Trendspotting!

Serious on … Single Malt

Hi again fellow Cocktailers!

It seems that these days everyone is  quite  taken by all sorts of sweet  and fruity concoctions when it comes to The Cocktail.  Not for me.  Let’s take a brief departure for a few minutes and discuss my personal fave  … Single Malt Scotch.  And my latest find in particular … a smokey  pick that  will get your crowd talking for sure (trust me on this one Guys and Gals).  What do I love about Single Malt?  The personality behind every sip… the sense of history and the timeless spirit behind each taste.  I  am slightly biased, agreed … as I spent summers as a teen brat at our family home in the Scottish highlands -- and I am a self-admitted old soul … but bare with me, my friends!  This is not about a  trend … we’re talking about true appreciation for a technique of cocktail creation that has been perfected over hundreds of years! 

Each  distillery has its own  oh-so-subtle character – it’s like getting to know a new side of an old friend with each sip … a new discovery, an appreciation for something that you never knew (or imagined) existed.  YUM!  How to enjoy?  Let each golden drop of the godlike juice sit in your mouth for 30 seconds before swallowing.  Feel your mouth and then throat warm  up, maybe even become a little numb … it’s all good!  After a few sips the buzz arrives, and you’ll never be tempted by anything else!  Now, my fave lately … a gem called Laphroig … smokey, woodsy, full of odour that can be sensed  (for better or worse) from tables away …  WOW is all I can say.  Agreed, not for everyone … but for those admitted Cocktail Snobs who can truly appreciate something special and unique, take a taste – and let me know what you think (drop me a note at rwalker@cocktailvibe.com). 

Cheers !

Rone W.

Pub Culture

Greetings everyone!  It’s been a while since I’ve written – apologies all over … my book has taken the best of me but will be on the shelves soon, fingers crossed!

During a quick few days  in London last month, my fab publishers re-introduced me to  a side of Cocktail Culture that to be honest with you, I have ignored for years (shame on me, too much time spent in the (zzzz) lounges of Ibiza lately )… glorious Pub Culture which is such an amazingly core part of UK living!  If you’ve not taken some time to stroll the cobblestone side streets of SOHO, GO GO GO … love it.  It’s buzzing, it’s so alive and incredibly vibrant.  SO much fun.  Why?  Take a close look at what’s going on … the Brits love their beer, agreed.  But as a crowd in general, they are a lovely bunch of chatterboxes … a gabbing group that loves a get together (whether it’s a family roast on Sunday night or an escape to the pub after work )… they sit and catch up, they take time to hear what’s going on. 

So social, so much chit-chat.  And the best place to watch it all in motion is any neighbourhood pub.  Who’s in a rush?  To get where?  As long as a pint is in hand, everyone’s happy.  Find your fave local spot, pull up a stool and you’re in great shape.  Especially if you happen to be in SOHO - my best boutique finds are minutes away on Bond Street!  Have fun and keep the tab running…

Rule Britannia ; )

Jade

Mix and Match

Sorry guys and gals, it's been a while since we've come to you with our top pics of what's hot and what's not.  For now, let's focus on the BLEND.  Transition. Mix-and-match pretty much sums it up. What does this mean in our world of cocktailing?  Well, let's switch gears a bit and focus on the bigger picture - wining and dining.

For a while there we were a little worried as we saw all go minimal.  Then we saw the trend scene move along the lines of Philippe Starck and his ultra sexy habit of going old-world and vintage-glam on us.  Like it still, but today's scene is more about keeping it simple, mixing in some old and new, and daring to bring in some personality.  Old world works - but don't be scared to invite actual OLD STUFF into the mix. Mix in a vintage wooden tray with some super mod cocktail gear or perhaps some hand blown cocktail vessels that have been blown in Murano ... perhaps last week or maybe last century.  It all works. Not only does it work but it adds some spice to YOUR cocktail table, and a little bit of spice goes a long way.

We see this trend emerging all over.  A real mix of old and new, borders reinvented and spirits celebrated.  Love that vintage set of wine goblets that Grandma passed down?  Bring it on ... indulgence is in.  Minimalism and overtly-Euro influences of screaming simplicity are being shown their way out.  Antique deep cut crystal Scotch glasses?  Let's take a look.  Wine a-la-old-world.  Love it.  It all has a sense of history ... which we find fascinating.  Find those accoutrements for the bar that have a sense of time and purpose.  Mix and match the colors and relish the personality behind it all.  Make sense?  

Cheers as always,

Rone W.

Vintage Chic

Yes, that’s right guys and gals, Vintage is chic! We’ve spotted the trend in hotspots all over the place -- so listen up if you want to stay ahead of the cocktailing curve… And don’t be intimidated – it’s easy to pull off!

Think glitz. Not disco ball glitz – we’re talking turn of the century grand-is-good type thing Let the old times roll … let’s be kings and queens for an eve...bring it on! Imagine a big ol’ castle hidden somewhere in the hills of Bavaria, full of low-hanging mega crystal chandeliers, deep etched crystal all over the place, Mozart the tune of choice...now bump up the vibe to the here-and-now and you are set, my friend. Easy. So – Mozart gets a little re-mix thanks to an in-the-know DJ in SoBe, the deep etched crystal accoutrements make a sneak peak in some hot CocktailVibe Lounge Rocks glasses, those wayyyy hot Ghost goodies, and of course those million dollar Lucern babies (love the chunky gold – sooooo hot, love it)...and scattered around your cocktail table are bunches of the super-cool bling bling diamonds I just spotted on CocktailVibe. Glitz is covered. Slip those super chic CocktailVibe Crocc Coasters (gold or silver, take your pic) under your yummy cocktail concoctions. Of course, cocktails are served on some fabulous gold or silver tray. Easy – you have made your splash.

You will be the talk of the town, trust us. Try it out and shoot us a note – and we love pics!

Cheers,

Rone W.

Cocktailing Goes Green!

Bamboo – LOVE it. So chic, so runway, and soooooo green it is not even funny. I was at my friend Shane’s pad in Aspen last week...she had a few of her closest stop by for some nibbles before we headed out to Nobu (our pick in town)...and of course, I spotted some chic toys from CocktailVibe!!We sat outside, and what better way to serve up Boysenberry Spritzers (in Vienna Flutes no less...love that texture and slick shape) than on one of those fab long bamboo trays.OK, I’ll fess up – I surprised Shane with the tray for her birthday last May and she has not stopped thanking me since...). Pick your color...they are all hot. Pull out some bamboo snack bowls, grab a great mix of olives from your local gourmet shop (skip the bottled stuff, please!)...grab something sweet (e.g., candied hazelnuts - yum), something spicy (find some jalapeno stuffed olives), something salty (seaweed snaps, so perfect)...the secret of any good bar snack.

Find a few fun bowls, mix and match. And kick up the green thing with one of those SO green Leaf Votives from CocktailVibe. What spells GREEN more than one of those gems? Next, throw in a set of Kamra Cocktail Plates...set of 4 with amaaaaaaazing pics of nature – and you are there. Give each guest a different one and you have pulled it off.

No need for thanks...just pics...please!

Jade

Of Tequila, Reds, and Port

Greetings, fellow cocktailers!

As you might have noticed, we've recently revamped our site to make it a little more user-friendly. We've also added a ton of new product, content, specials ... all of which will hopefully bring the amazing world of high end cocktailing into your homes.

That being said, we wanted to share with you some trends we've spotted in the cocktail scene. Various CocktailVibe crew members have visited some great bars around the world recently. We've analyzed the cocktail experience, spotted some themes, and generally observed what is going on. Here are our thoughts...

1. Tequila! It's hot. It is, perhaps, today's Martini. Not that Martinis have gone anywhere, but tequila has come into its own. Patron - the drink of choice chez nous. We love the brand. We recently threw a bash where we featured an uplit Patron bar next to an ice luge ... with rows of our Miami Shot Trays in queue, holding our infamous Sexy Shots. Guests lined up, slid the balled beauties under the ice, filled up and partied. The best thing about tequila these days is that it has emerged beyond local cantinas, and can be paired with great canapés as a sip of choice, with loud house music in the background as the life of the party, or as a high end ingredient for some great mixed drinks (our favorite is ...)
   
   
2. Red Wine! OK, it's been around for ... hundreds of years. But it has come down to earth in recent years. Forget the fancy stems. Don't be tricked into thinking that what is expensive is good, or what is good must be expensive. Rules out the door, advanced cocktailers know that the focus should be on the taste and nothing else. Grab a tumbler and pour (trend in hotspots across Europe - drink wine out of a juice glass!!). What we love about the wine thing altogether is the fact that it is a bev that you can consume with a pal or two ... intimately ... keeping glasses filled, as if you personally are taking care of your fellow drinker. Empty the bottle and feel the sense of companionship, of completion. Maybe even save the cork as a memory... While white wine can share many of these traits, this team of cocktailers love the deep full bodied look of reds. OK, a bit shallow on our part, but drinking a rich colored gulp of the stuff just makes you feel ... well ... rich! Look out for hip and cool wine bars popping up all over the place. The trend has been spotted...
   
   
3. Port!  Along the lines of reds... we love Port and see it making a mainstream comeback. It is an after-dinner indulgence for sure. Pre-dinner gulps are perfect to get the party going. After-dinner gulps set the chilled vibe that leaves a great taste in your guest's mouth. One of our most favorite and popular toys for years has been our Urban Port ... and we are coming out with two very hot designs for fall aimed solely at the Port scene.

Until next time,

Love Your Cocktail...

Rone W.

Eurospottings

After returning from a whirlwind trip through Paris, London, Milan and Hong Kong … with the sole purpose of TRENDSPOTTING … I’ve put together a short list of themes I’ve noted, styles that look great, color groupings that seem to stick, and overall trends that I think will flow into the US market.  I want to share them with you!  Here we go.

1. Metallics.  Without a doubt, this was the biggest trend spotted throughout Europe.  Silvers, golds, bronzes … all sorts of upscale shine.  But subtle metallics. Not as much “in your face” golds and silvers.  Metallics applied in unexpected ways and injected into various color schemes.  Great for holidays but also as a staple going forward.
2. Greens.  Not traditional emerald, chartreuse, etc… but more safari-esque greens with a little glitz thrown in.  Deep, rich greens … khaki, olive, lime … perhaps with some gold thrown in to add some up-market sophistication to what otherwise might come across as organic.  Green is always a great color with food and drink, one of the easiest sells across the board.
3. Orange.  Yes, this has always been my color of choice but it does seem to be popping up, finally, in various forms.  This season we’ve seen a lot of muted, deep oranges.  Not as much jarring tangerine (which is still great as a color pop).  Orange with tan, honey, taupe, beige and cream, again with metallic gold trims.  We’ve even seen drops of sky blue in this mix. FYI, this is always a color that gets people feeling good…
4. Black.  We would say that it’s back, but it’s never really been gone!  But over the next 12 months, based on some great styles we’ve seen … we’re expecting more creative applications of black than the typical black and white mix.  Black-on-black, charcoal with black, all mixed with metallic silvers, stainless, etc… are all on the horizon.  Hints of gothic (moving on from the baroque chandelier style that we’ve seen over the past year) are there…Think drama.

Granted, high styles from the world’s trend capitals won’t necessarily be no-brainers in all parts of the US, but hopefully this helps you think somewhat outside-of-the box and put together some great cocktail parties for Fall!

Hope to see you this summer in Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York! Until then, keep innovating…

Rone W.