Tag Archives: Wine

The Prisoner Wine Company x Maggie Gyllenhaal

The Prisoner Wine Company Introduces a Pinot Noir

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The Prisoner Wine Company, a state of the art Napa Valley winery, celebrates a new bottle on their roster dubbed Eternally Silenced, a smooth pinot noir blend. With a pun on the brand name, the bottle features a portrait without lips, covered by wax that engulfs over the bottle and acts as a clasp.

 

The Prisoner Wine Company x Maggie Gyllenhaal

The Prisoner Wine Company x Maggie Gyllenhaal

A sensory deprivation dinner to introduce Eternally Silenced with guest host Maggie Gyllenhaal

 

The wine itself is a rich, soft, and well-balanced pinot noir meant to invoke a desire to savor the flavor and leave the drinker speechless. It also contains aromas of pine needles, cranberry, dark cherry, cedar, and clove, and has an ample structure of red berry flavors, brown spice, and seamless tannins that provide a tender finish. The result also owes part of its success to 14 months aging in French oak barrels that adds a distinct quality to the blend.

 

Silencing one sense at a time, The Prisoner Wine Company organized a sensory deprivation dinner to unveil its liquid and a secret guest: Maggie Gyllenhaal. Taking away the sense of sight, guests were invited to touch the smooth surface of the bottle and take a whiff (and taste) of the wine without judging its cover. The tasting followed through with a reveal of the wine, and the guest of the hour, at sight as well as a deprivation of hearing with noise-canceling headphones. Instead, patrons were to write down their thoughts and realization in between the awkward laughs and smiles. From the notepad we have: supple, unique for a California wine, mysterious, autumn dinners, and cozy. Click here to learn more about The Prisoner Wine Company and its expansive winery in Napa Valley.

 

The Prisoner Wine Company x Maggie Gyllenhaal

Eternally Silenced, a California Pinot Noir

cocktail

It’s Been A Long Week: Cooper & Thief Hot Toddy

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As true believers of the work hard, play hard mantra, we present you with It’s Been a Long Week, a weekly column aimed at awarding some liquid appreciation to you for just being yourself, dammit. Make yourself a glass or two, on us — you deserve it.

Holiday’s are looming in, NYC has seen its first snow, and it’s officially cold enough for gluhwein, or in this case a twist on the traditional hot toddy. Warm, spiced, and comforting with a kick, the Cooper & Thief Hot Toddy is a long-needed revamp of the drink. Starting with the wine, Cooper & Thief is renowned for aging its wine in ex-bourbon barrels with a spirituous character and velvet to taste. The soft tannins and subtle heat married with the season’s best friends: cinnamon, star anise and a dash of whiskey, are the perfect taste of holiday spirit never too early to enjoy (even on Thanksgiving.)

Cocktail by Apartment Bartender

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup Cooper & Thief Red Wine Blend
  • 6 oz High West American Prairie Bourbon 
  • 1-2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1-2 star anise
  • 8-12 oz hot water 
  • 2 oz lemon juice
  • granulated sugar 

Ingredient (3)

Method: 

For Cooper & Thief Red Wine Blend Spiced Syrup: In a saucepan, lightly simmer wine, broken cinnamon sticks, and star anise until warm.  Add equal parts sugar and stir until dissolved.  Remove from heat and strain.

  • Combine bourbon, lemon juice, and spiced syrup in a mug. 
  • Top with hot water and stir. 
  • Garnish with a smoke cinnamon stick and a lemon wedge.

Cheers!

Introducing All-American Spoken Barrel Wines

Introducing All-American Spoken Barrel Wines

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Photo: Courtesy of Spoken Barrel

From the biggest wine region of Washington, newly introduced Spoken Barrel wines celebrates the multiplex cultures and tastes of the 42nd state with the launch of their first, #42, collection. Columbia Valley, WA is known for producing high-quality, bold, fruity red wines and its reputation led the all-new American company to base their deluxe wines off of these standards. Served in sleek garnet bottles with stenciled lettering reminiscent of the bottles at St.Regis on Île-St.Louis, the Spoken Barrel captures the rugged history of Washington with a choice between a Meritage Red Blend and a classic Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Meritage Red Blend is a rich mix of fresh fruity aromas and darker notes such as leather, licorice, and deep roasted oak. The rounded mixture of delicate flavors are accompanied with supple tannins to produce a long finish.

If you’d rather opt for a more understated taste, the Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a classic yet and still complex flavor. Lush berry flavors with hints of cassis and tannins produce a sweet, warm, and velvety finish.

Cheers!

MARTINI NEGRONI

Bar Cart Essentials for Spring Aperitivo Cocktails

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negroni
Courtesy of Martini.

Aperitivo on the terrace season is almost here and Martini & Rossi gave us the nitty-gritty to the their favorite trio of bitter and vermouths. The Riserva Speciale Bitter, Rubino and Ambrato are all you will need for that spritz, negroni, or any whimsical mixology. The Bitter ($27) is a complex juice with saffron undertones, while the Rubino ($15) is a bright ruby red vermouth with delicate notes of botanicals, and the Ambrato ($15), made from honeyed Torino wine, has notes of Ecuadorian bank and rhubarb.

Low-octane spirits have been an ever-growing trend not just in Europe where they originate, but stateside as well. These so called “session sips” are lighter and even healthier. They are the perfect cocktails for lounging around on a terrace people-watching, sitting by the Seine in Paris, or in a piazza in Rome—they’re universal.

Martini & Rossi also offered us insight on the recipe to their namesake Negroni:

MARTINI & ROSSI NEGRONI

  • 1 Part MARTINI & ROSSI Riserva Speciale Bitter
  • 1 Part Bombay Sapphire Gin
  • 1 Part MARTINI & ROSSI Riserva Speciale Rubino
  • Orange wedge garnish

Method: Pour into Rocks glass. Add ice and an orange wedge for garnish.

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The Crawford Smash - Thumbnail

It’s Been A Long Week: The Crawford Smash

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Image: ESSENTIAL HOMME, Kim Crawford.

As true believers of the work hard, play hard mantra, we present you with It’s Been a Long Week, a weekly column aimed at awarding some liquid appreciation to you for just being yourself, dammit. Make a glass or two on us, you deserve it.

WHAT

The Crawford Smash
A refreshing kicker for those long summer days, this Sauvignon Blanc-based cocktail is easy to make and even easier to gulp down.

HOW

Ingredients:

  • 2 parts Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
  • Lemon
  • 0.75 parts Simple syrup
  • Mint sprig

Image: ESSENTIAL HOMME, Kim Crawford, Stirrings.

THEN

Muddle pinch of mint, 3-4 pieces of lemon wedge, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, and then strain into a rocks glass over ice.

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It’s Been A Long Week: ONEHOPE Wine’s Sparkling Fig Cocktail

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Image: Essential Homme, ONEHOPE Wine.

As true believers of the work hard, play hard mantra, we present you with It’s Been a Long Week, a weekly column aimed at awarding some liquid appreciation to you for just being yourself, dammit. Make a glass or two on us, you deserve it.

WHAT

ONEHOPE Wine’s Sparkling Fig Cocktail
Enjoy the last few days of fig season with this fresh, from-the-earth boozy blessing courtesy of ONEHOPE Wine. Part herby, part bubbly, the cocktail requires some light handwork, but the sweet sip upon completion is totally worth it.

HOW

Ingredients:

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Image: Essential Homme, ONEHOPE Wine, Belvedere Vodka.

THEN

Remove stems from figs and place all but two in a food processor. Pulse to puree and set aside. Peel lemons with a citrus peeler and juice. Combine rosemary syrup, fig puree, chilled vodka, lemon juice, and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Fill two glasses with ice and pour cocktail mixture into each glass. Top with ONEHOPE Sparkling Wine and garnish with lemon peel, fresh rosemary, and one half fig each.

CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER and PHILIPPE STARCK Launch BRUT NATURE 2006

Essential Event: Louis Roederer x Philippe Starck Brut Nature Unveiling at the New Museum

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CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER and PHILIPPE STARCK Launch BRUT NATURE 2006Image: Joe Schildhorn/BFAnyc.com.

Last night in New York City, Louis Roederer—the France house that has been producing champagne independently since 1776, including the ever-popular Cristal (shout out to 2Pac)—debuted its first Cuvée in 40 years: Brut Nature 2006, a non dosage wine created in collaboration with designer Philippe Starck. The latter—a designer that needs no introduction, despite his famously-transparent pieces—along with Louis Roederer President Frédéric Rouzaud and Chef de Caves Jean Baptiste Lecaillon, introduced the new vintage to high-profile guests at the Sky Room at the New Museum including Adam Glassman, Michael Klug, TOME’s Ramon Martin and Ryan Lobo, and more. Along with an artistic film, salmon sliders, and countless bottles of the new bubbly, attendees were treated to a heart-warming tale of the concoction’s creation from all three personalities behind it.

CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER and PHILIPPE STARCK Launch BRUT NATURE 2006Image: Joe Schildhorn/BFAnyc.com.

CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER and PHILIPPE STARCK Launch BRUT NATURE 2006Image: Joe Schildhorn/BFAnyc.com.

CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER and PHILIPPE STARCK Launch BRUT NATURE 2006Image: Joe Schildhorn/BFAnyc.com.

CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER and PHILIPPE STARCK Launch BRUT NATURE 2006
Image: Joe Schildhorn/BFAnyc.com.