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Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/725097
www.cheersonline.com 8 • September 2016 THE MOSCOW MULE TURNS 75 America's first vodka cocktail, the Moscow Mule, celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. As the legend goes, the Mule was created in 1941 at the Hollywood pub The Cock'n Bull. It was the brainchild of John G. Martin, president of spirits company Heublein, which owned the rights to Smirnoff vodka, and Jack Morgan, owner of The Cock'n Bull. Martin was having trouble selling the vodka to Americans, who were more keen on brown spirits at the time, while Morgan had a ginger beer that customers weren't interested in. They created a solution to sell both products by combining Smirnoff No. 21 vodka with Cock'n Bull ginger beer and a spritz of lime. (Someone reportedly had an oversupply of copper mugs, which is how the drink came to be served in one, but the story gets bit fuzzier.) Martin travelled to bars around the country encouraging bartenders to make a Moscow Mule. He also gave them a Polaroid photo- graph—a novelty at the time—of themselves with the final creation. Martin would take a copy of the instant photograph to other bars and get them to make the cocktail as well. The Mule soon became a nationwide trend and paved the way for other classic vodka cocktails. With the interest in historic and vintage cocktails, as well as the growing popularity of ginger beer in the U.S., the Moscow Mule has enjoyed a major resurgence in recent years. To celebrate the drink's milestone anniver- sary, Smirnoff hosted a series of immersive dinners at the 14th Annual Tales of the Cocktail conference in New Orleans this past July. Attendees were transported back in time to experience the story of the Moscow Mule in a pop-up Cock'n Bull restaurant. The Moscow Mule was also the official cocktail of Tales 2016 and the subject of its annual cocktail competition, a spirited dinner and a brand seminar. Angel Teta of Ataula restaurant and bar in Portland, OR, created the winning recipe, the El Burro Catalan, made with vodka, sherry, fresh-pressed cranberry, natural cane syrup, lemon juice, Angostura bitters and ginger beer.—MD DRINK CULTURE PRODUCTS The new Skinnygirl Watermelon Lime Margarita is a ready-to- serve cocktail that has a bright, fruity aroma with light tequila and citrus notes, the company says. It finishes with a sweet and tart melon flavor. Less than 100 calories per serving, the 19.9-proof Skinnygirl Watermelon Lime Margarita is available for a suggested retail price of $12.99 per 750-ml. bottle. Little Black Dress Rosé is 54% gewurztra- miner, 23% muscat, 14% chardonnay, 5% zinfandel and 4% other white vari- etals. This new release from Excelsior Wine has flavors of ripe berries and a dash of sweetness, the company says. At 12.5% ABV, this rosé pairs with light dishes like salads, fish, grilled meats and fresh cheese, and retails for $11.99 per 750-ml. bottle. Alacran Tequila has released Alacran XA, an extra añejo tequila. Made from 100% Weber blue agave plants that are seven to 10 years old, and harvested in the highlands of Los Altos in Jalisco, Alacran XA is matured 40 months in American oak barrels from bourbon. Flavors on the palate are fruity and oak, followed by a cognac finish, the company says. Alacran XA retails for $49.99 per 750-ml. bottle. John Distilleries Ltd. has launched Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky in the U.S. Distilled near the beaches of Goa in India, this whisky is crafted from six-row barley grains grown at the foothills of the Himalayas, which is responsible for its smokiness, the company says. Paul John is available in 750-ml. expressions including Brilliance (SRP: $60 per 750-ml. bottle), Edited ($65), Bold ($75), Select Cask Classic ($95) and Select Cask Peated ($100). Closet Freak is a California white table wine vinted and bottled by Kick Family Estates (a subsidi- ary of Southern Champion in Carrollton, TX). "We wanted to make a great table wine that was not too sweet but also not too tart," says Merrilee Kick, president of Kick Family Estates. The suggested retail price is $11.99 per 750-ml. bottle. The whisky liqueur Drambuie has launched a new bottle based on the product's 250-year-old history. The bottle is cast in dark brown glass and topped with a red cork closure to evoke the design of the 1960s. It has stronger shoulders and a slight taper. The logo is embossed onto off-white, textured stock. The label background features an pattern focused on the Jacobite Rose, a Scottish emblem since the 18th century.