Classic rock, costumes and cocktails got (re)mixed at NYC's best bar
Sometimes we take cocktail culture a little too seriously; apparently, Appleton Estate agrees. The Jamaican rum company is sponsoring a nationwide "Remixology" Bartender's Challenge, featuring four cities' top mixologists creating new drinks with Appleton Estate rum. And the remixology part? Each bartender has to use ingredients inspired by their favorite song.
On Monday, the New York semifinals took place at Clover Club in Brooklyn, featuring an all-star line-up of contestants—Brent Lambert (RDV), Brian Miller (Death and Co.), Tomas Delos Reyes (The Boom Boom Room at the Standard Hotel), Lindsay Nader (PDT) and Lynette Marrero (Rye House)—and judges (Willy Shine and Aisha Sharpe of Contemporary Cocktails, and Julie Reiner of Clover Club). The end result was a bit like "Cocktail" (the movie) meets "American Idol"— the costumed contestants mixed, danced and imbibed to the sounds of the Beastie Boys, Billy Ocean, the Eagles, Pavement, the Beach Boys and more. Brian Miller took first place, thanks to an inventive mix of Three Dog Night ("Shambala"), some wacky facial hair and his rum-infused take on a Negroni, which called an East India Trading Company. You can find all of the contestants' recipes and song choices here, and watch for more info on the U.S. finals, also taking place in NYC, at the end of the month.
