www.cheersonline.com
3
May 2016 •
CONTENTS
May 2016 • Vol. 27 No. 3
On The Cover :
Larry Nicola, owner/chef/"vodcateur"
of Nic's Beverly Hills
Photography by Dave Schwep
29
18
41
24
features
20
3
May 2016 •
18 The Best of Nightclub & Bar
A roundup of our coverage of the annual industry convention
By Melissa Dowling
24 Barteca Breaks Out
The bar-centric, small-plates Spanish restaurant group expands its reach
By Kyle Swartz
29 Spring Fling
Wine pairing ideas that make seasonal ingredients sing
By Kelly Magyarics
33 Beverage Innovation in Action
How some chain operators are improving their drink programs
By Amanda Baltazar
37 Tea Up!
Why it's time to tap into kombucha
By Lucy Saunders
41 Hard Soda Heats Up
Spiked root beer starts a category surge
By Kyle Swartz
20
Lightening Up
on Vodka
The chameleon spirit remains
the backbone of the bar
By Thomas Henry Strenk
COVER STORY