Beer and Baseball: A Failed Promotion

4bartenders.com (for bartenders, those who want to be and other scoundrels)

I know a couple of die-hard baseball fans, but that doesn’t mean that they’ll go to the ballpark just for the games. Sometimes they often choose what tickets they purchase based on the promotions associated with that particular game. Here's a real and classic baseball and beer promotion that failed.

The Stadium: Cleveland Municipal Stadium

The Year: 1974

The Promotion: 10-Cent-Beer Night . To bring fans to see the miserable Cleveland Indians, management decided to sell 10-ounce cups of beer for only 10 cents at a game against the Texas Rangers.

What went wrong: Management forgot one small detail: drunk people get restless. More than 25,000 fans showed up for the event, most of them already tipsy at the gate.

Among the more tame incidents was a woman who flashed the crowd from the on-deck circle, a father-son team mooning the players (good bonding experience, I guess) and fans jumping on the field to meet shake hands with the outfielders.

Then, in the bottom of the ninth, the Indians tied the game, but never got a chance to win. Fans started throwing batteries, golf balls, cups and rocks onto the field and one even took the glove of the Rangers right fielder.

As the player rushed into the stands to get his glove back, fans starting swarming the field to stop him and threw chairs to block his way.

The Outcome: The Indians were forced to forfeit the game and nine fans were arrested. The AL president forced the franchise to abandon the promotion idea after understating “There was no question that beer played a great part in the affair.”

...the smart thing would have been to charge at least a quarter a beer! ;)

Kahlua: FREE Personalized Labels

4bartenders.com (for bartenders, those who want to be and other scoundrels)

I love the flavor and aromas of coffee liquors, especially that of Kahlua. While I will probably post several articles in the future about Kahlua and the various delicious cocktails that can be created with it ...for right now, I'd like to let you know about a special promotion that Kahlua has going on that you might not be aware of ...FREE customized/personalized labels for your Kahlua bottles!

To obtain your 2 FREE customized/personalize Kahlua labels visit the Kahlua web site: www.kahlua.com (note: you must be 21 years of age to enter it) and click on the far right hand icon (tab) named "YOUR KAHLUA". This will then ask you which flavor of Kahlua you want your labels for ...just follow the directions for your FREE Kahlua labels.

...now if only they were giving away some Kahlua samples to better entice me to post a favorable article on them! ;) ...oh well!

Bombay Sapphire Gin - The Blue Jewel of Gin

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If you're ever sitting at the bar and you happen to look up and explore the arsenal of spirits just a few feet from you, a neon blue-like bottle might just catch your eye. That bottle is probably Bombay Sapphire gin and is a brand of gin distributed by Bacardi, launched in 1987. Now, who would have imagined that a top shelf gin like Bombay Sapphire is directly related to Bacardi, a world known distiller of rum?.

Bombay Sapphire was named via a competitive process whereby a number of leading Madison Avenue agencies were played off against each other. The name hints at the origins of the gin's popularity in the India of the days of the British Raj and the sapphire in question is the Star of Bombay on display at the Smithsonian Institution. Bombay Sapphire is marketed in a flat-sided, sapphire-coloured bottle that bears a likeness of Queen Victoria on the label.

The flavouring of the drink comes from a recipe of ten ingredients: almond, lemon peel, liquorice, juniper berries, orris root, angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeb, and grains of paradise. The spirit is triple distilled using a carterhead still, and the alcohol vapours are passed through a mesh/basket containing the ten botanicals, in order to gain flavour and aroma. This gives a lighter, more floral gin rather than the more-common 'punchy' gins that are distilled using a copper pot still. Water from Lake Vyrnwy is added to bring the strength of Bombay Sapphire down to 40.0% (UK).

Tasting Notes:

Bombay Sapphire opens with a touch of juniper, a ripe citrus and hints of spice in the fragrance. The palate is exceptionally smooth and allows the botanicals to open up one by one and mix in the most lovely way with juniper slightly at the forefront. The finish is bolder but retains the spirit's brightness.

...if you're ever tired of your ol' gin & tonics, give Bombay Sapphire a try to spice things up a notch!

Guiness: Less Calories Than OJ

4bartenders.com (for bartenders, those who want to be and other scoundrels)

It seems that everyone is on a path to living a fuller and healthier life style. Some monitor their activities and exercise, some watch what they eat and drink and still others count their calories. Now, which would you choose between these two for the lower caloric intake: a Guiness draft stout or a glass of OJ?

Per AskMen.com, how many of you would believe that a Guinness draft has fewer calories than orange juice? Two common misconceptions surround the physical makeup of "the black stuff.” (i.e. Guiness). The first is that it's black (officially it has a ruby red color), and the second is that it's a heavy-handed beer, calorie-wise.

The reality is that 12 ounces of the Guiness full-bodied, ruby red stuff has just 125 calories, which is less than the same amount of the orange stuff (OJ: 183 calories) and the white stuff (skim milk: 135 calories). It's also less than many popular beers, including regular Budweiser (143), Coors Original (148), Dos Equis (145), Miller Genuine (143), Sam Adams Boston Lager (160), Sierra Nevada Stout (225) and Anchor Porter (205). Even Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, with 176 calories per 12 ounces, is comparatively low in calories.

ChocoVine: Female Bliss of Red Wine & Chocolate

4bartenders.com (for bartenders, those who want to be and other scoundrels)

Last year, when my restaurant manager said "try this, it's red wine and chocolate!" ...the ol' Robbie the Robot alarm from watching too many "Lost In Space" espisodes went off in my head clanging "Danger, danger, Will Robinson"!

"Why?", was the question that resounded in my mind, "would anyone want to mix red wine with chocolate?". ...that was, until I tasted it! ...FANTASTIC!

The wine in question is called "ChocoVine"; a superbly blended mix of a fine French Cabernet with a dark rich chocolate from Holland. And "NO!", the chocolate does not "separate" from the red wine when not in use.

There are no alcoholic liquors or drinks on the market that the ChocoVine can be compared to. The closest ones would probably be Bailey's Irish Cream or a Black Russian ...but in both of these drinks, they are not as "chocolate-ty" or as sweet as the ChocoVine. In fact, when you have either of these types of drinks you will feel the "alcohol burn" when you swallow some of either drink.

You have to remember that you're comparing liquor drinks to a red wine ...that's the "kicker". With the ChocoVine, you don't have that "alcohol burn" in your throat when you swallow some; in fact, there aren't any harsh after-tastes at all ...excuse me for saying this: "it's like YoHoo for adults", but with 14% proof alcohol.

Here's my recommendation on when and how to serve ChocoVine:

When: after women's bridge date, after afternoon tea-sandwiches, etc ...and before or in lieu of dessert. A great surprise and controversial subject that will delight all.

How: I found the most appropriate way to serve ChocoVine is to fill a champagne flute half-way with it and then garnish the glass with a split half strawberry (i.e. cut a strawberry in half; then make a cut in the halved-strawberry so that you can "hang" it on the rim of the glass). ...and sip away!

Notes:

- while men do enjoy ChocoVine, more women than men prefer it; hence, my focus on ChocoVine and women in this article.

- there are also a nice variety of drinks and cocktails you can make with ChocoVine; please visit: www.chocovine.com for a listing of them.

- ChocoVine also has a "fan page" on FaceBook

Bartender or Mixologist?

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Is there a difference between a Bartender and a Mixologist?

Per DR Mixologist, Darryl Robinson, "Since “Mixology” is a common term that has been growing in recent years, the distinction between Bartender and Mixologist has come up for debate among many in the industry. Naturally, this happens since the definition of Mixologist suggests more skill and refinement. However, what’s most important to understand is that the two titles can often be interchanged and each offer a different set of skills.

Generally speaking, a Bartender is a quick thinker, has an understanding of traditional and popular cocktails and can serve many people at once. Whereas a Mixologist is known to hone the craft by focusing more on the art and mixing of cocktails – designing signature cocktails and putting a twist on old favorites. Although some duties are the same, a Mixologist is extremely knowledgeable about the composition of recipes, but pushes the limits of traditional bartending with unique and flavorful combinations in each cocktail creation."

Note: Often referred to as “DR Mixologist”, Darryl Robinson is recognized for his unique and flavorful combinations in each and every one of his cocktail creations. He developed his extraordinary techniques and honed the craft of mixology tending bar at a number of great establishments. Today, he is the host of "Drink Up" on the CookingChannelTV.com ...a "must watch" for any bartender, mixologist, wannabee or other scoundrels!

Volunteers Wanted for CO Whiskey

4bartenders.com (for bartenders, those who want to be and other scoundrels)

As reported by FOX News, a Colorado whiskey distillery is using a unique process to bottle its booze ...Volunteers!

At Stranahans whiskey (www.stranahans.com), there is no bottling machine. Instead, the business brings in volunteers to do all the work.

With the sounds of Johnny Cash pumping in the background, the crew on the assembly line gets about 5,000 bottles of whiskey filled a day.

The volunteer work is so popular there are 900 people on a waiting list. Crew members are randomly chosen with each volunteer getting to go home with a bottle of whiskey.

...I personally like the perks of working for this company; I wonder how long of a wait it is to be a volunteer QC taster?