Is anyone attending BCB (Bar Convent Brooklyn) next week? A programming note: I will be at the Haus Alpenz booth on Wednesday, June 10 4:30 - 6:30 to help guide your final sips of the main event and sign copies of Signature Cocktails (btw Phaidon is having a Friends & Family — Phriends & Phamily? — sale so it’s a swell time to get a copy for 30% off if you can’t be there in person). 

I’m following quite the lineup! (No pressure, or anything.) 

Stop by the booth for Hanky Pankys made with the current recipe from the American Bar at London’s Savoy Hotel, which uses a rich Cocchi vermouth blend (Vermouth di Torino, Dopo Teatro, and Barolo Chinato) with Old Tom gin and fernet. 

The American Bar is where head bartender Ada Coleman originated the cocktail in 1918. Since I likely won’t make it to London this summer, at least I can help bring a taste of it to Brooklyn. All the Alpenz usual suspects (including Cocchi head winemaker Roberta Bava) will be around as well.

Hope to see you there! 

We can toast to the late great Anthony Head together. I’m so gutted over this one. I’d been a fan since those cheeky Nescafé ads. For now, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite scenes from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The man had range.

Ok, two. This one’s been going around, but it’s such an exceptional bit of dialogue. 

Grrrr. Arrrrgh,

Amanda