Bar Institute NYC & Diageo World Class

This week Bartender Journey is excited to announce we attended Bar Institute National  in New York City this week!

It's the Bartender Journey Podcast number 189!  Listen with the audio player on this page, or subscribe on iTunes, Android or Stitcher Radio.

On Monday before Bar Institute, we attended Diageo World Class Labs. This is an awesome opportunity as Diageo World Class is listed as the top international cocktail competitions*. This competition can literally change your life. 

• For US entrants, you must meet be a USBG member and attend a Live World Class Studios Seminar.
  
• ​Through World Class you can get a free 30 day USBG membership which allows you to get your application in.  If you decide to keep your USBG membership after that, it.s only $125/year, which is a real bargain, but that’s a subject for another day.
  
• For nonUS entrants, you can complete education requirements either by attending a Live World Class Studios Seminar  or accessing online education.

*As per the Spirits Business. 

Next stop was Bar Institute at Pier A Harbor House, in Manhattan, right next to where the ferry leaves for the Statue of Liberty.

​Bar Institute offers educational classes and evening programming while allowing you to network with fellow industry peers. Additionally, there are Bar Mashups (where two bar teams create a new concept) and Upfronts (showcasing top bars that embody the latest trends).

New in 2016 is a certification offered in the tracks of Bar Ownership and Management, Consulting and Ambassadorship and Advanced Bartending and Technique. 

The Loft floor featured exhibitions and there we met Kevin Vanegas, National Brand Ambassador for Herradura Tequila. We talk to Kevin about their production, flavor profile and their new cocktail competition. On The Road to the Hacienda Challenge!

Brian Weber and Kevin Vanegas, National Brand Ambassador for Herradura Tequila

​For more pics, videos and a write up from Bar Institute, visit our Bartender Journey Facebook page.  Thanks to Hazel for this!

Brian will be competing the Diplomatico World Tournament semi-final with his drink "Sima" on 11/20/16.    Wish him luck!

Book of the Week:
A Proper Drink: The Untold Story of How a Band of Bartenders Saved the Civilized Drinking World by Robert Simonson.

​Robert takes us through the craft cocktail revival over the past two decades through the personal stories of bars, bartenders,  patrons and visionaries. Filled with modern classic recipes and their origins, A Proper Drink invites you to learn how we got here and where the craft cocktail industry is headed.

Cocktail of the Week:
Bourbon Stone Sour
A Stone Sour is a Sour with the addition of Orange Juice-Freshly Squeezed preferred!

• 2 oz Bourbon
• 1 oz Orange Juice
• ¾ oz Lemon Juice
• ½ Simple Syrup
  Shake with ice.  Pour into an Old Fashioned glass filled with fresh ice. Garish with a piece of Orange and a Cherry.

Toast of the Week:
My friends are the best friends

Loyal, willing and able.
Now let’s get to drinking!
All glasses off the table!
!

Sunset at Pier A during Bar Institute 2016. Statue of Liberty in the distance.