Cocktail of the Week, (and Brian Weber’s entry in the Real McCoy contest):
Three Miles Off Shore

• 1 oz Real McCoy 3 Year Old Silver Rum
• 1 oz Real McCoy 5 Year Old Aged Rum 
• 1/2 oz Campari
• 1 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice (strained)
• 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice (strained)
• 3/4 oz Simple Syrup (1:1)
• 5 drops Bar 40 Salt Bitters
• 5 drops Bar 40 Sour Bitters

Shake with ice.  Double strain into a chilled Coupe glass.

The Bar Institute is a structured educational program for bar professionals.  It began as Portland Cocktail Week and but beginning in 2016 they started “taking the show on the road”.  Bar Institute is visiting five cities throughout this year.
It the Bartender Journey Podcast Number 161.  Listen with the audio player on this page or:

• Subscribe on iTunes
• Listen on Stitcher Radio
• Subscribe on Android

I recently attended Bar Institute in Baltimore.  It was an amazing event – very educational and a lot of fun!  The classes were enlightening and inspirational.  The presenters were all fabulous and seemed genuinely happy to be sharing their knowledge.  The classes were small, and there were many to choose from.
Bar Institute isn’t just classes – there are tasting rooms and parties as well.  In Baltimore Woodford Reserve, Jagermeister & Gentleman Jack sponsored awesome events for the attendees.

Cocktail of the Week:
Burn To Shine

• 1 1/2 oz Copper & Kings American Brandy
• 1/2 oz Dolin Sweet Vermouth
• 1/4 oz Cynar
• 3 Roasted Grapes
• Bar spoon Apricot Preserves
• Small pinch Sea Salt
• 1 Dash Angostura Orange Bitters
• 1/2 oz Copper & Kings Reserve Casks Brandy (Overproof)
  

Muddle Grapes, Preserves, Salt & Bitters.  Add Aged Brandy, Vermouth & Cynar.  Shake with ice.  Double strain into a coupe glass.  Served with Overproof Brandy & 3 additional Roasted Grapes on side.  Invite guest to add a “little burn to you shine!” by pour the Overproof spirit into the cocktail.
I entered this recipe in the Copper & Kings American Brandy’s MixTape competition and was selected as a semi-finalist.
 
Book of the Week:
Bourbon Curious. A Simple Tasting Guide for the Savvy Drinker.  By Fred Minnick.
Toast of the Week:
May the winds of fortune sail you,
May you sail a gentle sea.
May it always be the other guy
who says, "this drink's on me."


Listen with the audioplayer on this page or
·     Subscribe on iTunes
·     Listen on Stitcher Radio
·     Subscribe on Android

We’ll briefly give an overview about how these competitions work and then talk with Lynn House, National Brand Ambassador for Heaven Hill at the NY regional finals of their Bartender of the Year competition. The event was held at Analog on 8th Street in Manhattan,directly across the street from Electric Lady Studios, founded by Jimi Hendrix.  So we will get some insight into the mind of a Bartending Competition Judge from the wonderful Lynn House.

We talk to Kate Large, brand ambassador for Copper & Kings American Brandy.  They have a great cocktail competition, but the deadline is soon!

Breaking news!  The deadline for The Mix Tape Competition has been extended!  April 15, 2016 is the new deadline, so get to copperandkings.com/themixtape to learn about it, or find the link on the Bartender Journey –Competitions page.  We talk with Kate Large about the contest and Copper & Kings American Brandy.

Cocktail of the Week:
Jan Collins
Created by Diageo World Class USA Winner 2013, Jeff Bell

• 1 oz Vodka
• 1/2 oz Orange Liqueur
• 3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 oz Simple Syrup
• 1 oz Seltzer

Shake all ingredients except Seltzer.  Add Seltzer to mixing tin.  Strain into Highball glass filled with ice.  Garnish with Cherry & Orange Slice.
(Note:  I cheated and used Gin instead of Vodka.  I used Ingenium Gin from New England Distilling which is a lovely funky, grassy gin.  But with vodka this is also delicious, refreshing and approachable).