freshness, deliciousness, and shelf stability by virtue of their organic-certified ingredients that harmonize as balanced, carbonated drinks. Drink ‘em how you like ‘em, as long as they’re cold: straight from the chilled can, over ice in a glass, and with or without an extra squeeze of lime.

Novo Fogo is an award-winning Brazilian cachaça producer that handcrafts their spirits at their zero-waste distillery at the edge of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil’s southern state of Paraná. The purest representation of USDA-certified 100% organic sugarcane, Novo Fogo’s Silver Cachaça is the result of single pot distillation in small batches to maximize the flavors of local terroir in the finished spirit. Silver Cachaça is the base spirit for all three Brazilian Organic Cocktails.

“We have always been committed to genuinely reflect Brazilian culture in our brand persona, while also observing and respecting North American consumer trends. These new organic cocktails are a natural evolution of our understanding of the world and incorporate the positive, colorful, and vivid inspiration that SOFI TUKKER brought to the brand. As with everything we do these days, our new Brazilian Organic Cocktails represent the intersection of integrity and joy,” says Novo Fogo’s founder and CEO, Dragos Axinte.

Novo Fogo Brazilian canned cocktails are sold to distributors nationwide by 375 Park Avenue Spirits and online with a suggested retail price of $3.75 per can and $14.99 for a four-pack. To learn more about Novo Fogo products, please visit www.novofogo.com.

About Novo Fogo

A passionate advocate for sustainable practices in the spirits industry, Novo Fogo is a carbon-negative company that produces USDA-certified 100% organic cachaças at its zero-waste distillery in the heart of Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest. Its production methods prioritize human and environmental sustainability; the company is proud of its all-female distiller team and its legacy reforestation project, The Un-Endangered Forest™, which seeks to restore 44 species of threatened native trees. Extending this ethos to its cocktail audience, Novo Fogo has been a trailblazer for sponsoring health and wellness initiatives for spirit industry members. The company’s product line intersects traditional Brazilian culture with modern cocktail trends of healthier drinking, such as low carbs, low ABV, and low calories. Seeking to build a business that can last 100 years, Novo Fogo has partnered with multi-Grammy-nominated global dance music duo SOFI TUKKER to foster increased awareness towards its brand of conscientious capitalism. Find Your Own Brazilian Zen™ by visiting https://www.novofogo.com.

About 375 Park Avenue Spirits

375 Park Avenue Spirits specializes in the premium- to luxury-spirit categories and their portfolio includes numerous expressions from leading international producers.  Founded as Luctor International, LLC in 1981, 375 Park Avenue Spirits joined the Sazerac Company in early 2015 to act as an independent, yet fully integrated sales and marketing affiliate. The company is known today for creating an environment of growth for supplier partners in the domestic market for renown brands like Van Gogh Vodka from Holland, Sobieski Vodka from Poland, Cutty Sark Blended Scotch, J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whisky, Paul John Single Malt Whisky from India, Scapegrace Gin from New Zealand, Novo Fogo Cachaça and many others. For more information on 375 Park Avenue Spirits, please visit www.375park.com.

Images courtesy of Novo Fogo Organic Cachaça

KRG Hospitality Start-Up Restaurant Bar Hotel Consulting Consultant Solutions Plans Services

Top