Objects with dual functions are tough and usually rather gauche. Especially things in the “also opens a bottle of beer” category. However, we spotted a ring that falls into “that’s a no-no land”, but that actually looks pretty slick in the design category too. As in, it actually has two functions—a handsome ring and a bottle opener for when you really just feel like showing off. A leatherette box included, a bottle of beer is not. Its only $15 here!
New Orleans natives say that hurricanes are for tourists and sazeracs are for the locals. Considering that the Big Easy is the birthplace of what most consider America’s first cocktail, locals take their love of the Sazerac to heart. This cocktail is so beloved that in 2008 the Louisiana legislature proclaimed Sazerac the “Official cocktail of New Orleans. Now, that’s some major loyalty
So just how did this quintessential cocktail come about? Well according to legend, in 1838 Antoine Amadie Peychaud, a Creole apothecary, began mixing an old family recipe of aromatic bitters to relieve his client’s aliments. He then began mixing the bitters with French brandy, a splash of water and a bit of sugar and served this toddy to his friends. And this tasty new concoction was a hit, and soon Peychaud’s “remedy” was being served all around town in bars or “coffee houses, as they were called back in the day.
By the 1850’s, the drink was being made with Sazerac de Forge et Fils, a type of French brandy, one of the oldest cognacs available anywhere, and celebrated as the signature drink of the Sazerac Coffee House. Over the course of the late 19th century, this classic cocktail fully began to evolve. Rye whiskey replaced brandy due to a shortage of the spirit caused by the phylloxera epidemic. Then bartender Leon Lamothe added absinthe into the mix and Viola!, the Sazerac as we know it today, was born. And because the patrons were referring to it as the Sazerac, the name just stuck.
However today, most Sazerac are usually made with rye whiskey, sugar, absinthe (or a substitute, like Herbsaint), Peychaud’s Bitters and a strip of lemon peel, but there are many variations of this lively libation. One might use Angostura instead of Peychaud or try a combination both bitters. Someone might favor Rittenhouse Bonded Straight Rye while another might prefer Old Overholt. There are even some bartenders using Cognac just the way Peychaud did. No matter what recipe your bartender chooses to follow, it will no doubt be crafted with perfection and the end result will be a flavorful well-balanced drink that will dance in your mouth. And you can’t go wrong with that.
– Combine the rye, simple syrup and Peychaud’s and Angostura bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice. Cover and shake vigorously.
– Discard the ice from the glass and strain the shaker mixture into the glass. Rub the rim of the glass with the lemon twist, add to the drink and serve immediately.
Opening Ceremony’s first ever European store opened today with enough goodies to make us consider braving the Olympic mess just to cruise down the aisles. Founders Carol Lim and Humberto Leon chose Covent Garden in London to place their 3,000-square-foot temporary shop at 31-32 King Street, which will be followed by a larger space down the road at 35 King Street to open in the fall. (Also this fall, the store will release an illustrated book with Rizzoli that’ll include contributions by Opening Ceremony’s regular collaborates and friends including Terry Richardson, Spike Jonze and Chloë Sevigny). The London shop’s got some pretty cool outstanding features like the iconic Claire de Rouen bookshop in shop which will carry a selection of handpicked rare first editions and inspiring books. Norma Kamali’s releaseing archival pieces and a new collaboration with OC as well as will Topshop. And what would a London store be without mention of those Olympic games? Special Olympic products have been developed exclusively for Opening Ceremony by brands including Band of Outsiders, Charles Anastase, Delfina Delettrez, Christopher Shannon, House of Holland, Prism and Pamela Love. Proenza Schouler has created a special all-gold mini PS11 that is launching exclusively at Opening Ceremony London.
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Does a room in a stylish hotel, with full amenities and designer furniture in a hip neighborhood of London perk your interests? If you like London at all, it should. And now you can have it. CitizenM, the acclaimed Dutch hotel group, has opened their first London property with rooms starting at just 99GDP. Included in that price are things you’d come to only expect from something that’s got a slew of stars attached to its name. They’ve got a mesmerizing mural by our faves Assume Vivid Astro Focus and Turner-prize nominated Mark Titchner who mounted the Another World is Possible sign to the outisde of the spot). Inside there’s artwork by Mario Testino (yes, him!), Belgian artist Hans Ob de Beeck and Gavin Mark. But you’ve also got a say in the environment. Each room comes with a “moodpad”, which is basically a supped up iPad that lets you control the total atmospherical environment of your room. From light, sound, TV, alarm themes, the blonds and temperature. Hell, you can even tweet about it as you’re doing it. And more, There’s even “art” to take away: citizenM has launched a new service in partnership with acclaimed Amsterdam bookstore MENDO, friends of citizenM since the very beginning: Guests literally walk into a big black book (the shape of the display) and buy their favourite photography, architecture, fashion, and travel books to take with them or have sent to their home addresses. CitizenM london is in the Bankside section of the city, minutes from the Tate (if you didn’t get enough art inside the hotel). Check in manually, lounge in the tranquil lobby, or just hang out in the hotel bar CitizenM. The drinks are also fabulously cheap. More, here.
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You’d think a Moonshine from a place called Dark Corner Distillery would be some sort of fiery cauldron of a spirit that puts hair on your chest and separates the men from the boys. It isn’t. There are a lot of misconceptions around moonshine, a distinctively American spirit whose roots lie more in early settlers’ farmhouse stills and corn whiskey than the backwoods outlaws who helped give the spirit its bad boy mystique.
Traditionally, moonshine referred to any spirit that was manufactured illegally – many of these spirits were corn or sugar based, and often based on a family recipe passed down from generation to generation. With the boom of micro-distillers, moonshine has come out of the proverbial dark corner and into legally produced bottles on store shelves.
Much of the moonshine on the market is unaged corn whiskey, very similar to the raw spirit which is put into barrels, aged, and transformed into American whiskey like Maker’s Mark and Jack Daniels. Unaged corn whiskey is focused more on the true corn flavors and doesn’t have the cinnamon, caramel, and spice notes that you get in aged whiskey that has been in a barrel.
You can tell from the first whiff that Dark Corner Distillery Moonshine corn whiskey is made from corn. The nose smells like fresh baked cornbread and has a note reminiscent of the smell of taking husks off a corn cob. What’s so amazing about Dark Corner Distillery Moonshine is just how soft and easy it is to drink. You’d think a 100 proof whiskey would pack a hard punch, but Dark Corner Moonshine is soft, smooth, and easy. As with the nose, there are distinct corn notes in the taste along with soft vanilla and light black pepper that gives it a little kick.
Dark Corner Distillery makes their Moonshine corn whiskey in small batches using traditional copper pots with great care and craftsmanship. This care is apparent in the glass, with one of the most affable and easy drinking moonshines on the market.
Corn whiskey is an ideal summer spirit that is easy to drink and doesn’t need a lot of mixing to shine. The best way to enjoy it is to pack a big glass with ice and and then add your whiskey.
Have some art with your fries. Damien Hirst wants you to. The man who made history as the first living artist to have an entire collection of art sold at Sotheby’s (Beautiful Inside My Head Forever, 2008) has given the Burger King over in Leicester Square London his 2003 painting entitled, Beautiful Psychedelic Gherkin Exploding Tomato Sauce All Over Your Face, Flame Grilled Painting. Well, that’s one whopper of a name, isn’t it.
When a spirits company labels something as ultra-premium, odds are what they really mean is “expensive”. There is no real standard on what can be labeled ultra-premium, and not all ultra-premium spirits are good. In the tequila space, there’s also a category of products whose bottle design and packaging are more of a selling point than what’s in the bottle. Some of the prettiest bottles of tequila are also some of the most unpalatable.
It would be easy then to dismiss Clase Azul as another fancy bottle of expensive tequila chasing after the almighty dollar. But if you did, you’d be missing out on one of the few ultra-premium tequilas that actually delivers.
The Clase Azul Blanco tequila has a very soft and sweet nose with just a hint of pepper. The sweetness of the nose and the undercurrent of spice come together into a nose that is downright seductive. The nose has no bite or vapor whatsoever. The entry for the Clase Azul Blanco matches the nose perfectly. Lightly sweet, fresh agave leads right into a pepper spice which builds to a moderate level, peaks, and then finishes all without losing a step. The balance between sweet and spice here is sublime, and the finish leaves both the sweet agave and pepper spice in a clear invitation for another sip. Priced at $70 a bottle, the Clase Azul Blanco is considerably more expensive than some of our go-to tequilas (Tequila Avion, El Tesoro, and 123 Tequila), but we feel that we’re actually getting what we pay for. If you have a sweet tooth and want a tequila that captures the essence of fresh agave and balances it out with a nice soft pepper, this is the tequila for you.
The Clase Azul Reposado has an equally soft and inviting nose as the blanco. In addition to the sweet, fresh agave and pepper, we get a nice soft oak note as well as subtle caramel in the nose. The entry is soft and sweet with the oak, pepper, caramel, and fresh agave all coming together along with a nice vegetal green pepper note. Things ramp up a little in the midpalate where the black pepper, green pepper, and oak spice all come together. The finish is long and delicious and equally as entrancing as the blanco. At around $80, Clase Azul Reposado doesn’t come cheap, but it is delicious with a packaging that shows great love and care for the spirit inside the bottle.
A great spirit in a great package is a rare combination, but Clase Azul manages to deliver something really special, and for the tequila connoisseur, something to seek out.
A great party often has someone who seems to get along with everyone, has fun, and helps really set the tone for the evening. Denizen is that in a rum. Made from a blend of charcoal filtered aged rum from Trinidad and funky pot still distilled rum from Jamaica, Denizen Rum is flavorful and affable with superb character.
Jamaican rum is prized for its intense flavor and deep charred sugar notes. In the Denizen Rum blend, the essence of these flavors is captured but made much more accessible with the easy going and light rum from Trinidad. Denizen is blended in Amsterdam, which is a key locale for the rum trade and is home to some legendary rum blenders.
The nose on Denizen Rum is light and clean, with soft sugar cane notes along with hints of tropical fruit including banana. There are no vapors in the nose and it’s sly in its subtlety. The entry is packed with flavor including pineapple, banana, fresh sugar cane, and toasted marshmallow. The flavors here are well stated without being too intense and are fairly consistent throughout the palate. The finish is long with a light tropical passion fruit adding to the mix along with a subtle oak spice and sweet soft powdered sugar. Ultimately Denizen Rum cleans up with a light, cool feeling on the palate, leaving you wanting more.
As delightful as the Denizen Rum is neat, the real magic of the rum is just how mixable it is. Denizen makes a pitch perfect classic daiquiri, works exceptionally well in a mai tai, and gets along with Coke beautifully. There seems no end to Denizen’s mixability.
What’s amazing is that Denizen gives you so much and yet it’s priced ridiculously low at $15.99 a bottle. It’s mind boggling how such a great rum could also be so affordable. Denizen isn’t just great rum, it’s a must have bottle for anyone even remotely interested in making cocktails at home.
Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer is as much known for his amazing golf game as what he drank at the clubhouse after a round of golf. His preference for a drink made from half lemonade and half unsweetened tea was so well known that the drink ultimately bore his name. The “Arnold Palmer” is one of the more popular non-alcoholic cocktail alternatives served today and its popularity continues to rise. It was probably only a matter of time until a liquor company figured out that the flavors from lemon and tea also work well with vodka.
Belvedere Vodka, well known for producing a high quality rye vodka, has put the pieces together with a vodka that’s clearly inspired by the flavors of the legendary Arnold Palmer. While there are many great lemon and citrus vodkas on the market, there are very few good tea ones. Tea is a tricky flavor to work with as it can be easily oversteeped and create a bitter, tannic taste. Rather than just combining tea and lemon, Belvedere has put together a nice grouping of flavors for their Lemon Tea Vodka, including both black and green tea, ginger, chamomile, lemongrass, honey, and lemon. These flavors complement Belvedere’s natural rye spice and help pull together a wonderfully integrated and complex vodka.
Belvedere uses a maceration process to steep their flavors into the vodka and doesn’t add any additional sugars or artificial additives. The result is clear, natural, and true flavors that come together beautifully. Belvedere Lemon Tea Vodka is much more tea forward than lemon. The black and green teas read very clearly on the entry with the lemongrass and chamomile bridging to the citrus in the mid palate. The ginger and rye spice lead out the finish with a nice crisp spice.
One of the really nice things about Belvedere Lemon Tea is that it isn’t too sweet. Belvedere has nailed the most difficult element in a tea spirit, and that’s the tea, leaving room for you to sweeten it with simple syrup and boost the level of citrus with lemon. Belvedere Lemon Tea makes an interesting variation on the Lemon Drop, but it really shines in a spirited tribute to the Arnold Palmer called the Lemon Tea Half & Half, created by mixologist Claire Smith.
Lemon Tea Half & Half
1.5 oz Belvedere Lemon Tea
3 oz black tea
3 oz lemonade
Build over ice and garnish with a lemon wedge. Serve in a highball.
There’s really two answers to that question. The wolfman’s name is Craig and he is a regular character of critically acclaimed visual artist, performer and director Rob Roth who has been written about in The New York Times and works as a regular creative collaborator with Debbie Harry. His work has been exhibited at a variety of venues including the the Whitney Museum of American Art, New Museum for Contemporary Art, Performance Space122, Abrons Art Center, Galapagos Art Space, Museum of Arts and Design and Deitch Projects. But to downtown New Yorker’s he’s better known as a founding member of Click + Drag—the now infamous Saturday night at renowned NYC club Mother. With such an awesome career under his belt, we were more than honored when Rob agreed to bring his wolfy creation, Craig, to the launch of our May/June issue. After the party, we sat down with Rob to find out a little more about what causes a man to don full on wolfman make up, what the statement behind it really means and also got a sweet tip about a possible upcoming collaboration with one of our fave brands, Costume National!
Essential Homme: When did you conceive of the wolf character? What is his name? Where is he from?
Rob Roth: The wolf character was something I envisioned years ago but only brought to life and started developing in the last few. He is a representation of the past, mostly from my teenage years but also a creature from an imaginary world with its own mythology and poetry. I had started performing as this character singing New Wave songs with a cellist as well as some other durational ambient performances. Then I added him to another theater project I had been directing for a few years called The Mystery of Clayoman, where the writer Michael Cavadias named him Craig. Now Craig is part of several projects in photography, musical performance and film. He keeps evolving.
Essential Homme: How long does it take to put all that, uh, make up on?
RR: About 1 or 2 hours. I’ve got it down to a science now!
What inspires his poetry? Why is it written in French?
RR: The poem was Mes petites amoureuses (My Little Loves) by Rimbaud. It was the right essence for the character and the performance. Also, I had recently had an interesting run in with Patti Smith in Paris so I had been thinking of her book Just Kids and her love of Rimbaud.
Does he like wearing clothes or is it more of a burden placed on him by human society?
RR: It’s interesting that you ask this; in my next performance Craig actually changes clothes. I won’t say anymore.
Is he a were wolf?
RR: He is more of a wounded creature in a constant state of emotional malaise.
Where can we find more Wolf? Will there be any future performances? Where can people check in on you to learn more?
RR: I just completed collaboration with the photographer Matthu Placek for OutThere Magazine. It’s a photo essay called ‘Craig’s Dream’ that will be published in the next issue. I will also be opening for Vangeline Theater at Wild Project along with Cellist Chad Hammer and Guitarist Dave Yang on July 12th and 13th and I’ll have a new costume by Todd Thomas too! I’m also in talks with Costume National to do something in their new space on Mercer St. in Soho.
For more Rob Roth and Craig, put your paws here.
What do a preview of upcoming fashion week tunes, 3 deliriously good cocktails and a real-life wolf man all have in common? The Essential Homme’s May/June issue party where, on June 7th, these three elements mixed with hundreds of beautiful people inside NYC’s famed Bedlam Bar in celebration of our first celeb cover issue. World renown MISTERWILSONDJ—whose sounds have been heard on the runways of Gucci, Jason Wu, Yves Saint Laurent Peter Som (to name just a few) and in store music concepts of people like Tom Ford—spun a rare live set and a sure preview to what you’ll be hearing during the coming fashion week season. With the help of the gorgeous Blaine Ashley, founder of Citysip (citysip.com), guests sipped on hand crafted speciality Brooklyn Gin cocktails, Uluvka Vodka and Filthy Food Garnishing martinis, Rhum Clement Ti Punch, Flip Flop Bubbly Moscato and Gabriella Wines. Park Avenue Tavern, John Allan’s Salon, David Barton Gym, Strip Ministry of Wax and Filthy Food Garnishing all generously provided goodies for the swag bag. And who can forget the wolfman? He’s a critically acclaimed performance artist hailing from New York City’s East Village who we’ll be profiling in a separate post to come. After the jump, please enjoy photos from the event courtesy of photographer Ernie Green, recipes from citysip and their crew of drink sponsors and the FREE full length soundtrack graciously provided by long time friend of Essential Homme, MISTERWILSONDJ. Thanks to all for your continued support.
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MP3 One: Download Here
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Song Henrietta Anna Sun (Fool’s Gold Remix) Are You Free Daylight Sky Default I’m Shakin’ The Page Memories of the Future (remix) Fame Can’t Stop Now (K.L.A.M. Remix) Brothers I Travel The Magnificent Seven (Nico Moss Remix) Before Style (Tenaglia Mash) Original Style |
Artist Yeasayer Walk The Moon White Rabbits Frankie Rose Django Django Jack White Chromatics Handsome Furs Santigold Major Lazer, Mr. Vegas, Jovi Rockwell & Azealia Banks Tanlines Simple Minds The Clash Pet Shop Boys vs Mr. Williamz |
MP3 Two: Download Here
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Song Heaven Lust for Life Friend Crush Sunshine (feat. M.I.A.) I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend So Haunted (Knightlife re-edit) Liquorice Mr. Nice Watch (feat Jay-Z) Love Will Tear Us Apart (remix) Living In A Magazine [Paper Faces Remix] Summer In the City (Peter Visti edit) Ready to Start (Remixed By Damian Taylor & Arcade Fire) Boom Boom Disparate Youth (The 2 Bears Remix) Run Boy Run Cut You Cloud |
Artist The Walkmen Girls Friends Rye Rye Ramones Cut Copy Azealia Banks J. Cole Joy Division Zoot Woman The Lovin’ Spoonful Arcade Fire Rye Rye Santigold Woodkid Nothings |
About a Girl
By: Justin August
– Brooklyn Gin
– Rosemary Syrup
– Lemon Juice
– Muddled Pineapple
– Grapefruit Soda
Filthy LUV
By: Colin Asare-Appiah
– of Uluvka Vodka
– Uluvka Vodka soothed with Filthy Gourmet Olive Brine
Clement Ti Punch
By: Jessie Dure
– Clement Premiere Canne
– Clement Siroup de Canne
– Lime
There’s no secret why vodka is one of the top selling spirits in the world: it’s crisp, clean, and easy to drink. Throw vodka into a glass of ice, add some soda, and you’ve got a quick drink that you don’t have to think about. Vodka by design is meant to be neutral, affable, and generally inconspicuous in drinks. The problem with some vodka is that, by design, they can lack character.
Brugal Rum has just introduced a compelling alternative for vodka drinkers who want the light, easy nature of a more neutral spirit but with a little more character. Brugal Extra Dry Rum is a crisp, clean rum with a light and enjoyable flavor. Like many great rums, Brugal Extra Dry is made from molasses, a byproduct of turning sugar cane into crystallized sugar. Molasses helps impart a nice toasted marshmallow flavor along with vanilla, a hint dark chocolate, and cream. None of the flavors are bold or overly assertive, and the rum lives up to its “extra dry” name with a clean, dry finish that only has hints of sweetness and the suggestion of peppery spice.
Although it’s a white rum, Brugal’s Especial Extra Dry Rum is actually a blend of aged rums aged an average of 2 years. The aged rums are blended specifically to enhance the light and easy characteristics, and then run through a special carbon filtration system three times to strip out the color and refine its clean, dry characteristics.
Brugal Extra Dry is an easy stand-in for the traditional ‘vodka & soda’, but it also goes well in a mojito, daiquiri, and of course in Coke. Brugal Extra Dry is 80 proof (40%) alcohol and is available in select markets including NY, SF, and LA for around $20 a bottle.
Here’s a signature cocktail that shows off Brugal’s easy demeanor:
Brugal Dehumidifier
2 oz. Brugal Extra Dry
½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
5 Mint Leaves
Club Soda
Directions: Combine all ingredients, except bitters and shake with ice. Pour into a Collins glass, top with Club Soda and float 3 dashes of bitters. Garnish with a mint sprig.
Get a complete behind the scenes look at Brugal here.
