Posts Tagged ‘Awards’

If you're not a full on cocktail geek, the list of finalists for the Tales of the Cocktail 5th Annual Spirited Awards might be a bit more info than you really need.

On the other hand, you may discover some awesome bar and restaurants in your neck of the woods – or somewhere you plan to visit this summer.

You'll also make note of some of the more respected cocktail writers and books of the past year.

Tales of the Cocktail is the premier cocktail event for cocktail enthusiasts everywhere, held annually in New Orleans, Lousiana.

Are you planning to attend TofC this year?

I'm no expert so I'll let this one speak for itself. The title is: Galaxy's centre tastes of raspberries and smells of rum, say astronomers. While the article is pretty cool, more interesting to me is the Center of the Galaxy cocktail by Martin Cate, who was inspired by the news report. And yes, it features rum and raspberry syrup, among other things.

If I could choose, I'd wish the centre of the galaxy tasted like pizza.

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For your pleasure dear reader, some of the cool and interesting links I ran across last week:

Cocktailians.com has come up with a homemade, flight-legal cocktail kit for those of us who can't bear to fly without being able to put together a decent cocktail. Check out Cocktails at 35,000 Feet. It's quite clever.

If you're reading this, you're likely reading several other cocktail blogs, too. Take a look at the 6 nominees for best cocktail blog in the 2nd annual Saveur Best Food Blog Awards.

Like Tiki drinks? Like Campari? Ever though of combining the tow? The folks at A Mountain of Crushed Ice blog have, and they've shared three recipes featuring Campari in Tiki drinks.

While we're on the subject of Campari, Josh at Post Prohibition did a little piece about the differences between Campari and Aperol (a favourite of mine), which includes two original recipes that are quite tasty indeed.

The Kentucky Derby is less than a week away, which means it's time to polish up your Mint Julep making skills. If you plan on siting back and having them made for you, Imbibe has written up a list of 6 spots where you can score a perfectly made Mint Julep.

If you like it spicy, get ready for Ghost Face Killa, the world's hottest beer. It will be a limited release from Twisted Pine Brewing, including ghost peppers (rated at over 1 million heat units on the Scoville scale.). So get a line on some now, if you really want to feel the heat.

The White Oaks Resort & Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake recently hosted the 2010 InterVin International Wine Awards.

“Value is always front of mind for wine lovers,” says Christopher Waters, editor of VINES Magazine and head judge of the InterVin International Wine Awards. “For casual consumers and connoisseurs alike, there’s endless interest in knowing which wines are both amazing and affordable.”

With that remark in mind, the following is for those of you interested in diving into something new but without a hefty price tag. Here are the 28 winners of the Best Value Award, in alphabetical order for your convenience. All of them retail for $15 or less.

Montecillo 2006 Crianza, LCBO 144493, 750 mL, $14.95

Aliança 2006 Vista TR Tinta Roriz, Portugal

Barefoot Cellars Pinot Grigio, California, United States

Barefoot Cellars Moscato, California, United States

Bodegas Montecillo 2006 Crianza, Rioja, Spain

Bodegas Osborne 2007 Solaz Tempranillo/Cabernet Sauvignon, Castilla, Spain

Calona Vineyards 2009 Artist Series Gewürztraminer, British Columbia, Canada

Castillo de Monseran 2008 Garnacha, Aragon, Spain

Chivite 2009 Gran Feudo Rosado, Navarra, Spain

Creekside Estate Winery 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Ontario, Canada

Coyote’s Run Estate Winery 2009 Unoaked Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula, Canada

Gustav Adolf Schmitt 2008 Niersteiner Spätlese Late Harvest, Rheinhessen, Germany

Hernder Estate Winery Iced Raspberry, Ontario, Canada

Hillebrand Winery 2009 Trius Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula, Canada

Hob Nob Cellars 2008 Pinot Noir Vin de Pays d’Oc, France

J. Garcia Carrion 2007 Antaño Crianza, Rioja, Spain

Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate 2009 Black Series Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula, Canada

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate 2008 Proprietors’ Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Okanagan Valley, Canada

Loron & Fils 2009 Montvallon Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay, Burgundy, France

McWilliam’s 2009 Hanwood Estate Pinot Grigio, South Eastern Australia, Australia

McWilliam’s 2009 J.J. McWilliam Shiraz Cabernet, South Eastern Australia, Australia

McWilliam’s 2008 Hanwood Estate Shiraz, South Eastern Australia, Australia

Muskoka Lakes Winery 2009 Cranberry Wine, Ontario, Canada

Nugan Estate 2008 Cookoothama Shiraz, Darlington Point, Australia

Remy Pannier 2009 Anjou, Loire Valley, France

Stoney Ridge Estate Winery 2009 Charlotte’s Chardonnay Unoaked, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula

Viña Concha y Toro 2009 Casillero del Diablo Shiraz Reserva, Rapel Valley, Chile

Viña Concha y Toro 2009 Frontera Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile

Yalumba 2007 Y Series Shiraz Viognier, South Australia, Australia

Watch for The National Post’s special InterVin feature section, Drinks Quarterly, on Saturday, Nov. 13. Full results will be posted online at intervin.ca on the same day.