Know How to Make a Proper Martini

Admittedly this is a skill that I haven't mastered.  If you also need a refresher, check out this excellent recipe courtesy of Jason Wilson, author of Boozehound.  Maybe I'll do some practicing this weekend if I can knock out this damn cold.

Now That's a Bottle

If you think your last bottle service tab was outrageous, it won't compare to the $100,000 bill given to whoever bought this 30-liter bottle of Armand de Brignac this past weekend at the UFC after-party that took place at XS in Las Vegas.  In addition to some good bubbly, the awe (and scorn) of other club-goers, and probably a few additional eye candy orbiting his table, the buyer was also given the privilege of performing the countdown to midnight on NYE.  

via Haute Living

Martell Cohiba Cognac

Very few things on earth is more satisfying than smoking a great cigar while sipping a fine cognac.  Martell has teamed up with Cohiba to create a special cognac that has been aged from 40 to 50 years in oak casks and features a "rich amber hue" and is "rounded, smooth and almost sweet, while a touch of liquorice and a slight nutty note are found in the long and gentle finish."  We're assuming this cognac would pair perfectly with your favorite Cuban Cohiba.  The cognac will be available in Hong Kong for HK$5,000.

via Lifestyle Asia

Champagne and Cigars

There are two certainties on NYE: I will be smoking a cigar and I will be having some bubbly.  If you plan on doing the same, check out this blog post by Haute Living highlighting their top five Champagne and cigar pairings.

Yama Syphon Brewer

My bro and his wife are a couple of die-hard coffee aficionados.  They have been contemplating quitting their well-paying Silicon Valley engineering jobs to start their very own coffee truck.  Ummm....not so sure about that one little brother.  In any case, I was looking to find them a unique coffee Christmas gift and found this syphon brewer from one of my favorite coffee houses, Intelligentsia Coffee.  The technology behind this specific coffee making process has been around for over 50 years and it has something to do with one orb being filled with water, then it being heated, then somehow the coffee grounds in the top orb gets saturated...I don't know, I sucked at both chemistry and physics.  But I figure a couple of engineering types would appreciate this Rube Goldberg-esque coffee machinery.  You can buy one for yourself for $100.

Syphon, Intelligentsia from The D4D on Vimeo.

Black Ops Beer

Crew Member Drewsky, who we've ridiculed plenty on this blog for thinking that he's a commando (he's not), is probably getting all excited right now reading about Black Ops Beer by Brooklyn Brewery.  Settle down Drewsky, this isn't beer made just for the SpecOps or the wannabe community.  It's a Russian Imperial Stout beer that has been aged for 4 months in Bourbon barrels, bottle flat, then re-fermented with Champagne yeast.  According to the folks at Gear Patrol, the beer "delivers a legion of robust flavors: chocolate, coffee, vanilla oak, and strong notes of bourbon."  Sounds yummy.  Only 1,000 cases have been brewed with each bottle going for about $26.

Johnnie Walker Gold Ice Pillar

Here is a great gift for the whiskey lover in your life.  The Johnnie Walker Ice Pillar is designed to keep a bottle of Johnnie Walker Gold Label Whiskey nice and chill in an attractive gold box.  Despite some serious scouring, we couldn't find the retail price for the ice pillar.

Medea Vodka Lights Up

Sometimes it feels like spirit makers use the holidays as an excuse to sell you some gimicky bottle of alcohol.  The latest is Medea Vodka, a Holland-based wheat vodka maker that has come out with a bottle that has a programmable LED display that holds up to six 255-character messages.  We have no idea if the vodka is any good, but we have to admit that we're a bit intrigued by the bottle.  Think of all the crass fun you can have gift-giving this holiday season.  Bottles go for a reasonable $40.

Billionaires' Gift List

Another day, another gift list for the holidays. This one comes from The Sun and is a list of gift ideas for the rich. Scratch that, for the super rich, i.e. the nine-figure net worth set.  The priciest gift on the list is a three-week cruise on a 164 ft yacht for about $42 million, after which you get to keep the boat.  A more "affordable" option is a Charlie Palmer dining experience for a mere $150K.

DeLeon Anejo Tequila

Here's a tequila that Crew Member Drewsky will start drooling over.  The DeLeon Anejo comes from a Mexican family that use to produce the tequila exclusively for their private use but have now started to import limited quantities into the US.  The pressed agave is double distilled and spends 17 months in French oak barrels which creates a tequila that has, according to the folks at Robb Report, "a Cognac-like texture enveloped by a subtle throaty purr reminiscent of an Aston Martin V8 Vantage."  Damn if that isn't some creative writing.  Buy yourself a bottle for $175.

Skybar ONE Wine Chamber

Here's a good-looking wine chamber from Skybar that will chill your wine to the perfect temperature and also allow you to preserve an open bottle for up to 10 days.  The Skybar One features 15 temperature presets, digital back-lit display, soft touch dial control, LED bottle lighting and will hold 750 mL and 1.5 liter wine bottles.  Buy it for $400.

GLACE Iceberg Water

If you already get ticked off when your date orders $10 bottles of Voss water, wait till she (or he) finds out about GLACE Rare Iceberg Water.  The company claims that their water, harvested from icebergs in Greenland, will be some of the purest drinking water available on earth.  Since they need a crew of eight in a big arse boat up in Greenland to get this water, bottles of GLACE won't be cheap at $12 to $15 for a 700 ml bottle.  Is any water worth fifteen bucks a bottle?  Who knows.  However, all I'm thinking is: don't seals pee on icebergs?   

via Born Rich

Titanium Curved Flask

Here's a neat stocking stuffer for the alcoholic in your life.  The Titanium Curved Flask from Snow Peak is, as the name suggests, made of titanium which is stronger than steel and is anti-corrosive, non-allergic, and doesn't give off any off that nasty metallic taste.  The flask will hold 6.7 fluid oz of your favorite hooch and only weighs 2.0 oz.  Each one comes with a suede carrying case and plastic funnel.  Buy it for $125.

Tequila Avion Review

Last week, we told you about the $125,000 house party courtesy of Tequila Avion.  Well we got a hold of a bottle Tequila Avion Silver this past weekend and here we present to you Crew Member Drewsky's review:

What happens when one takes what is effectively a spiny desert plant and decides to distill it?  Well I'll tell you it's not bar soap, but rather one product that can come from this artisanal effigy is called tequila. Much like Napa Valley in California and the Bordeaux region in France are to wine, one region in Mexico is to tequila is Jalisco.

The tequila agave is a native of Jalisco, Mexico and tequila which is commonly referred to as blue agave favors high altitudes and grows in the rich and sandy soils of the highlands in the Los Altos region of Jalisco.  In order to get its sexy on, the flowers of this plant must be pollinated by a native bat - you probably won't find that happening in the vineyards of France or California.

Now, on to the flavor, of which the taste arises from the slow roasting of the agave's heart in traditional brick ovens followed by a unique small batch distillation process of which Avion says "culminates with a proprietary filtering method coined 'ultra slow filtration' and finally to the unique moment of elation."  I can dig it.

This tasting started of like most others, 2-fingers into a tumbler, followed by checking the nose and sipping. What you will find while tasting Avion is the nose is complex.  There were hints of smokey pinyon, and mineral water with something else that was difficult to put into words until later.  You will find a velvet finish on the tongue during the first sip which due to the alcohol content cleans the palette for further rounds. This was complemented on subsequent tastings with bits of kumquat and cream on the finish with an easy going swallow not usual for tequilas.  Would I mix this tequila?  No.  This one was meant for slow sipping on evenings with fellow agave connoisseurs and pairs well with bolder more robust cigars that will complement its complex nose.

Belvedere Silver Bottle Limited Edition

Here’s the vodka you should be ordering when you do bottle service during the holidays.  It’s the same quality Belvedere vodka you know and love but it’s in this cool looking silver bottle.  “Only” 46,000 cases will be produced so maybe it’ll be $400 a bottle at the club instead of $300.  In any case, it retails for $60 if you want to just invite the friends over to your house.

Wine of the Year 2010

Wine Spectator recently released their list of Top 100 Wines of 2010. Topping the list is the 2007 Saxum by the James Berry Vineyard in Paso Robles, a blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah grapes. WS gave the wine a score of 98 and the following tasting notes: “An amazing wine, dense, rich and layered, offering a mix of power and finesse, with concentrated dark berry fruit, mineral, sage, herb and cedar notes that are pure, intense, focused and persistent. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Drink now through 2018.” Each bottle retails for $67 and only 950 cases were made.

Napa Valley Wine Train

The next time you’re heading up to Napa, make sure to book a ride on the Napa Valley Wine Train. During the 3-hour, 36 mile round-trip journey from Napa to St. Helena, you’ll enjoy scenic views while enjoying great food and wine from the region. Three to five-course dining options are available with limited seating also available in the Vista Dome Car where you’ll get to enjoy your meal with an elevated view. The folks at The Life of Luxury recently experienced the Wine Train and you can read their review here.

Bacardi Reserva Limitada Founder’s Blend Rum

Back in the day, Bacardi’s “Rum Master” use to create a special blend for members of the Bacardi clan.  It wasn’t until 2003 that the company decided to release limited quantities of the blend in select markets.  Recently, the company has decided to let those of us State-side enjoy the Reserva Limitada Founder’s Blend.  The Founder’s Blend is aged in lightly charred American white oak barrels for 10-16 years which results in a dark reddish rum with that tastes rich and smooth while giving off aromas of vanilla and oak.  Only 1,000 cases of 750ml bottles will be available in the US, each bottle selling for $110.  We’re picturing Crew Member Drewsky googling away trying to find a bottle right now. 

via Caribbean Business

House Party Courtesy of Tequila Avion and Friends

So you just plunked down a large chunk of your net worth for that swanky hilltop home.  Now what are you going to do with your new humble abode?  Well how about having event-planner extraordinaire Colin Cowie throw you the mother-of-all dinner parties complete with gourmet dishes prepared by Todd English and signature cocktails prepared with Tequila Avion by mixologist Yusef Austin?  Following dinner, you and 75 of your closest friends can then party the night away while dancing to hot sets by celebrity DJ Donna d’Cruz.  All of this doesn’t come cheap of course as you’ll need to possibly take out a second mortgage to pay for the $125,000 tab which will cover the evening’s festivities.  Once you’ve given the home owner’s association a heads up, you can book the party through Neiman Marcus’ 2010 Christmas Book. 

Samuel Adam's Infinium

Here’s another fine product by those patriotic beer folks at Sam Adams.  This time, they’ve teamed up with Germany’s Weihenstephan Brewery to come up with a unique bubbly brew called Infinium that would be a fine addition to any holiday get-together.  According to Uncrate, the beer has a “fruity, slightly spicy aroma, and crisp malt and citrus flavors.”  Sounds good to us.  And so does the 10.3 percent alcohol by volume.  Buy a 750 ml bottle for $20.