The Intoxicologist

The Olympic spirit has taken hold of many lately with Vancouver in the spotlight.  The Lucien Gaudin Cocktail below is a classic cocktail named in honor of an Olympic athlete.  According to Encyclopedia Britannica online Lucien Gaudin was an extraordinary classical fencer with amazing control of his fencing blade.  Gaudin won gold and silver medals in multiple Olympic years.  Though the winter Olympics entails sports such as Curling, Figure Skating and Bobsledding, hopefully inspiration from a classic Olympic winner will warm the spirit.

Lucien Gaudin Cocktail

1 part Gin

1/2 part Cointreau

1/2 part Aperol (calls for Campari)

1/2 part Dry Vermouth

Orange Twist Garnish

Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake to blend and chill.  Strain into a cocktail glass.  Garnish with orange twist. 

The original version calls for Campari rather than Aperol.  In my opinion this cocktail details exactly why so much sweetness was added to prohibition era recipes; to cover up bad gin.  These days spirits retain high quality, so there is no need to cover the flavor of the base spirit with so much sweetened liqueur or simple syrup.  This cocktail could easily reduce the Cointreau to 1/4 part and possibly the Aperol as well and become quite delightful.  Otherwise it is entirely too sweet in my book no matter how classic it happens to be.  There is slight drying bitterness in the finish that redeems the flavor nicely.  If that could be carried to the front flavor of the cocktail it would be darling.

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www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

Email: str8upcocktails@gmail.com

Father’s Day is the perfect time to sit back with Dear ‘Ole Dad and reminisce about all the good times, remember when times and times you were let off the hook when he was being oh so generous.  While some Father’s enjoy a hearty glass of Scotch or Bourbon, others enjoy a good old fashioned cocktail or two without veering over to the girly side of imbibing.  There will be no pink frilly drinks for your dad this Father’s Day, but plenty of flawlessly layered cocktails to set the tone for idle chat and relaxation. 

The Happy Dad

1-1/2 ounce Oval Vodka

3/4 ounce Cointreau

1 ounce Campari

Orange twist for garnish

Shake first three ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with orange twist.

London Lemonade

1-1/2 ounce Beefeater Gin

1 ounce Hiram Walker Triple Sec

2 ounces Lemon Juice

1/2 ounce Simple Syrup

Fill a shaker with ice and add ingredients. Shake vigorously for one minute. Pour into a Collins glass. Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.

24 Sour

2 ounces Beefeater 24 Gin

1 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice

1/2 ounce Benedictine

1/2 ounce Simple Syrup

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

1 egg white

Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with an orange wedge and cherry.

Mata Hari Lime Cooler

1-1/2 ounce Absinthe Mata Hari

1 ounce Hiram Walker Triple Sec

3 ounces Fresh Sour Mix

Soda water (to top)

Combine the first three ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake thoroughly and strain into an iced Collins glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a lime slice.

More Ideas for Father’s Day:

·         Tommy Bahama Rum: Father’s Day Classic

·         This Father’s Day Give Dad Something a Little Easier to Raise

·         Highland Park: Remember Quality for Father’s Day

·         Highland Park featured at College World Series whisky tasting

·         Out of this world experience at Spirit World: Glenmorangie, Ardbeg

·         The Macallan: Express Yourself

·         Beam of Passione

·         In Fig-titious Fashion

·         (ri)1 & the Elusive Heering

·         Superior Pursuit

Copyright 2009 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved

As spring turns to summer, longing for a seaside getaway or some poolside “R&R” grows, if only for a mere moment of personal escape and enjoyment.

From the beaches of the spectacular Amalfi Coast to the popular, party-friendly coastal resorts on the Adriatic Riviera and the island beaches of Capri, Sicily or Sardinia, Italian seaside destinations have exemplified summertime indulgence for ages.  And for those Italians, one drink has embodied the summertime essence of “La Dolce Vita” for almost 150 years — Campari, a completely unique, refreshing, bold red, spirit created in the heart of Italy.

Campari and Soda is considered the “must have” for any Italian beach-going excursion.  It is light, thirst quenching and festive.  For a new twist on the classic, try renowned mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim’s “Campari Sangria” to ease you and guests right into summertime. Even if you can’t travel to the beaches of Italy this summer, ice-cold Campari cocktails will carry the spirit of a sun-filled escape to you wherever you happen to be. 

Tony Abou Ganim’s Campari Sangria

2 bottles of red wine, 750 ml each

12 ounces Campari

12 ounces Cointreau

8 ounces simple syrup

12 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice

6 ounces fresh lemon juice

2 broken cinnamon sticks

3-4 lemons cut into thin quarters

12 strawberries, sliced

3-4 small oranges cut into thin quarters

7-UP as needed

Place above ingredients (excluding 7-UP and fresh fruit) into a large glass container, cover and refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve pour into an ice filled pitcher to 2/3 full. Add fresh sliced fruits and top with 7-UP, stir gently to mix. Serve in wineglasses with fresh fruit.

Campari Cherry Infusion

2 Liters Campari

4 Liters SKYY Infusions Citrus

3 pounds Cherries, Stemmed & Lightly Macerated

3/4 pound Dried Apricots

Yields approximately 20 servings.

– Text and cocktails courtesy of The Rose Group, Culver City, CA

House of Campari Continues to Support and Highlight Emerging Artists with a New Exhibition, Artist Commission and Continued Partnerships with Non-profit Arts Organizations

May 28, 2009 2:01 PM CDT-SAN FRANCISCO– (BUSINESS WIRE) — Campari®, the legendary one-of-a-kind spirit, announced today a new range of contemporary art initiatives bolstering its role as both a modern patron and muse for the visual arts. Through its patronage, Campari seeks to support and highlight the work of emerging artists through exhibitions, commissions and programs that inspire dialogue and provide a platform for cutting-edge artists to share their passion. Campari’s support of emerging artists will include a continuation of Campari’s signature House of Campari program, with a Los Angeles exhibition and event series, and a new Campari Commission, a grant designed to showcase a new work by House of Campari alumni and then donated to a major institution. Additionally in 2009, Campari will further its longstanding relationships with leading arts organization partners through support of Artists Space in New York, LAXART in Los Angeles, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, as well as supporting new organizations and institutions through its annual sponsorship program.

“Campari has been both a facilitator and inspiration to cutting-edge, contemporary artists for almost 150 years,” said Julie Galbraith, Brand Manager for Campari. “Now more than ever, artists and organizations need brands like Campari who are bold enough to highlight and support their work, understanding the important role of emerging artists in the visual arts and their greater impact on culture.”

Campari’s acclaimed art posters and creative campaigns have featured the work of numerous accomplished artists throughout the decades including included Rolston, Enrico Sacchetti, Leonetto Cappiello, Fortunato Depero, Milton Glaser, and Bruno Munari, whose original contribution is now part of the New York Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.

House of Campari

House of Campari embodies Campari’s commitment to highlight and celebrate the work of emerging artists. “First Look: An Exhibition of Emerging Artists from Los Angeles Galleries” is the fourth annual group exhibition House of Campari has presented in Los Angeles. The show is a cross-section of up-and-coming artists from some of the city’s most visionary galleries. All the artists in the exhibition have had their first solo exhibition with a Los Angeles gallery in the past season or will have it in the upcoming season. “First Look” features work by Juka Araikawa, Justin Beal, Matt Chambers, Cal Crawford, Noah Davis, Alejandro Diaz, Angela Dufresne, Brad Eberhard, Luis Gispert, Jonathan Hernández, KAWS, Elad Lassry, Gonzalo Lebrija, Mellisa Manfull, My Barbarian, Eamon Ore-Giron, Adrian Paules, Lisi Raskin, Noah Sheldon, Simmons & Burke, Agathe Snow, Mateo Tannatt, Mickalene Thomas, Kaari Upson and Jeffrey Wells.

House of Campari opens at the end of May and continues in Los Angeles into June at 8783 Robertson in West Hollywood. House of Campari features a variety of events co-hosted by cultural and media partners such as the MOCA Contemporaries, LAXART and the LACMA Modern and Contemporary Arts Council. The private events will also feature performance art and musical sets from a range of provocative artists, including Those Darlins, My Barbarian, Port O’Brien and Anya Marina. House of Campari’s title exhibition, “First Look: An Exhibition of Emerging Artists from Los Angeles Galleries” will be open to the public for gallery hours from May 30 through June 14, including the Avenues of Art and Design’s Annual Art and Design Walk on May 30.

Campari Commissions

This year also marks the third year of the Campari Commissions Initiative. Each year, Campari awards a commissioning grant to an artist featured in the previous year’s group exhibition. The goals of the Campari Commissions Initiative are to provide financial support for emerging artists to create significant new works of art, provide exhibition opportunities for showing the work and then to donate the artworks to appropriate museum collections. The 2009 Campari Commission for Los Angeles has been awarded to Andrew Schoultz. Schoultz was featured in the House of Campari Los Angeles group show in 2007 as well as the House of Campari New York group show and a House of Campari exhibition in Miami for Art Basel Miami Beach, both in 2007. His newly created work, “Ten Thousand Leaves in Darkness,” is on view at House of Campari Los Angeles during the run of “First Look: An Exhibition of Emerging Artists from Los Angeles Galleries” and his solo show at Roberts & Tilton, “White Noise and Silence: New Paintings and Drawings,” will be on display from June 13 until August 1, 2009. Previous commissions were awarded to Nathan Mabry of Los Angeles and Valerie Hegarty of New York in 2007, and Mickalene Thomas of New York in 2008. The Mabry commission was donated to the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles and the Hegarty commission was donated to the Brooklyn Museum. The Thomas commission was recently donated to the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).

“SFMOMA is pleased to accept Campari’s donation of Mickalene Thomas’s ‘Sista Sista Lady Blue’ to our permanent collection,” said Sandra S. Phillips, the museum’s senior curator of photography. “This photograph was made here in San Francisco, and we are delighted that Campari has chosen SFMOMA to receive the gift. We applaud Campari for supporting emerging artists through commissions that also benefit cultural institutions.”

Supporting Contemporary Art Organizations

Campari has also continued its ongoing support to create customized arts experiences for various communities through its relationships with Artists Space in New York, LAXART in Los Angeles, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. In addition, Campari will be providing support to other non-profit arts organizations and institutions throughout the year. In the last few months, Campari has supported events and programs for The Aqua Art Fair; The New Museum’s Triennial: Younger than Jesus, The Studio Museum of Harlem’s Birth of Cool Exhibition; Elton John AIDS Foundation Photography Portfolio Preview; Art Production Fund; and Performa’s Metal Ball.

For more information, including a detailed schedule of events, please visit www.CampariUSA.com.

About Campari

Bold, passionate and completely unique, Campari makes a dry and refreshing cocktail that can be enjoyed anytime. Hand-crafted according to the same secret family recipe invented in Italy in 1860, Campari is a unique blend obtained from the infusion of bitter herbs, aromatic plants and fruit in alcohol and water. With its distinct color, aroma and flavor, Campari has always been a symbol of passion - passion that expresses itself in terms of seduction and sensuality.. Campari’s patronage of the arts reflects the modern spirit of the brand as stylish, distinctive and creative.

About Skyy Spirits, LLC

Skyy Spirits, LLC is the US-based wholly owned subsidiary of Gruppo Campari (Reuters CPRI.MI - Bloomberg CPR IM) and the definitive marketer and distributor of super-premium and luxury spirits brands in North America. Launched in 1992 with the introduction of its flagship brand, SKYY® Vodka, Skyy Spirits has grown exponentially, building a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers. Skyy Spirits manages Gruppo Campari’s portfolio in the US of such leading brands as SKYY® Vodka, SKYY90®, SKYY InfusionsTM, Campari®, Cabo Wabo® Tequila, Ouzo 12®, X-Rated® Fusion Liqueur® and Jean-Marc XO Vodka®. Skyy Spirits is also the exclusive US distributor of Cutty Sark® Scotch Whisky, The Glenrothes® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Auchentoshan® Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glen Garioch® Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Flor de Caña® Rum, Carolans Irish Cream®, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey®, Irish Mist® Liqueur, Midori® Melon Liqueur, ZEN Green Tea Liqueur TM and The Yamazaki® Single Malt Whisky.

Skyy Spirits was founded and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. More information on the company can be found at www.skyyspirits.com and www.camparigroup.com. Please enjoy Skyy Spirits brands responsibly and in moderation.

About Gruppo Campari

Gruppo Campari is a major player in the global beverage sector, trading in over 190 nations around the world with a leading position in the Italian and Brazilian markets and a strong presence in the USA and Continental Europe. The Group has an extensive portfolio that spans three business segments: spirits, wines and soft drinks. In the spirits segment its internationally renowned brands, such as Campari and SKYY Vodka, stand out. It also has leading regional brands including Aperol, Cabo Wabo, CampariSoda, Cynar, Glen Grant, Ouzo 12, X-Rated, Zedda Piras and the local Brazilian brands Dreher, Old Eight and Drury’s. Its wine segment boasts the global brand Cinzano, as well as important regional brands including Liebfraumilch, Mondoro, Odessa, Riccadonna, Sella & Mosca and Teruzzi & Puthod. The soft drinks segment comprises the non-alcoholic aperitif Crodino and Lemonsoda as well as its respective line extension dominating the Italian market. The Group employs 2,000 people. The shares of the parent company, Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI - Bloomberg CPR IM), are listed on the Italian Stock Exchange. www.camparigroup.com

The Rose Group

Lauren Lundy / Brody Brown

310-280-3710

Lauren@therosegrp.com  / Brody@therosegrp.com

More Campari/SKYY Spirits News from The Intoxicologist:

·         Campari Acquires Wild Turkey, World’s Number 1 Premium Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

·         SKYY Infusions™ Say Aloha to Pineapple

·         Videos: Campari Campaign Ads – Seductive, Distinctive…Red Passion