ST. Germain Holiday Party and the Solerno Dinner

Location #1: Spin, 304 Park Avenue South. NYC

Location #2: Beekman Bar and Books, 889 1 Avenue, NYC

Date: December 14, 2009
If you've just read the Philly distillery tour posting, then you know exactly where I've left off coming to this point of my day. Back in NYC, me and a large amount of the USBG members headed in several cabs over to Spin for the St. Germain Holiday Ping Pong party.

At Spin, you can get your thirst quenched for all of your ping pong desire's. Yes, this place is dedicated to ping ponging only. I never thought It was such a popular sport and in demand to have such a large location like this place. Well let me tell you that everyone had a great time ponging, drinking, and the USBG people was telling everyone else about our great time in Philly.

I had to dash off early to attend the Solerno dinner I was hosting with Melissa Daniels, brand ambassador. At Beekman, Ben Scorah had created lovely libations paired with some light fare that the bar has to offer on a daily basis at all 3 NYC locations.

I invited the majority of women in and outside of the industry to learn and taste this delightful blood orange liqueur. In general, this product is exceptional in many cocktails, but there are a few that stand out on my pallate(see recipe's below).


About Solerno: This is a blood orange or called the Sanguinello in Italy. This liqueur originates in Sicily and distilled in copper alembic stills. Basically, there are 3 important process of distilling this product.

1st Distillation: The body of the orange is distilled.
2nd Distillation: The zest of the outer skin is captured to retrieve the citrus oils.
3rd Distillation: The Sicilian lemons are distilled.

The lemons are added to this liqueur, because it will give the orange a great balance and an even structure. The final product comes out clear and free of artificial coloring. Also, Solerno is sweeten with the sucrose from sugar beets,which gives it a natural taste and not syrupy like some other liqueurs.

Taste: Sweet, citrusy, tangy and a bit oily on the pallate.

Design: This bottle is really beautiful and easy to grab behind the bar for efficient usage for the bartenders. It's cylindrical shape is accompanied with an old fashioned citrus juicer at the bottom of the bottle, which is pretty neat looking.

This 40% ABV liqueur is pretty high in alcohol content and can stand up to any "manly cocktail" recipe or can simply satisfy the light and sweeter taste buds that a lot of women and such may have, but whatever way you want, your getting one of the best/newest products from Sicily!


**some great recipe's**

Solerno Blood and Sanguinello:

3/4 parts Solerno, Glenfiidich 12 year, and Lillet Rouge or Tawny Port
4 Brandied Maresca Cherries
1/2 parts Simple Syrup and Pink Grapefruit Juice
1/4 parts Fresh Lemon juice
2 dashes of Bitters
1/2 Egg White
Muddled Cherries

Shake very well and serve in a coupe with a cherry garnish.

Solerno Blood Orange Margarita:

1/2 parts Solerno
2 parts of Milagro Tequila
3/4 parts Lime and Grapefruit Juice
1 heaping bar spoon of Marmalade

Shake very well and strain over fresh ice and garnish with a grapefruit slice and a half rimmed with grapefruit salt.

Photo credits: Google Images for Solerno



Night Cap:

It was a great day/night, but we had to take a break and relax for the final event. Yupper, another one, but first a few of us went over to Adriana's house. We ordered some Italian food and chilled out before the Simon Ford and Effie Panagopoulos birthday bash.


Once the majority of us was "revived", we walked to the event that was close to Adriana's apt. At that point, I think my liver clunked out on me and I got really silly and lushy! It was time for me to go home and get some sleep and return to a little bit of normal-cy.

Thank goodness I made it home safely and slept like a tired baby. O yeah people, drink responsibly!!


Salute!!