Who Broke Don Lee’s Wrist? OR Charlotte Voisey’s Mafia Toes…I mean ties.

Yes, it’s true that Don broke his wrist 1 day before leaving for Italy to compete in the Averna Cocktail Challenge.  Someone surely wanted to take him out, knowing that whenever a shaker is put into his two hands, magic happens.   But guess what?  He won anyway – one handed and all!  When will the Don Lee craze ever end?

Getting back to this grim, spellbinding tale…

So who the heck broke Don’s wrist? 

Was it the Salerno Mafia?

Tad Carducci?

That Wondrich guy?

Or…CHARLOTTE VOISEY in an arm-wrestling match?!?!

You be the judge (we hear she likes to break people’s feet, too):

Come up with your most inventive theory behind this 21^st Century mystery, and post it as a comment on my blog.  The best one will appear in an issue of the Ardent Spirits Newsletter.

 

Perhaps some of these photos may spark a theory:

(Above photos taken at the Bols Genever Launch in NYC)

Doesn’t Gary look like he’s got something up his sleeve?  And how about Shawn from Pernod-Ricard?  She may not be as innocent as she seems.

 

Sho-chu on this!

Just came back from London.  No, this was not for work.  I knew that was coming.  It was pure pleasure.  Unaldulterated, pure, passionate, pleasure.  Too much info.  Deal with it, k?

Went with my wife, Megan.  We very much enjoy traveling, and the UK seemed like the perfect trip this time around.  We stayed with some very dear friends of ours in a very dear area of London called Richmond.  The name does speak for the town itself – it’s rich in history (home to one of King Henry VII’s castles, as well as just down the Thames from Henry the VIII’s castle he built for none other than Ms. Bolyn), a gastronomers dream, and very conveniently located just 25 minutes from central London.  Oh yeah, you can drink refreshingly delicious Pimm’s Cup Cocktails whilst walking along the promenade that kisses the banks of the River Thames. 

Mmmm…Pimm’s Cup.  Perfectly fruity, herby, bitter, and sweet, all rolled into one.  The plastic cup it was served to us in added character, a certain nuttiness.  The crisp fall air, clear blue skies (yes, this phenomenon does occur in the UK), historic bridges, the changing tides – this was a perfect London weekend!

The next evening, we hit up Shochu Lounge, the underground cocktail joint literally underground from Roka Restaurant on Charlotte Street.  There’s no argument that the main attractions are the cocktailian bartenders and signature drinks.  And the star who created those fine libations is none other than Tony Conigliari.  Tony is a true alchemist, a perfumer at times.  His fig and Leblon cachaca cocktail really hit the spot.  My wife and friends enjoyed one of his healing schochu-based tonics.  The ice (as we all know, an integral part of all mixed drinks) is cut and chopped from an extraordinarily large ice block resting on one side of the bar.  Why don’t we do this more often on this side of the Atlantic?  Would love to cut my ice this way.

Well, to make a long story short, I’m already looking forward to my next trip across the pond.

 

I’ll include some more photos from this trip once I get my act together.

Stay tuned for coverage from the Bols Genever Launch a couple of weeks back. 

Yes, I’m a bit backed up, I know it.

Enjoy this classically British cocktail in the meantime:

Pimm’s Cup

1 3/4 oz. Pimm’s

3 oz. Lemonade

top off with Lemon-Lime Soda

Directions:  Build ingredients in a Collins glass filled with ice. 

Garnish: sliced cucumbers, mint sprigs, orange wedges, lemon wedges, lime wedges