Bar, nightclub and restaurant operators, managers, bartenders and other staff members have a lot to keep tabs on. From every day operations tasks to new product releases to spirit, beer, wine, cocktail and food trends, keeping on top of bar and nightlife news each week can be a project in and of itself.
That’s where we come in. To make things that much easier for you we’ve put together a detailed rundown of what happened this week that you should know. You need to know what international products are finally being distributed throughout America, what innovations are being made in glassware and bar and kitchen products, what and when music streaming services are featuring a new album, and so much more. In life, knowledge is power. In this business, knowledge is dollars.
Tito keeps giving back, and the world is a better place for it.
Tito’s Handmade Vodka has partnered with Miracle Foundation to launch a Father’s Day campaign encouraging people to say #CheersToDad by buying their father or father figure a virtual drink. Miracle Foundation is a non-profit organization that empowers orphans to reach their full potential.
Unlike a tie, power tool or other typical Father’s Day present, purchasing a virtual drink through this link gives you the opportunity to make a donation in your father’s (or, again, father figure’s) name to support children without parents. That tax-deductible donation will be matched by Tito’s Handmade Vodka and other donors, up to $100,000, and an email will be sent to the recipient of the virtual gift informing them that a donation was made in their name.
These are the gift levels available:
- $20: Buy a dad a “virtual” drink (and you, too!)
- $50: Buy a dad the “virtual” bottle
- $100: Buy dad & friends a “virtual” round
- $300: Buy the whole bar a “virtual” drink!
Tito's has also created a cocktail recipe for this campaign,Tito's Miracle Mule. Enjoy!
- 1.5 oz Tito's Handmade Vodka
- 2.5 oz Ginger beer
- 0.5 oz Fresh orange juice
- 0.25 oz Fresh lime juice
Fill copper mug with crushed ice. Add all ingredients and serve.
For the beer lovers, bargoers and bicyclists.
Fans of Stiegl’s cloudy, tangy and crisp Grapefruit Radler rejoice – Zitrone (Lemon) Radler has arrived in the United States! Zitrone is a mixture of signature Stiegl Goldbräu lager and real lemon juice, producing a sparkling, tart radler with citrus on the nose. This summertime patio sipper is supremely sessionable at just 2% ABV, meaning you and your guests can enjoy more than one Zitrone responsibly while spending time with friends. And with just 175 calories per 16-ounce can, active, health-conscious guests will love ordering a Zitrone after a workout, hike, climb, surf or swim. We’ve tried Stiegl Zitrone Lemon Radler and it quickly became a favorite brew.
Some of your guests may be surprised to learn that “radler” is the German word for “cyclists.” Why would this sort of brew be named after bicyclists? There are athletes who bike the Alps who prefer a radler to water or energy drinks to stay hydrated, which is also why radlers are sometimes called “bicycle beer.” The next time a group of bicycle enthusiasts walks through your doors, hit them with that nugget of trivia! Visit Glunz Imports to learn more about stocking Stiegl Zitrone at your bar.
Summer in a bottle.
Watermelon is one of the defining flavors of summer. It signals the arrival of warm, care-free days and speaks to the season itself. And Seagram’s Vodka is poised to help bartenders capture the spirit of summer with the latest addition to their lineup: Seagram’s Juicy Watermelon Vodka. Sweet, juicy, refreshing and eminently mixable, Juicy Watermelon pairs well with pools, barbecues, patios and rooftops. Click here for a couple of recipes to get you started.
But wait – there’s more watermelon!
Monin has your back this summer when it comes to creating mouthwatering cocktails, mocktails and sparklers that beat the heat. The gourmet flavoring producer’s Classic Watermelon Syrup transforms ordinary beverages into innovative creations. Monin Watermelon Fruit Puree imbues your beverages with the taste of ripe, juicy, sweet watermelon. Freshen your menu and deliver the taste of summer with Monin’s watermelon flavorings. Try these two recipes from Monin, one featuring Classic Watermelon Syrup and one for Watermelon Fruit Puree:
Watermelon Peach Lemonade
- 0.5 oz. Monin Classic Watermelon Syrup
- 0.5 oz. Monin Peach Syrup
- 7 oz. Lemonade
Watermelon Bourbon Julep
- 1 oz. Monin Watermelon Fruit Puree
- 5 to 6 mint leaves
- 2 oz. Premium bourbon
- Top with club soda
Watermelon isn’t the only iconic summer flavor.
Coconut also tastes like summer, and Chicago brewing company Two Brothers is preparing to launch a beer brewed with coconut water and toasted coconut. Two Brothers Brewing Company Pahoehoe Coconut Ale features a sweet coconut aroma with hints of vanilla and citrus. Pahoeoe also delivers generous coconut flavor balanced by a malt backbone, smooth, creamy texture, and dry, refreshing finish. Looks like we’ve found the beer you’ll be sipping all summer!
Is there a sour beer that works for the summer?
Absolutely! Rogue Ales & Spirits first announced Paradise Pucker in 2016 in Hawaii as a small-batch brew. Due to the popularity of Paradise Pucker in Hawaii, Rogue is bringing it to the mainland. This summertime sour ale was inspired by the combination of orange, guava and passionfruit juices, a classic, refreshing and tropical beverage in Hawaii. Paradise Pucker , a golden sour ale that strikes a balance between tartness, mild hop bitterness, and citrus and tropical fruit notes, weighs in at 6.0% ABV and 5 IBU. You can find it near you through Rogue’s Beer Finder.
Another weekend, another amazing wine holiday.
The second Saturday of June is National Rosé Day, and Wine Awesomeness has come up with two wonderful ways to celebrate this weekend. First, they’ve added a South African rosé to their portfolio. Lekker Rosé is dry and flavorful with notes of fresh strawberry, rose petals and minerality. Lekker, by the way, roughly means “cool,” “great,” and “awesome,” in English.
They’ve also created a lekker way to celebrate National Rosé Day: the Rosé Water Gun. Yes, this simple DIY project sounds exactly like what it is – a way to combine a water gun and a bottle of rosé. You’ll find the instructions here on Wine Awesomeness’ Back Label website. Looks like they’ve come up with the toy of the summer this year!
All of the flavor and high-quality ingredients, none of the GMOs.
Jordan Silbert, founder of the carbonated mixers that we all know and love, Q Drinks, has announced that the entire range has been certified non-GMO. The certification handed down by the Non-GMO Project means that Q Drink’s full lineup contains no genetically modified organisms in its production. Today’s health-conscious customer will thank you for building cocktails with these non-GMO mixers.
“When I started Q Drinks, my goal was to make the world's best carbonated mixers. And it was obvious that if I wanted my mixers to complement the finest spirits, I needed to source the finest ingredients.” said Silbert. “So, we use only real ingredients from real trees and plants, including real quinine from real trees, real ginger from real ginger root, and organic agave instead of high fructose corn syrup or sugar. This non-GMO certification was the natural progression for Q Drinks. We’re thrilled that we were able to do it and our fans and the retailers, bars and restaurants that serve them have been incredibly enthusiastic as well.”
This non-GMO certification comes just in time for World Gin Day. Q Tonic Water was the first flavor created by Silbert, and it’s perfect for the classic Gin & Tonic.
Make your back bar great again.
American premium handcrafted potato vodka brand Blue Ice Vodka is proud to announce their new packaging, available just in time for summer. The modern aesthetic of the new design – inspired by pre-Prohibition Era bottles – speaks to the brand’s authenticity and heritage. The exterior is smooth and simple, the necks are long to make pouring easier, and the label communicates that Blue Ice Vodka is gluten free. This new packaging is sure to grab guests’ attention and make your back bar more beautiful.
I’m on a boat!
And it’s a yacht, it’s built for racing, and I’m sipping Mouton Cadet on that boat. Best-selling Bordeaux wine brand Mouton Cadet has been announced as the official wine of the 35th America’s Cup, yacht racing’s most exciting event. If your bar or restaurant is known as a sports destination, located on a beach or pier, or is otherwise ocean-side, you know the heritage of the America’s Cup. This competition represents the chase for the oldest trophy in international sports, and Mouton Cadet’s approachable, reasonably priced Bordeaux wines are great for sipping while watching yachts battle for the Cup.
Want to speak at the 2018 Nightclub & Bar Show?
Then follow this link and submit your topic proposal. The speaker page contains everything you need to know about speaker candidacy and benefits and topic areas. This is your chance to share your thoughts and expertise on the bar, nightlife and restaurant business while inspiring others to become successful operators. Proposals are being accepted until Monday, June 26, so don’t wait!