TRENDS, NEWS and VIEWS

2006 Party  Planning, “Make your own Martini” Bars, and “moonshine” in a bottle

By Editor: Winter, 2005

	Want to read more? Archived NEWS, TRENDS and VIEWS »

Our quick (and unscientific) look at some of the trends and news we find interesting and relevant.

2006 Party Planning Highlights

The New Year is well under way, and as usual the old year ended with a big party excuse -New Years Eve- and then the new one started with some great party themes including the Super Bowl.

But what a year for party excuses this is going to be! Upcoming Sports highlights include:

• 2006 Winter Olympics from Turin Italy (running February 10th to 26th)
• MLB season opener April 4th
• Master Golf Tournament, April 6th to 9th
• World Cup of Soccer in Germany, June 9th to July 9th

Not into Sports?  How about:

• Valentines Day – February 14th
• The 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5th
• St Patrick’s Day – March 17th
• Easter – April 17th
• Cinco de Mayo – May 5th
• And Mothers Day – May 14th

And that’s just the beginning – visit our popular “Occasions and Trivia” Calendar 2006 – for a complete list of over 300 occasions and excuses to throw a party in 2006.

Follow up on some 2005 trends and news:

In our July 2005 Trends, News & Views article, we highlighted the fact that Dan Aykroyd had gone into the Tequila business – seems his thirst for the overall industry has continued with his one million dollar investment into a Canadian based wine company – Niagara Cellars, that includes four wineries – Lakeview Cellars, Birchwood Estates , Thomas & Vaughan and East Deli Estates.

The trend to new liqueur flavors continues: new flavors – new tastes – this time from our friends at Alizé comes the launch of a new flavor – Alizé Rose. Described as “an intoxicating combination of fine French cognac and vodka, Alizé Rose, exclusive to Canada, is complimented by natural passion fruit, strawberry juice, lychee juice and essence of rose.” For more visit our Alizé Rose page.

 "Make-Your-Own Martini" Kits on the menu at The Greenhouse at the Ritz Carlton, in Chicago

Patrons can choose three of their favorites from the Greenhouse martini menu and they will be given all they need to make their own martinis right at their table. The restaurant/bar provides all the ingredients, along with a martini shaker, martini glass and garnishes on a tray allowing the patron make their very own martini.

Flavors range from Mango and Apple, to Cucumber, Watermelon, Chocolate, and feature a wide variety of vodkas, liqueurs and juices to mix with.

Sounds like a great idea to us, but who do you tip?

Moonshine is now being branded as a cocktail in New Zealand

	TRIVIA "Moonshining" is the making of whiskey, typically surreptitiously and illegally. The literal meaning of moonshine is the light of the moon, but because the unlawful activity of distilling whiskey was usually done at night with as little light as possible, the word became to represent the making of the liquor, and the name of the spirit.

Proving we read them all – this press release from a distillery in New Zealand introduces you to the world of bottled moonshine. “In an ironic twist usually saved for the best of marketing fables, 150 years of illegality is finally proving a savior for Kiwis. Though it’s a major departure from its somewhat tough past, Moonshine is being branded as a cocktail of choice – Old Hokonui style! 

The southern distilled epic, which for so many years was smuggled around rural New Zealand in cream cans of old, has now taken on names like Moonbeam, Customs Breaker, Old Hooker and Young Hooker.

While Old Hokonui has previously been reserved for the staunch among Kiwi society, a new breed of whisky connoisseur is turning to the flavour with the advent of the cocktail range that infuses mixes of fresh lime juice, sugar syrup, soda, Dry Vermouth, Bitters, Irish Cream, the rather novel Hokonui Liqueur and more.

Old Hokonui distiller Peter Wheeler says the Alehouse link is a great chance to bring the spirit back to grassroots Kiwis, while also introducing it to a new market.

”The core whisky drinkers have been the ones to back Old Hokonui over the years but it’s great to offer them something a little different from what has been our staple drink in terms of the Moonshine,” says Wheeler. “But we’re also finding more women taking it on because it’s something so different and with a history so diverse and unique. You ask anyone who has tried one of the cocktails - even non-whisky drinkers are loving it because the lime covers some of the oiliness that whisky has. The lime helps balance it and makes it that much smoother for them.”

For more information visit www.HokonuWhiskey.com »