Las Vegas Weekly

March 4, 2009 · 5:40 PM

Around the Nightclub & Bar Show convention in 15 drinks (or more…)

By Xania Woodman

Svedka Vodka: It's a dance party. It's a trade show booth. It's both!

Photo: Sarah Feldberg

Southern Wine & Spirits’ Francesco Lafranconi always says, “We’re not drinking, we’re learning.” Well, let the learning begin!

Drink 1: Cruzan Guava mojito at the Beam Global booth. Served in a thimble-sized shot glass, this refreshing drop served as breakfast.

Drink 2: The Fem-Bot Fatale, starring Svedka vodka, cucumber, white cranberry juice and lime. Svedka was the clear winner for best booth, going so far as to create a three-tiered, roofed enclave complete with house DJ and three go-go dancers.

Drink 3: My Modelo Especial beer would have gone down easier without the musician belting out hits from the Jason Mraz cover collection. Favorite lyric: “And it’s our god-forsaken right to be loved.” God-forsaken, Jason?! Relax! Have a beer.

Drink 4: Tequila Solo Anejo, aged 30 months in new American oak barrels with a “medium toast-plus” finished barrel (as opposed to a charred barrel). On the palate it performed rather like a chardonnay.

Drink 5: Piza Italian Liqueur, a heavenly sweet blend of pistachio, hazelnut and almond liqueurs. Think: liquid marzipan.

Drinks 6 and 7: Best bevvie of the day by far was the Aviation Gin, a perfect vehicle for showing off the work of a Kold-Draft ice maker. Like Sazerac Rye, Aviation shares its name with that of a popular cocktail from the golden age of tippling and in this case, the golden age of flight. At just three years old, Aviation is a partnership between distiller Christian Krogstad and mixologist Ryan Magarian, who called his creation, “Savory. Winter-esque. Damp. Sexy." The Original Martinez Cocktail was mighty sexy, too.

Drink 8: Tequila Mejor Reposado was scotch-like and smooth; the anejo is still aging and now eagerly anticipated.

Photo: Sarah Feldberg

It's a Firestarter, twisted Firestarter.

Drink 9: Lunchtime! Red Parrot Bloody Mary featuring Firestarter vodka of Moldova (you simply can’t miss it—the packaging looks like a real fire extinguisher).

Drinks 10-12: At an exclusive spirits tasting with reverend glass-maker George Riedel, we moved a Tequila Blanco, Hennessey Cognac and a Talisker single-malt scotch from glass to glass to see the effect Riedel’s tequila, cognac and sing-malt-specific stemware has on the spirits. The result? Let’s just say it’s very clear now why Riedel has been in business for 10 generations. There is a sprit for every glass and—if Riedel has anything to say about it—a glass for every spirit.

Drink 13 and 14: A perfectly beheaded Stella Artois from Lavo bartender Andrew and a dark, creamy, clove-y Leffe while Team Hangover’s Jack Colton and last year’s champion Anthony Alba judged the annual Stella Artois World Draught Masters USA finals, which will send Rio bartender/Liquidity Global mixologist Greg Black to Belgium to represent the USA and hopefully return as the crowned Draught Master.

Drinks 15 and beyond: Probably not the best cap on the evening was the rather disappointing Vino Las Vegas, which wedged a handful of wine reps into an air-walled breakout room in the barely reachable by foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Highlights included Rodney Strong’s Alexander Valley Red Meritage “Symmetry,” and the Christine Andrew Malbec. Lowlights included the room, the bread and the cheese. Like all things, chalk it up to the economy and hold on tight for next year!

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