NONA. The New Craze - Non Alcoholic. Say What!!

I found myself seated across from a Railroad Magnate, conversing about the railroad industry. Such esoteric concepts, such as “Y loops”, the significance of grades and managing overheating and other complexities on rail cars.

I was having a Kilkenny beer  - that's right, first tried it in Kilkenny Ireland. Very nice. Very nice. I believe Tony was drinking an Amstel . We continued our conversations about that which led to the new concept that everybody seems to be latching onto now. Hold onto your pants – zero alcohol cocktails. I recently learned  of zero alcohol wine. And how about Seedlip's zero alcohol, distilled liquors?

One of the three Seedlips products. 
Garden 108

January has for some number of years now been  regaled as a month to kind of “dry out” a little bit. I've always kind of ignored it. But circumstances have changed, which is causing me to reconsider this significant finding. One that has gotten the attention of a lot of people beyond myself. And it's a healthy attribute as well. Moderation is always a good thing, most of the time.

 

Much to my surprise - as I was doing some research on the Banff Fairmont hotel in Canada - when lo and behold I'm checking out the bar and what do they have a whole list of non-alcoholic cocktails that they make.  Quite exotic too.

 

Here is a sampler of the Banff’s Ramsay Bar cocktails – 

 

 ZERO PROOF COCKTAILS

HEDGE FUND

Seedlip Grove + blackberry syrup + pineapple + egg whites + lemon juice

Silky, tart hedgerow berries play nicely with the zesty citrus and ginger flavors of . Grove 42 in this zero proof blackberry sour.

 

BLANKET FEVER

Seedlip Spice + house cold brew + maple syrup + ginger beer

Lumberjacks love maple syrup and strong coffee. In Lumberjack Lingo “Blanket Fever” is what happens the morning after a big night. So have this, it’ll help!

 

MONKEY GONE TO HEAVEN

coconut milk + housemade pineapple cordial + blueberry puree + orange juice + lime juice.

What to drink when you want a tropical getaway, but all borders are closed. Slightly sweet and creamy, all the familiar tropical flavors come together to give you a luau in a glass.

 

              Source – Fairmont Ramsay Bar at the Banff Hotel

Haven't been a frequent traveler of late. Traveling with Accor’s (that's right, the French chain located on île d’  Paris) I took it seriously when I saw that they had this majestic list of cocktails.

 

I've been exploring, mocktails for sometime, as when we were entertaining before the pandemic, there were some guest, for a variety of reasons chose not to have an alcoholic beverage, so I try to accommodate.

 

My Chicago associate Virang put me onto a new book from that fancy Chicago restaurant Alinéa. The book’s title! “Z”, pronounced zero. Yes, it is a compilation of recipes on how to make an non-alcoholic beverage using herbs, bitters, etc. It is not necessarily a cocktail recipe book. But quite fun.  To date I have only explored the opportunity to make my simple syrup using their recipe. 

 

And as I mentioned the circumstances, such as they are causing myself and the girlfriend, to kind of reduce our beverages of choice, I have looked into more different types of beverages, ranging from sparkling Chardonnay, grape nonalcoholic, red and white nonalcoholic wines, and of course, the non-alcoholic liquors. There, to my surprise were much more variety then I would've imagined.

 

I will have to say I need to do more research on this and I would like to find some more solid sources for ratings of these liquors.  It's a little difficult trying to accommodate one's taste to these non-alcoholic beverages. For some reason, there seems to be a slight tanginess, almost what I would characterize as a spiciness about them when drinking not as a part of a mix. There  is a learning curve that one needs to learn to adjust to because a French 75 cocktail made with zero proof gin has a different flavor. Not hard to understand when you realize there is a difference in flavors and it's just a matter of accommodating that change.

 

The more positive thing is it’s  healthier choice to not have but one or less than one cocktail that is non-alcoholic. Or even better to have a non-alcoholic cocktail, and a glass of wine.

 

Distilled

I am neither a chemist, (however I have advisers who are) nor anyone of any serious expertise in this matter, but I will share what I know in this growing field of beverages.

 

One enterprise that stands out is Seedlip, from the United Kingdom. Apparently this is a distilled beverage, non-alcoholic that is intended to be blended with other ingredients to provide, a authentic cocktail experience. I’ve been using Seedlip now for over a year and I’m very pleased with the results particularly – as a Negroni fan -  using it in lieu of gin. And I have reduced the alcohol further by using  Aperol instead of Campari. But don’t get me wrong. I am still a big Campari fan.

 

 Other beverages seem to be, as I explore this issue, an alcoholic beverage, where the alcohol has been removed. Don’t ask me anymore on that. Nevertheless, I’ve been using a couple of the whiskeys and made it successful.

 

Wine and sparkling beverages.

 

I’ve been experiencing , using an Ariel brand of wines both red and white very pleasing. And came across a sparkling wine from Alsace Lorraine that also has been very very pleasing. So clearly there is a lot of work being done and probably more to be done as we see the interest in this field, expanding.

 

So I encourage moderation, as always. And I also encourage that you be on the lookout for opportunities to try out a non-alcoholic cocktail , I think you will find as I am finding that the resources and the opportunities are ever expanding in this field as I have noted. I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal that talked about non-alcoholic beverages, and the expanding opportunities here. I was much surprised to find the  Accors hotel brand iIncluding in their cocktail menu a rather comprehensive list of non-alcoholic cocktails. So

 

The next time you’re at your favorite “Takeaway store“, Carrefour or Monoprix, seek something out and expand your repertoire by choosing a non-alcoholic beverage  And practicing your cocktail skills.

 

                  And I conclude with my meeting with Giannini.

 We were talking about arborist kind of stuff, Giannini and me, and I asked him, finding out that he’s originally from Italy, Calabrian, and I said, are you a Campari fan? He said no, “I just enjoy having in the morning, a little espresso with a little Stock 84 brandy on the side.

 

 

Salut

Boite

Madhatter

Seedlip Grove 42

Cranberry

Black tea syrup

Lemon  

                   © The Ramsay Bar, Fairmont Accors Banff Hotel

 

Appetizer - Belgium dark chocolate, 78%

 Music –"you turn the tables on me" Stan Getz. 

 

 

 

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A Notice from Craig - The Bar List for 2023

My longtime friend Dr. Craig contacted me the other day, he wanted to be certain – isn't that nice - that I was aware of the recent announcement of the Top 50 and 51 to 100 top bars in the world. Dr. Craig is the consummate Manhattan afficionado. We've chummed around ......jazz clubs, public as well as private parties, etc. He introduced me to the utility of Campari as a "bitter" in the absence of Angostura Bitters - in the making of a Manhattan; quite fascinating!

Thus, I want to make certain that I share this site with you. Particularly any of those that are traveling in the upcoming year, as if you were visiting one of those cities you may wish to seek one of these places out.

Some editorial comments I share with you. I believe I saw that Athens now has three cocktail bars that rank in the top 50. Nice to see that the Paris' speakeasy "Little Red Door" is back on the list. I think it's a very enchanting place. It received special recognition by one of the Top 50 supporters.

The accomplishment of the staff of Little Red Door, bartenders, owners, even “the bouncer” is not to be unappreciated. You don't make it in this business, nor do you become that so successful without a lot of hard work, devotion to detail and customer service.

I saw my new favorite barman Tom at the Red Lion Inn bar the other night. I reminded him of the lady who came up one night. She complained about having to wait so long in line along with the wait staff. She got up to the bar ordered a "double Dewars". And then proceeds to present Tom with a coupon for one drink. (Well, a double drink is not one drink.) She turns, not even glancing to say thanks nor leave a tip.

Shame.

So, here's to all our favorite barmen and barwomen, and the link to the top 50 bars, I hope you'll find it of interest whether it's just general perusal now or if you plan on going to be in Athens, Amsterdam, Paris, Singapore or some other eccentric place that we haven't traveled to in a long time.

 The World's 50 Best Bars - The best bars across the world (worlds50bestbars.com)

A tout l'heure

and the warmest of regards for a fantastic New Year 2023!

Constantine

 

Drink: 

The Hugo (of South Tyrolean descent)

2 oz. Prosecco

2/3 oz. of Saint Germaine Elderflower liqueur

A splash of club soda 

Garnish with a Mint leaf or two.

    adapted from and with Courtesy of Difford's Guide

        Diffordsguide.com

Appetizer: Thinly sliced peeled cucumber, with a vinaigrette lime. Very lightly salted. Throw a couple olives around the sides.

Music: "Professor T" soundtrack. 

Remembrance - Armistice Day

November 11th 
Remembrance - Armistice Day

Model of World War 1 Memorial
Sabin Howard

Wright H. and I have shared a lot of things over the years – a friendship, Old Smuggler Scotch Whiskey, travels to Greece and Germany, but more importantly – and think about this – we share fathers who fought in The Great War. The American Expeditionary Force under Pershing. That is correct, fathers that served in The Great War; more commonly known now by younger generations as World War I.  

There are few people who can claim that their fathers served in The Great War in France. Both his father and my father served in the battle of the Meuse-Argonne at the end of the war. The largest American battle in history. 

For those of us, and especially from foreign lands, monuments to World War I are not unique. England, I was reminded the other day, the Cenotaph was Great Britain's memorial to those who died and fought in World War I, The Great War. France - The Battle of Verdun memorial. Belgium, The Belgian Infantry Memorial in Brussels. The United States has not had a national memorial. It has several other memorials to those but not a memorial to all those who served and died in World War I. But that will change in 2024 when the US honors its fallen and brave, with a memorial to be in Washington DC in what now is Pershing Square. Sabin Howard is the Connecticutt artist creating this bronze bas relief to be commemorated in 2024.  

As an aside I share with you what my girlfriend and I were told when we visited the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery in Verdun France, the “Western Front” of World War I. The Meuse-Argonne Cemetery hosts the largest number of US fallen soldiers in all of France. 

The Western Front - partial graphic of the war area

Like so many things in our lives, in our loves, in history - we forget one generation back and only think of the current “past” generation. By that I mean for most of the readers of this blog post they know of World War II in Germany and France, in Greece, in Hungary, in Austria, in Turkey, in Sweden. All over the world people honor and respect those who served in World War II. It is a natural thing for us to overlook two generations or three generations back and thus we lose that perspective of who fought and more importantly, “why.” So, it is no disrespect that people do not speak of the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery, because that is history, ancient history to most people.  

The beaches of Normandy, Africa Campaign, what people think of now as their fathers and sometimes grandfathers served in World War II and fought in those fields. World War I was a different world war than World War II. And without a lot of details in history – if so, inclined you can read about it – many modern weapons were created in World War I, that were only amplified in World War II. Soldiers who fought in World War I did not know how to fear machine guns. Soldiers did not know how to fear the tank. Did not understand what kind of flying engine was in the air over above them with two wings like a large bird. They did not know of gas “mustard” and others. My father was wounded by gas, so I am aware of gas.  

As a cautionary note to those of you who have spoken to me at least in the past two years or the past year you know my objection to the war in Ukraine both from the attack by the Russians as well as by the political and geographic and war positions of Ukraine. In many ways, we see the renewal of tribal responses by different nations to what is taking place. It is reminiscent of the root causes that resulted in World War I, the greatest war the world had seen at that time. Regrettably, we are continuing to make that same error with the leadership and nations do not seem to be interested in stopping the war. But only penalizing the aggressor. 

At the conclusion of this I will refer you to a couple books that speak about how Europe "sleepwalked" to the war of great nations. A war that Great Britain said that young men they would be home by harvest season. Who told their young men villages by villages to enlist, and they would all serve in the same village. Only to find themselves five years later with villages of only maidens and no young men. 

I know that you will sense that this is an unusual peace coming from me. Not all my work is only of liquor and travel. So, to end this or conclude this I say let us celebrate with a French 75 cocktail. That cocktail that was named after the French 75-millimeter cannon, the first recoilless cannon in history. It went on to generate and fire shell after shell after shell after shell after shell without having to be realigned and re-aimed. Imagine the disasters that would occur from being able to bombard an area with multiple shots by the canon in a minute. 

Remembrance Day for all those who served in all the wars and conflicts. 

 

Cocktail 

French 75 Cocktail   

Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, topped with Champagne

(Named after the canon)

Appetizer - baguette with brie

Music - Lily Marlene

 

References: 

Film: 

“1917”, A 2022 Netflix film produced in Great Britain 

“All Is Quiet on the Western Front,” A 2022 Netflix film produced in Germany 

Books: 

“The Sleepwalkers, How Europe Went to War in 1914” by Clark, 2012

"The World At War, Paths of Glory" by Humprey Cobb, written in 1915

 

Pershing led the American Expeditionary Force.

Pershing refused entreaties by the French and British to merge US forces into the ranks of their armies. US forces fought as a unit.