In remaking New York’s Bar Artisanal into a tapas-focused restaurant, Beverage Director Jason Miller introduced such cocktails as the Valencia (vodka, mango and jalapeño) and the PX Cacao Martini (Pedro Ximenez Sherry, vodka and Godiva liqueur). Bar Artisanal also features innovative twists on the traditional Horchata, made from rice, ground almonds, sesame seeds, barley and tigernuts, incorporating lychee and brandy or passion fruit and rum.
The arrival of the second movie of the Cosmopolitan-craze-driving “Sex and the City” franchise has triggered a wave of cocktails. Sushisamba, one of the girls’ favorite hangouts in New York City, features a “Sex and the City” Hakata on its menu (pictured at right) to celebrate the release. Somer Perez of The Empire Lobby Bar in NYC has created a specialty menu featuring the Miranda (Bluecoat Gin, lemon puree, simple syrup, Lillet Blanc and Pinot Noir). T.G.I. Friday’s. in association with SKYY Vodka, started serving two “Sex and the City 2” signature cocktails, including the Park Avenue Princess (SKYY Infusions Citrus vodka, lemon and lime mix and Sprite topped off with Cabernet Sauvignon) and Glamour Gal (SKYY Infusions Citrus, Cointreau, cranberry juice, lemon and lime).