Bar, nightclub and restaurant operators, managers, bartenders and other staff members have a lot to keep tabs on. From every day operations tasks to new product releases to spirit, beer, wine, cocktail and food trends, keeping on top of bar and nightlife news each week can be a project in and of itself.
That’s where we come in. To make things that much easier for you we’ve put together a detailed rundown of what happened this week that you should know. You need to know what international products are finally being distributed throughout America, what innovations are being made in glassware and bar and kitchen products, what and when music streaming services are featuring a new album, and so much more. In life, knowledge is power. In this business, knowledge is dollars.
We like our ales pale…and rested for a year in barrels.
If you’re a fan of Full Sail beers and also Woodford Reserve and Old Forester bourbons, we have an announcement that’s right up your alley. Full Sail has released – in limited quantities – Kentucky Cream Bourbon Barrel Aged Pale Ale. This limited edition pale ale was brewed in February of last year, and then it was given special barrel treatment. Woodford Reserve Bourbon and Double Oaked Bourbon barrels, along with Old Forester barrels, were used to age Kentucky Cream Bourbon Barrel Aged Pale Ale for over a year. The result is a smooth, honey-colored pale ale with medium body and a spicy, warm finish that comes in at 10% ABV and 40 IBUs.
Lock away sediment and enjoy wine to the last drop.
If you’re a wine drinker, operate a wine bar or sell a lot of wine by the bottle or glass, you know about sediment. You also know that wine drinkers aren’t a big fan of getting a mouthful of sediment. Well, Vacanti has a solution for that. Their Spirale wine glasses are now available for preorder! As you can see from the photo, the patented corkscrew feature traps sediment as it settles at the bottom of the wine glass.
Rice, rice baby.
Yep, we really did that. It happened and we can’t take it back. But let us tell you why we went there. Bedlam Vodka, recently debuted by Graybeard Distillery at the 2017 Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America show, is a vodka distilled from rice. Bedlam won three awards at the WSWA’s convention: the Hot New Now Media Award, a win in the Spirit Tasting Competition, and the top prize in the Brand Battle. If you’re in North Carolina you’ll get the chance to taste and stock Bedlam Vodka before the rest of the country, but Graybeard does plan on nationwide launches.
Are mistakes you’re making killing your food margin costs?
Restaurant management software company SynergySuite recently published and shared a post about profit margins. Specifically, the tech company identified and explained 4 mistakes you may be making that are impacting your food cost margins negatively. With ingredient costs rising it’s important that every operator manage their food costs effectively. To that end, SynergySuite recommends you take daily inventory, avoid ordering too much product, commit to closely checking deliveries, and cost your recipes accurately. To learn more about managing your margins, click here.
Tales of the Cocktail and Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whisky Announce 2017 Ultimate Bartender Championship
Are you a bartender or an operator with a talented roster of bartenders? Do you live to compete? We only ask because Tales of the Cocktail has partnered with Monkey Shoulder 100% malt whisky to present the 2017 Ultimate Bartender Championship. The UBC is a series of 5 rounds that put real bartending skills to the test, and it travels from Miami to New York, Chicago, Austin and a location in California to be determined. The rounds include Quiz Show, the Mixiodic Table, Round Building (5 cocktails in less than 5 minutes), Nosing Tray Service, and the Championship Round. Esteemed judges include Chris Hannah (the 2017 Nightclub & Bar Awards Bartender of the Year) from Arnaud’s French 75 in New Orleans, Ezra Star of Drink in Boston, Dev Johnson of Employees Only in NYC, and John Lermayer from Sweet Liberty in Miami. Click here to get all the details, and good luck!
Give back with Tito this summer.
From May 1 to September 4, you can buy a bottle Tito’s Handmade Vodka, take a picture of your receipt, and choose to make a donation to either Hire Heroes or Bunker Labs. Everyone who participates in Tito’s Smokin’ Summer Giveback will be entered to win prizes, with winners announced each month. However, the best part of Tito’s Smokin’ Summer Giveback is that Tito himself will donate up to $200,000 to Hire Heroes and Bunker Labs! Follow these easy steps to participate:
- Snap a pic of the receipt to 811811.
- Choose to donate to either Hire Heroes or Bunker Labs.
The most Instagrammed places in the world.
We live in a connected world wherein Instagram isn’t just a brand name, it’s a verb. As you are no doubt painfully aware as an owner or operator, your brand needs to have its Instagram on point. TravelBird, an online travel site, studied 470 attractions around the world to create their Most Instagrammed Tourist Attractions list. This list should be of particular relevance to you if you happen to operate a bar, nightclub or restaurant near any of these attractions. For instance, the Las Vegas Strip, South Beach, Mardi Gras, and Time Square made the USA list, with a few of those also hitting the international list. To view the entire list, click here.