Cheers back issues from January 2009:
No dow cowers here.(FIRST SIP)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Happy New Year and happy first birthday to the big recession that we (supposedly) did not know about until December of 2008. And hats off to our new president, Mr. Obama. Hopefully, he can enact the drastic change platform that was the centerpiece of his uniquely orchestrated campaign. ...
A daily dose of cheers.(DRINK CULTURE)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The newly launched Cheersonline.com provides the daily news and beverage information that have the most impact on on-premise operators. The comprehensive site offers full digital editions of the magazine, web exclusives, drink recipes, an events calendar and information about the latest ...
Cheers benchmark awards call for entries.(DRINK CULTURE)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Submissions now are being accepted for the 2009 Cheers Benchmark Awards for Best Wine Bar, Best Beer Bar and Best Cocktail Lounge, The awards honor innovative independent bars and restaurants that feature comprehensive and ...
Still drinking--but at home.(DRINK CULTURE)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Dining out is one area where consumers reduce spending during an economic recession, says a new study by consultancy Booz & Company. While people may be eating less restaurant food, though, they are not cutting back on alcohol purchasing. The study, which surveyed nearly 1,000 households ...
BarSmarts hits New York.(DRINK CULTURE)
Jan 01, 2009; ... The first BarSmarts Advanced class graduated this past October during a day-long event at the W Hotel in New York City. About 70 of the roughly 1,000 participants of the bartender training program attended the day of instruction, education, mixology, testing and formal certification. The ...
Hall of Fame winners announced; the Culinary Institute of America, creystone.(Vintners Hall of Fame)
Jan 01, 2009 ... The Culinary Institute of America has announced the 2009 Vinter's Hall of Fame inductees. Those recognized include noted wine journalist Gerald Asher, Gourmet magazine; Jack and Jamie Davies, founders of Schramsberg Vineyards; Jess Jackson, founder of Kendall-Jackson Estates; ...
Artisan Distillers Guild takes off: Oregon Distillers Guild.(DRINK CULTURE)
Jan 01, 2009 ... EST. 2007 Oregon craft distilleries hope their new Oregon Distillers Guild will do for artisanal spirits what the Oregon Brewers Guild (now the largest craft brewers guild in the country) did for beer in the state. The organization is off to a good start, representing 17 of the ...
Kevin Zraly's American wine guide 2009.(On the Shelf)
Jan 01, 2009 ... (Sterling Publishing Co., May 2008, $12.95) The only guide that covers wine and wineries in all 50 states, the 2009 edition of the American Wine Guide provides American winery updates, history and background details, maps ...
Vino Italiano buying guide.(On the Shelf)(Buyers guide)
Jan 01, 2009 ... (Clarkson potter, august 2008, $14.95) The revised, pocket-sized edition of Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch's Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy (Clarkson Potter, 2002) lists 1,000 Italian winemakers along with a ...
Artisanal cocktails: drinks inspired by the seasons from the bar at Cyrus.(On the Shelf)
Jan 01, 2009 ... (Ten Speed Press, November 2008, $24.95) Scott Beattie, bar manager at Cyrus Restaurant in Healdsburg, Calif., pulls back the curtain to present 50 visually stunning and conceptually ...
Mark your calendar.(DRINK CULTURE)(Conference news)(Calendar)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Cheers Beverage Conference Hyatt Regency Downtown Miami January 20-21, 2009 www.cheersconference.com Cheers Benchmark Awards Entry Deadline February 6, 2009 www.cheersonline.com/benchmark-awards Hospitality Law ...
Marie Brizard crowns bar champions.(DRINK CULTURE)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Jackie Patterson, bar chef at Zinnia in San Francisco, and Don Lee, beverage director at New York City's PDT, were the champions of the 2008 Marie Brizard U.S. Cocktail Challenge this past October. Patterson's winning drinks included The Baby Doll, made ...
Creative marketing.(DRINK CULTURE)
Jan 01, 2009 ... This fall, EatBar in Arlington, Va. gave consumers a chance to put down their glasses and step behind the bar. The gastropub offered a series of five cocktail classes by resident bar chef Gina Chersevani. Topics included the merits of vodka versus gin, stocking the home bar and pairing ...
Gingerly speaking.(DRINKS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Gin is experiencing a revival as mixologists and cocktail lovers rediscover the spirit's varied and complex flavor profile. While classic cocktails laregly are responsible for its return, gin also is versatile and works well in modern cocktails. For more on the gin landscape, ...
On the horizon: operators need to watch three key legislative issues in 2009 that could hurt their beverage business.(AT ISSUE)
Jan 01, 2009; ... The 2009 state and federal legislative season is upon us, and it brings some serious challenges for the hospitality segment. The industry faces a struggling economy and a Democratic majority with a taste for tax and labor legislation. There also is continuing pressure from anti-alcohol ...
The seven keys to beverage sales success; simple, smart strategies for a challenging economy.(BEVERAGE BUSINESS)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Beverages are the elixir of celebration, romance and, at times, commiseration. In a tight economy, they also can be an affordable luxury. But this liquid gold cannot be mined if drinks are unnamed, unnoticed or poorly presented by servers--despite the millions of dollars that operators and ...
Good to the last drop: creating a successful cocktail involves more than researching mixers and spirits.
Jan 01, 2009; ... Every bartender dreams of creating a winning cocktail. While taking the prize can help him or her gain career recognition, it does not always lead to the creation of drinks with widespread marketability. Rolling out cocktail that will gain mass acceptance demands a sound product ...
Character builder: spice up the back bar and drive sales with the complexity and aromatics of premium gin.
Jan 01, 2009; ... Americans are rediscovering the elegance and unrivaled complexity of premium gin. Crafted according to secret blends of aromatics, each brand is endowed with its own unique expression--no two smell or taste the same. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The character differences ...
Warming to the season: chill chasers remain a popular guest choice as operators innovate with new products and the latest flavor trends.
Jan 01, 2009; ... Winter is a magical time, ideal for slowing down and relaxing indoors with warm and hearty libations. For those in warmer climates, the season is a mindset during which the calendar provides license to enjoy beverages with a bit more substance--and perhaps the decadence of dessert. ...
Winning the house: quality house wines yield high margins and help distinguish operators.
Jan 01, 2009; ... House wine's reputation as generic plonk is rapidly coming to an end. Just as major retailers have done with exclusive fashion lines, many restaurant and hotel operators now are going directly to the source for their wines, offering high quality, private label house brands. Sourcing wine ...
Green movement sprouts opportunity for wine & spirits.(Guide to Green Wines)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Going green is gaining acceptance by wine growers, producers and consumers, as well as the press which means distributors, retailers and restaurateurs who embrace these products are finding ways to make their own green. Emerging retail opportunities recently led to the first ...
Selling the round: food pairings, creative menus and special glassware can boost beer sales.
Jan 01, 2009; ... Craft and specialty beer imports have become crucial drivers of on-premise traffic. While beer sales by volume grew 1.6 percent last year at bars and restaurants, imported beer was up 3.8 percent and craft brew grew a healthy 14.1 percent, indicates data in the just-released Cheers ...
Best catch in beverage Excellence: a well-priced Wine selection, custom mixers and a rigorous training Program helped Legal Sea Foods win the 2009 best Chain Overall beverage Award.(Legal Sea Foods)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Legal Sea Foods makes a big splash for a company its size. The family-owned enterprise, with 33 casual fine dining restaurants from Massachusetts to Florida, is a pacesetter in food procurement and safety, seafood dining, waitstaff training and the sales and service of beverages. It takes ...
The seeds of customer loyalty.(Hyatt Hotels and Resorts)
Jan 01, 2009; ... The idea is simple: Keep the guest involved. At Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, this means sending guests home with something for later, be it an herb to plant or a cocktail recipe to try. "When they can take something home, they love it," says Barry Prescott, corporate ...
A turn of the 19th century.(Interstate Hotels & Resorts)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Appealing drinks, prominent brands, striking graphics and something for everyone. That sums up The History of Cocktails, the new beverage menu that is causing excitement in the bars and lounges of Interstate Hotels & Resorts. The creative concept has earned the 2009 Cheers Beverage ...
A beverage to blog about.(Melting Pot)
Jan 01, 2009; ... If it were just about looks, Melting Pot Restaurants' Yin & Yang dessert cocktail would stand out with its edible black and white chocolate swirl design. What elevates the drink above so many others is that it tastes like a dream. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The drink is ...
A Bottomless opportunity.(Red Robin)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Red Robin's alcohol-free beverage program has been a real lemon for almost four decades--but only in the area of ingredients. Led by its Bottomless Freckled Lemonade, alcohol-free beverages account for a whopping 14 percent of total sales and have earned the company the 2009 Cheers ...
It's in the stars.(InterContinental Hotels)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Few people truly believe in the power of the stars. Still, many read their daily horoscope. The signs of the Zodiac personify the reader and make for lots of jovial small talk--precisely what drives business in a vibrant hotel bar. This wisdom prompted InterContinental Hotels to ...
Only the best.(Morton's the steakhouse)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Offering the best products in the world no matter the price is central to the brand at Morton's The Steakhouse. This philosophy doesn't change with the Chicago-based chain's beverage program. "We're lucky in that our leadership understands the price of quality," says Tylor ...
Flying high.(HMSHost)
Jan 01, 2009; ... HMSHost has no control over weather delays, slow-moving security lines or cramped airline seats. But it can make having an adult beverage and a bite to eat much more enjoyable for passengers facing long airport waits. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Bethesda, Md.-based ...
Top draft pick.(ESPN Zone)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Beer and sports have been together longer than most marriage partners. ESPN Zone takes the commitment a step further with the launch of its new beer program, which includes a wider selection, greater emphasis on craft and regional brews and expanded menu placement. The effort has earned ...
A team Culture of Awareness.(Buffalo Wild Wings)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW), the 550-unit sports bar chain that is best known for its brews and wings, took some pretty dramatic steps during its national convention last spring to demonstrate its commitment to responsible service. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] During a ...
The art of the bar.(Marriott International)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Fresh squeezed juices, carefully crafted core recipes and the tools to execute them are at the heart of BarArts, Marriott International's comprehensive new cocktail initiative. The program is boosting beverage sales and elevating bar service for the chain. It also helped Marriott take home ...
Tettines to tattate: chefs revamp classic bar food for a new, adventuresome crowd.
Jan 01, 2009; ... As the number of people waiting for a seat at Holeman and Finch Public House nears the number dining inside the tiny Atlanta hotspot, one man wonders out loud, "What's he feeding them?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The answer does not include faddish foods on hot rocks, ...
The many faces of cabernet sauvignon.(Cheers WINE PANEL)
Jan 01, 2009 ... Cabernet sauvignon is a varietal with such range that it pairs well with everything from simple pizza to gourmet filet mignon. We asked the Cheers Wine Panel to recommend their favorite expressions of the red wine. From big and bold to velvety and complex, with tannins running from soft to ...
Woodford reserve 1838 sweet mash bourbon.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 50 Brown-Forman has launched WOODFORD RESERVE 1838 SWEET MASH BOURBON, reviving a historic bourbon-making production process. While straight American whiskies are commonly made through the sour mash process, the original sweet mash process uses fresh grains, ...
Single.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 51 A. Hardy USA, Ltd. has released SINGLE, a new single malt vodka. Produced in Italy, Single is distilled from barley malt and uses a handcrafted pot stilled ...
Old forester repeal bourbon.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 52 OLD FORESTER REPEAL BOURBON is a limited-release bourbon expression that commemorates the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. The bourbon comes in a gift pack that includes a 375-ml bottle with an Old Forester 1933 era replica ...
Evan Williams single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 53 Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. recently unveiled the 1999 EVAN WILLIAMS SINGLE BARREL KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY to the Bardstown Bourbon Society, Heaven Hill Distilleries' consumer ...
Beam global spirits & wine.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 54 Beam Global Spirits & Wine has debuted the company's first ultra-premium rye whiskey, called (RI)1 (pronounced "rye one.") The 92-proof, straight rye whiskey highlights pepper ...
Meritage.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 55 Robert Mondavi Private Selection has introduced MERITAGE, a Bordeaux blend inspired by the European travels of the late Robert Mondavi. The recently released 2006 Meritage is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Petit ...
Jett.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 56 JETT is a super-premium vodka infused with caffeine, guarana and ginseng. Introduced by Jett Spirits LLC, the spirit is an unflavored vodka that is free of sugar, carbs and dyes. Produced and ...
Kenwood vineyards.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 57 KENWOOD VINEYARDS now offers two merlots. The 2006 Kenwood Sonoma County Merlot involves merlot grapes from several Sonoma County appellations that are fermented separately and aged in small French and American oak barrels for 22 months. The wine shows aromas and flavors of ...
Stoneleigh and Brancott.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 58 New Zealand wineries STONELEIGH and BRANCOTT have released their new vintages: Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Brancott Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Brancott Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2008 and Brancott Letter Series "B" Sauvignon Blanc 2008. The Brancott Terroir Series includes the Brancott ...
The distillers series.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 59 Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. and Jim Beam Bourbon have unveiled the limited edition THE DISTILLERS SERIES. The line recognizes the seven generations of the Jim Beam family and their contributions to the bourbon ...
Brugal Anejo Rum's.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 60 Shaw-Ross International Importers announces the return of BRUGAL ANEJO RUM'Sauthentic packaging, which is available in January. The classic look of the package, with its iconic yellow net, brings the brand back to its Caribbean roots. Brugal Rum first was bottled 120 years ago in Puerto ...
Cruzan rum.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 61 Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. has announced the addition of CRUZAN RUM to its portfolio. The 250-year-old brand joins Beam Global with an updated logo and packaging as well as a sleek shape and design that reflect the vibrancy of the Caribbean islands. The flavored rum packaging will ...
Brassfield estate 2006 Pinot Noir.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 62 Aromas of fresh-baked cherry pie, bright cherry flavors and a hint of toasted oak characterize the BRASSFIELD ESTATE 2006 PINOT NOIR according to the ...
Captain Morgan 100 proof spiced rum.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 63 Diageo has introduced CAPTAIN MORGAN 100 PROOF SPICED RUM. The new blend has a robust taste balanced with spices, as well as a hint of vanilla and dry ...
Rancho Zabaco.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 64 RANCHO ZABACO offers its 2007 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Delivering aromas of boxwood, fresh-cut grass, lime peel, lemongrass and sweet pea, the wine shows ...
Maestro Dobel tequila.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 65 Juan-Domingo "Dobel" Beckmann, head of the six-generation tequila-producing family, has expanded distribution of MAESTRO DOBEL TEQUILA, the clear-aged diamond tequila produced in Jalisco, Mexico, to a total of 11 states. Beginning in March, Maestro Dobel will be available in ...
Classic malts selection.(PRODUCTS)
Jan 01, 2009 ... 66 Diageo announces the rollout of its CLASSIC MALTS SELECTIONto the U.S. market, a portfolio of seven single malts from Scotland's six distilling regions. The Oban 18-Year-Old showcases the bold, maritime flavors of the Islands and will be distributed exclusively in the U.S. In addition, ...
In the spirit: effective tasting is crucial to successful drink development.(BACK BASICS)
Jan 01, 2009; ... Whether crafting winning cocktails with unique ingredients and subtle twists or mixing more pedestrian libations, understanding the basics of the spirits behind the back bar is a must. Distinguishing between a rye vodka and the neutral grain variety, or knowing when to nod at Tanqueray and ...