Empire Squared

The Empire Hotel on 63rd St. played host to the 2008 Empire Wine & Spirits Distributor Showcase event.  The rooftop deck at the Empire Hotel is quite expansive - a bit overwhelming for someone like myself coming from one of my bars, Bookmarks Lounge, which happens to be a rooftop bar (it’s around 1/4 the size).  Yes, the Empire roof deck is beautiful and the view could not be beat.  The hotel just finished up a large renovation, and it’s transformed the entire space into this swanky, low-light, designer furniture kind of spot. 

Importing companies showcased their brands, with everyone from Moet Hennessy USA, to Bacardi USA, to Diageo, to Brown-Forman at their respective booths set up for tastings of wines, spirits, and cocktails.  This bartender was behind the main bar mixing up some Brown-Forman brand cocktails.  Here’s a quick and easy recipe that I served up last night using Herradura Silver Tequila.  Slainte! (still obsessed with my Ireland trip):

Herradura Margarita Mundial

1 oz. Herradura Silver Tequila

1/2 oz. Chambord

1/2 oz. Tuaca

1/2 oz. Fresh lime juice

1/2 oz. simple syrup

Directions:  shake well in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Strain into a chilled martini glass.

Garnish: Lime wedge

 

~ by thecocktailguru on May 8, 2008.