Ritz-Carlton : What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
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Ritz-Carlton : What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
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Category: Worldwide
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2010-12-02
Why Not Sample “Mixologist Miracles” at Your Favorite Ritz-Carlton?
It’s been said that Winston Churchill claimed champagne and quality cigars are a “match made in heaven.” The venerable Englishman might have changed his mind had he tasted some of the “mixology miracles” created by the talented bartenders serving guests on New Year’s Eve at The Ritz-Carlton Hotels and Resorts around the world. Of course, times have changed, and even the Prime Minister would have had to stash the stogie!
While many loyal guests at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park say no one makes a classic shaken, not stirred martini like world famous behind- the- bar celebrity Norman Bukhofzer, cocktails have come a long way since that drink was the signature favorite featured on episodes of the 50’s TV hit show “Mad Men.” Some purists will never order anything else, but for those seeking variety, there are some great choices to consider whether you say “Sláinte,” “Salute,” or “Cheers.”
At The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, local movers and shakers gather at the bar at Ten Arts by Eric Ripert for an updated and seasonally inspired “Green Tea White Chocolate Martini” served up nightly by Steven Diaz. Featuring green tea mint infused Godiva White, vanilla vodka, white crème de cocoa, and house made green tea mint simple syrup, Diaz swirls the green tea syrup around a martini glass, and garnishes it with a strip of white chocolate. Diaz credits pastry chef Monica Glass’ mint tea ice cream sandwich dessert creation with the tasty martini.
Since The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown opened, the former incinerator building redesigned into a sleek boutique hotel has been a gathering place for lobbyists, lawyers and visiting celebrities. Their favorite place is the intimate Degrees Bar and Lounge. On New Year’s Eve, the watering hole will be packed with partygoers welcoming in 2011. Christine Moore, the bar manager, has her own new cocktail, “The Sparkling Melange.” Melange is the French word for mixture, and this drink is simple but delicious. Ingredients include Veuve Clicquot Champagne, St Germain Elderflower liquer (from France), served up in one of the Degrees bar signature flutes.
Across town at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C., revelers can order up Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert manager Amy Troutmiller’s “Sparkler of the House.” Only three ingredients make this a cocktail which is sure to call for a refill or two. It is light and tasty with persimmon puree, cinnamon bitters in a flute, and an ample splash of Prosecco to fill the glass.
The aptly named “Midnight Martini” comes from bartender Melissa Rivera at The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan. The Puerto Rican native keeps the recipe simple - crème de cassis, cream of coconut, and Sky vodka. Before mixing all the ingredients, Melissa likes to rim the martini glass with coconut flakes to resemble stars.
For those who prefer to ring in the New Year with a non-alcoholic treat, Rivera offers “New Year’s Toast on a Cloudy Sky.” She mixes vanilla ice cream base, orange juice, ginger ale and shakes lightly. Poured over a pilsner glass, she garnishes her drink with slices of star fruit for a perfect Caribbean flourish.
Halfway across the world in China’s capital, they’ll be ringing the New Year in 13 hours earlier at The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing Financial Street, with an exotic twist on the “Asian Mao-Tai.” Created by bartender Jessica Yuan, who claims a record 47 seconds to create her potent cocktail, the drink includes herbal Maotai, Aperol, orange juice, and syrup. The trick to this Chinese drink is infusing Chinese liquor, or baiju, with local flowering herbs. This is then added to a freshly pressed whole orange with the aromatic bite of Aperol, stirred with ice cubes into a glass.
At the Sugar Loaf Lounge in The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, Ireland, bartender Kevin Bunick likes to prepare “The Celt Cocktail,” featuring Bushmills Irish Whiskey, Irish Mist Liquor, apple juice, l fresh apple and vanilla pod. Directions are simple to follow: place apple and vanilla in the shaker and mix. Add whiskey, Irish mist, and apple juice and shake vigorously. Serve up in a martini glass poured through a double strainer. Top off with apple cider and garnish with sliced fresh apple.
For everyone who wants to ring in the New Year not only with a great cocktail, but a view that is truly unforgettable, just visit The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow, whose trendy rooftop bar O2 overlooks all of Red Square and the Kremlin, blazing with lights in the midnight sky. Order senior bartender Artiom Emelstein’s signature “Snegurochka’s Winter Passion,” a potent potable with an impossible name to pronounce. Featuring Russia’s favorite drink, vodka, other ingredients include Mandarin vodka, Bombay Sapphire, Martini Gold, and 02 thyme syrup. Pour, stir and strain all ingredients into a chilled martini glass, topped off with a Mandarin orange.
For the après ski crowd, there is nothing like a relaxing cocktail to calm down a Rocky Mountain high after a day on the slopes. Spago bartender and local celebrity Scotty Moises looks to Colorado for his inspiration at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. Guests can sit in front of the roaring fireplace, watch the skiers schussing down the mountain, and sip “The Ritz 75.” The recipe includes organic Colorado Cap Rock gin, lemon juice, simple syrup with ice, shake and strain into a champagne flute, top with The Ritz-Carlton champagne, and garnish with a lemon twist.
For traditionalists who like a steaming mug of hot chocolate, Moises offers his own homemade hot cocoa, spiced with vanilla vodka, Grand Marnier, and topped off with baby marshmallows. This drink is best enjoyed at the outdoor fire pit while snacking on the resort’s delicious S’Mores.
For a regional cocktail choice on New Year’s Eve, a Southern tradition uses black eyed peas, a traditional sign of good luck. While the peas are usually eaten, the bartenders at The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta added them to their unique drink, the “Black Eyed Pea Cocktail.” The recipe includes Absolut Black Vodka, dark chocolate liqueur, and a drop of dark chocolate. Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Place a drop of dark chocolate in the middle of a glass. Then for the final Southern touch, garnish with five black eyed peas on a cocktail stick.
And for those who like their cocktails with a taste like dessert, the Atlanta bartenders have concocted a “Pecan Pie Martini.” Slightly sweet, but smooth, creamy and definitely toasted, this tribute to a Southern perennial favorite includes Captain Morgan special rum, Castnes peanut liqueur, Amaretto, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, Godiva caramel liqueur, and cream. Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with candied pecans and rimmed with sweet toasted pecan crusts.
While Winston Churchill would probably find these creative cocktails a far stretch from his beloved flutes of champagne, one thing is for certain, those who prefer their New Year’s Eve bubbly will find their menu choices do include an extensive list of choices from The Ritz-Carlton Champagne to rare vintages of Cristal Brut to ring in 2011.
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