Sunday, August 05, 2007
I found this on Uncrate via Liquor Snob:
"Enjoy the finer whiskies of life as you pour out your evening drink from this Ralph Lauren Leather-and-Crystal Decanter ($395). This swank decanter, with its hand blown lead crystal and saddle leather trim, is finished with silver-plated hardware with stamped RL logos. It also sports an oversized stopper and wide rectangular barrel for your convenience." (Uncrate)
"We're not exactly sure how much decanting affects the taste of a fine whisk(e)y, but we're guessing there's a reason people do it. Of course, if we had a decanter as cool-looking as this Ralph Lauren leather and crystal jobby we found at Uncrate, we'd probably be decanting all over the place even if it didn't have any noticeable benefits at all. It's a bit on the spendy side, coming in at just under $400, but just think - you buy this once and you can pass off the cheapest whiskeys in the world in it, because people will see it coming out of a fancy decanter and just assume that's how it should taste." (Liquor Snob)
Always a fan of designer collaborations.
I found this on Liquor Snob and thought it was worth sharing...
"We just got a press release about an Urban Lifestyle Specialist contest from Smirnoff, and to be honest, before reading it we wouldn't have been able to tell you what an Urban Lifestyle Specialist is. We probably would've said they're the folks who teach 50 Cent to shoot people, or consult with Puffy/Puff Daddy/P Diddy on his monthly name change.
Now that we've read the release, apparently the ULS contest has something to do with sending 10 people all over the world for a year to "retrace the worldwide journey of the Smirnoff brand." It's got all kinds of buzzwords about how those ULSs will use blog and video and photograph and fingerpaint about their journey. We have to admit, it got us excited about the contest and what being a ULS might be.
We're fully ready to sign up and we really think we're perfect for the Smirnoff Ten; find out more in the press release below or head to Smirnoff.com to throw your hat in the ring.
Smirnoff, the world's number-one selling premium spirit*, announced today a global search for 10 consumers to travel the world in pursuit of original nightlife experiences. One lucky person from the U.S. will have the opportunity to join nine others from around the globe – dubbed The Smirnoff Ten – to travel together for one year as they re-trace the worldwide journey of the Smirnoff brand. This adventure will be documented through short films, blogs, photos and other media.
As part of the journey, the crew of globetrotters will travel to Smirnoff Experience events in Moscow, Shanghai, Paris and New York - the four landmark cities in the brand’s history. Each Smirnoff Experience event recreates and celebrates the legacy and heritage Vladimir Smirnoff experienced in that city. In addition, The Smirnoff Ten will visit the world’s most exciting events, festivals, bars and clubs across six continents (Asia, Europe, South Africa, Australia, North and South America). Smirnoff is seeking writers, photographers, reporters, cameramen/women and editors with unique style and finesse to comprise The Smirnoff Ten. Smirnoff will also be looking for those who are tastemakers of nightlife in their area, such as mixologists, DJs, promoters, and those who live the urban culture and can work the scene anywhere in the world.
The Smirnoff Ten will focus on the unique people and the exciting places that are shaping nightlife experiences. Each team member will report their findings back to Smirnoff through short films, blogs, photoblogs and/or articles. The submitted content will be featured on smirnoff.com as well as on websites, TV, radio, and print. As part of this effort, Smirnoff has agreed to a deal with YouTube, which will feature The Smirnoff Ten on a branded channel throughout the year."
To visit the Smirnoff Experience YouTube site click here...
This is certainly worth keeping an eye on... the video has already had over a million views... This is a great platform for running a global experiential competition.
From Liquor Snob:
"Here's a nifty little item that should have you and your family buzzed nice and toasty this holiday season. It's a rack for one bottle of liquor that also contains six multicolored shot glasses. That's enough to bring holiday cheer to you, Mom, Dad, Sis, Bro, and Grandma (or however your family, nuclear or non, shakes out) in good measure."
From Liquor Snob:
"Yesterday we waxed a bit poetic about the Screwpull lever corkscrew, and today we're taking a look at a bar tool set by the same folks. We dug the look of the thing right out of the box, all modern and sleek looking. There are a bunch of great tools in there, all high quality stainless steel - a bar knife, strainer, double-ended bar spoon (slotted and solid), a lemon zester, and ice tongs. The fact that they're steel is important, because the coolest thing about the bar set is that it's magnetic.
After you use a tool all you have to do to put it away is get it somewhere near the base and let go - it'll swing on in and stick. This is pretty crucial after you've used the tools to craft a couple rounds of drinks - you probably won't be too concerned with where your bar tools end up, but at least through the power of magnetism you'll have a chance to get them where they need to be. We thought the magnets were plenty strong, and while we couldn't get the spoon and tongs to magnetize to the side we were able to drop the spoon in the center of the console and hang the tongs off the side.
All in all we're happy with our bar tool set and we're looking forward to mixing up a whole lot of drinks with it. The tools are comfortable in our hands, and we're also secretly hoping the magnetic waves will also exude into our drinks and give us some kind of superpowers."
You can buy this kit here.
For Liquor Snob's articles on Bar Accessories click here. And for drinking gear click here.
Liquor Snob is full of amazing stuff and well worth dipping into. You'll struggle to find a more wide ranging and interesting booze site.
From Liquor Snob:
"Attention all fellow geeks...why the hell were we not informed?
Enjoy a slice of inter-galactic opulence with the Star Wars Pewter Bar Set. You get all four pieces: Darth Vader (corkscrew), Yoda (wine stopper), C-3PO (foil cutter), and R2-D2 (bottle opener). This bar set is solid pewter, and sturdy enough to withstand even a Wookie wedding celebration."
Tapping into Star Wars enthusiasm is a great way to drive your brands geek credentials!
Gorgeous and functional double glazed glassware to keep your drink at the optimum temperature.
From Amazon via Liquor Snob.
"After seeing Admiral Adama on Battlestar Galactica have a nice toast of single malt scotch with his son Apollo using these glasses as "scotch props" on a recent TV episode of the series - we knew that these were the scotch glasses to buy. These double-walled drinking glasses made of insulated, heat-resistant Borosilicate glass keep cold drinks cold and hot ones hot. The medical-grade glass was made for lab use, and is actually lighter and thinner than traditional glass, and that's what makes them unique."
From Harvey's Easy Living on Amazon via Liquor Snob:
"Booze briefcase offers portability and flexibility to all your drinking missions.
Y'know how cool it is in the movies, when they show an assassin put together a sniper rifle from random knick-knacks pulled out of an innocent-looking briefcase? We think it would be scads cooler if instead of nightvision scopes and bullets, he whipped out shot glasses and liquor bottles.
Now you can be that impressive liquor assassin with the Trav-L-Bar Briefcase Bar. Here are the vital statistics:
* Made of vinyl that looks like two-toned burgundy and black leather
* Holds 3 bottles (not included)
* Combination lock and gift box
* Includes 4 metal cups, serving tray, 3/4 X 1 1/2 oz. jigger and wood-handled opener
* Liquor bottles not included (duh)
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to pick up your own briefcase bar for under $50, and drink with extreme prejudice. Or, if this one doesn't fit your professional style, check for other bar accessories from Harvey's Easy Living at Amazon."
