Between birthdays and my first road race, it's taken me a hot minute to recap last week's World Cocktail Day fundraiser at Pranna, and I think my liver's still quaking. About 20 star mixologists and hundreds of thirsty followers celebrated the grand bittered sling in style. Invitees were ensured a dandy buzz as teams of five bottle-rockers served drinks each hour of the event. Some planned ahead and brought their own syrups, while others mixed drinks impromptu.
Here's a rundown of the tipples I tasted: Gary Regan's Plymouth Pull (Plymouth Gin, Gran Marnier, Navan Vanilla Cognac, Angostura bitters), Simon Ford's blueberry cocktail (Plymouth Gin, Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, muddled blueberries, lemon juice, simple syrup, sparkling sake), Jason Kosmas' Tom Collins (Plymouth Gin, lemon juice, aloe juice, simple syrup, soda water), John Lermayer's gin cocktail (Plymouth gin, muddled cucumber, ginger juice, lemongrass syrup, lime juice), Leo DeGroff's Jezebel (muddled strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, Sagatiba cachaca, lemongrass syrup, honey, lime juice), Erin Williams' Cointreau Cup (Cointreau, muddled mint, cucumber and strawberries, Hendrick's gin, lime juice), Charlotte Voisey's Hendrick's Smash (Hendrick's Gin, Angostura bitters, mint, agave nectar, lime juice), Aisha Sharpe's tequila cocktail (El Tesoro Reposado Tequila, muddled pink peppercorns, Navan Vanilla Cognac, grapefruit juice, lemon juice), Misty Kalkofen's Tap Treasure (El Tesoro Reposado Tequila, maple syrup, Navan Vanilla Cognac, Angostura bitters, lemon juice), Julie Reiner's Clover Club (Hendrick's Gin, homemade raspberry syrup, dry vermouth, egg white, lemon juice), Audrey Saunder's Plymouth Mojito (Plymouth Gin, muddled mint, simple syrup, Pernod), Dale DeGroff's louched Pernod Absinthe, David Wondrich's adapted Old Fashioned (made with choice of Hennessy Black or 10 Cane Rum, Angostura bitters, dash simple syrup, lemon twist), Allen Katz's whiskey cocktail (Yamazaki 12 Year Single Malt, Domaine de Canton, Gary Regan's Orange Bitters, simple syrup, lime juice, sparkling sake), Gardner Dunn's whiskey cocktail (Yamazaki 12 Year Single Malt, tamarind syrup, agave nectar, lemon juice, ginger ale), Naren Young's Pisco Punch (Pisco, pineapple gum syrup, lime juice, lemon juice), and several others, including drinks by Ben Clemons, Andy Seymour, and Jamie Gordon, although my notes got a little illegible at that point. It was a fantastic evening in honor of the artistry and talent responsible for the cocktail renaissance. Check out my Flickr page for more photos by Bobbi Misick.
