Two masters vision – Patron Tequila and Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro

Very impressive and artistic Patrón x Guillermo del Toro is packaged in an upside down 750ml bottle with a small skull shaped bottle Patron’s aged orange liqueur  on top resembling a human body and skeleton. The expression is a blend of Patrón Tequilas aged for an average of more than five years in a combination of different new and used oak barrels.

It is described as having notes of “light honey, nuts and raisins, slight vanilla, and oak, with a long finish of agave and oak courtesy of the barrels”.

The packaging design was inspired by jimadores, the labourers who harvest and trim the blue agave that creates Tequila.

This partnership marks one of the first commercial collaborations del Toro has engaged outside of the entertainment industry.

“Tequila courses through the veins of my native land, Jalisco. It represents a communion between spirit and earth, steeped in time and tradition, and a source of pride that roots us and defines us both,” said del Toro. “Through the years, I have been offered many collaborations in designing and executing different products. I have never been tempted. This creation has been an adventure, and a privilege.”

ONLY 3000 BOTTLES MADE WORLD WIDE.

DRINK PINK & SUPPORT BREAST CANCER

Choosing pink & fighting Breast Cancer  is also  in the mind of the notable Spirits Companies.

Here are a few that will donate to fighting #BreastCancer

CLASE AZUL TEQUILA SPECIAL EDITION PINK BOTTLE SUPPORTING BREAST CANCER

Choose Pink and join the fight against breast cancer…1 Liter Special Edition Clase Azul Spirits joins the fight against breast cancer by making three thousand Special Edition PINK bottles, whose main purpose is giving life.

Proceeds from the limited edition run of 3000 bottles will support breast cancer awareness and research.

Clase Azul is an ultra premium, 100% Weber Blue Agave, Reposado Tequila. Clase Azul tequila is the perfect marriage between the finest Tequila and a beautiful handcrafted, hand-painted Talavera carafe.

ONLY 3000 PINK BOTTLES. A SPECIAL EDITION CONTAINING 1L OF CLASE AZUL REPOSADO WHOLE SOLE PURPOSE IS TO GIVE LIFE AND FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER. $10 DONATED FOR EVERY BOTTLE SOLD.

PURCHASE CLASE AZUL REPO PINK TEQUILA

Chopin Vodka’s Pink Ribbon Bottle Supports Breast Cancer Awareness

Think Pink this October and support breast cancer awareness with the gift of a bottle of Chopin Potato Vodka.  Chopin, the leading artisanal craft distiller from Poland, has released a special bottle dedicated to breast cancer awareness. Over the last three years, Chopin has donated over $44,000 to support breast cancer research with the proceeds from the Pink Ribbon bottle, with another $15,000 donation planned for 2014.  The limited-edition bottle is a stylish way to give back to a great cause, while enjoying a beautifully crafted spirit from Poland’s leading family distillery.

Chopin Potato, a Gold Medal winner at the 2014 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, has notes of vanilla with a rich, creamy mouthfeel.

Chopin Vodka is distilled from natural ingredients grown locally in Podlasie, Poland northeast of Warsaw. Every part of the Chopin process is done by hand – from picking, cooking and mashing, to fermentation, distilling and bottling.  Water is also harvested locally from a 300-foot Artesian well on the Chopin property. Each bottle contains only three ingredients – the highest-quality, naturally grown potato, yeast, and purified artesian well water.

PURCHASE CHOPIN PINK

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT? THERE IS A LOGO IN MY DRINK?

Branding and bars have long gone hand in hand. But the days when cocktail napkins, swizzle sticks, cardboard coasters and matchbooks were the last word in tactile advertising are over. In today’s distracted culture, cocktail bars need something a little flashier to chisel their names into the drinker’s consciousness. Bars are now  using stamped ice cubs  to remind drinkers where they are but I am sure after the 2nd drink you will not remember. 

 

 

 

 

PATRON TEQUILA MEXICAN HERITAGE

In celebration of Patrón tequila’s Mexican heritage, the ultra-premium tequila brand has introduced a limited edition collector’s gift tin. Contemporary Mexican artist Verónica Villarreal Sada designed the Aztec-inspired metal box, which houses a bottle of Patrón Silver tequila.

“Though Patrón is enjoyed across the world, every drop of our tequila is produced in the town of Atotonilco el Alto in the picturesque Jalisco Highlands in Mexico,” says Ed Brown, president and CEO at Patrón Spirits International. “We’re very proud of our Mexican heritage, and the history and culture that for generations has inspired the production of tequila, showcased through this beautiful collector’s edition Patrón Mexican Heritage tin.”

Set against a vibrant pink background, the Patrón Silver Mexico tin prominently features two Aztec deities, Quetzalcóatl, the feathered serpent, and Tonatiuh, the sun god, as well as an eagle to represent ancient mythological symbolism. Drawing inspiration from traditional mosaics and embroidery, Sada used bright, eye-catching colors to capture traditional Mexican patterns and prints. Circling the Patrón bottle on the side of the tin is an interpretation of the ancient Aztec calendar.

The special edition Patrón Mexican Heritage tin is available for purchase : http://www.melandrose.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=92502

Patrón Silver is made from only the finest 100 percent Weber Blue Agave handcrafted in small batches in Jalisco, Mexico to be smooth, soft and easily mixable. Its taste is sweet, with fresh agave and citrus, and a light pepper finish.

Father’s Day Gifts for Dads

Spirited Father’s Day Gifts for Dad

If you think Pop cherished the paperweight you got him for Father’s Day last year, just wait till his eyes light up when you set a bottle of Herredura Anjeo and a shot glasses on the table and silently pour out two fingers. Nearly every dad who drinks would prefer a tasty snifter to a new necktie on the third Sunday of June, making it one of the easiest holidays of the year to shop for. Thus far no two fathers are the same when it comes to spirit preferences. Your elbow-patched head may be happiest with a sophisticated Scotch he can show off to his sports buddies. Adventure-seeking fathers straight from their latest 5K might dig some innovative Rum from a small-batch. And DIY dads who dream of building man caves and grilling the perfect New York Steak   might enjoy mixing it up with a versatile Gin and a book of classic cocktail recipes to try out. After all the point is, Father’s Day is all about making your Papa feel extraordinary, so we’ve taste and recommend  our way through a selection of new and noteworthy spirits in a variety of categories and distilled them into a manageable collection of delicious bottles.  One of them is sure to be right for your old man. If you’re not lucky, to deliver it yourself-our website is ready for to do that for you: http://www.melandrose.com Whiskey We might think of whiskey as a liquor steeped in history, but this corner of the booze world has plenty of new ideas to offer when it comes to gift worthy bottles. If you have deep pockets, you may want to explore the best of Islay, but if Dad finds those peaty, smoky single malts a little too  for his taste, consider Haig Club an easy-to-embrace single grain whiskey made at Cameronbridge distillery in Fife using a mash bill of 90% wheat and 10% barley. It’s a lighter spirit, each sip a playful mix of apples, pears, and tropical fruit, with a dusting of cinnamon and white pepper flavors, and a kiss of caramel. A celebrity endorsement by David Beckham makes no difference to Dad, of course, but the handsome, blue glass bottle might remind him of the Aqua Velva you didn’t give him this year, and that’s a good thing.

Tequila

Herredura has continuously produced tequila since 1870, and the roughly 25 million agaves it maintains are propagated from the original plants of that era. More than any other huge-scale producer, Herradura has found a way, though, to maintain quality while scaling up. (Way, way up – its fermentation tanks hold more than a million gallons.) Rather than rely on commercial yeasts to hasten fermentation, the company uses only naturally occurring airborne yeasts and lets the juice ferment for up to a week. The hacienda has a knack for aging: Herradura introduced the reposado category in 1974, and it remains one of the best examples of the style, with classic vanilla and butterscotch elements that come from a long (for reposado) 11 months in American oak. Its blanco spends 45 days in oak, giving it a bit of color and smoothness, though without overpowering the base agave flavor.

Gin

In a world filled with a myriad of mediocre, mundane and wholly unremarkable things, Hendrick’s exists as a shining beacon of unusualness. As many have been known to say, no other gin tastes like HENDRICK’S because no other gin is made like HENDRICK’S. Our unusual distillation process combined with our oddly delicious set of infusions of rose petal and cucumber yield a one-of-a-kind gin that is passionately loved by a tiny, yet growing, handful of individuals all over the world. Hand made in tiny batches, our tender approach is what makes Hendrick’s so divine. As many a gin drinker has been known to say, no other gin taste likes Hendrick’s because no other gin is made like Hendrick’s. HENDRICK’S is clean and dry, yet the marvelous complexity of the botanicals comes through in the taste. Take note of the citrus and juniper with a subtle, lingering finish of cool and refreshing cucumber and rose.

Patron 7 Anos: A Hidden Gem, Rediscovered

It is not often that a distiller can happily say that they forget about several barrels of their product. But exactly that happened to 30 barrels of Patron Tequila, and they couldn’t be happier. After going through their usual tequila production process, starting with only the best blue agave hearts which are baked in stone ovens and then distilled in in small copper stills, 30 barrels worth of tequila was put in French Oak barrels, an unusual choice, to be aged for a typical period of one year. But, as Patron shifted around the barrels, taking old ones out and bringing new ones in, these 30 barrels remained untouched for not two or three, but a staggering seven years. Then, only just this spring, the master tequilero cracked open a barrel and discovered something extraordinary. Extraordinary enough, it turns out, to warrant Patron’s first ever limited-release bottling.

Patron 7 Anos Extra Anejo tequila. Beautiful to behold, it is an intense amber color with gold notes, stunningly displayed in a replica bottle based on the very first hand-blown Patron bottle and stopper. In the glass, it has an intense woodsy aroma, with notes of vanilla, light butter, and caramel. It tastes smooth, sweet, with dried fruits, citrus, light caramel and vanilla, offset by smoky wood character. This is a truly remarkable bottle in extremely limited quantities, so get it while you still can. After all, Patron 7 Anos was a happy accident, one that will never be replicated again.

Corazon Expressions Tequila: Perfect for Cinco de Mayo

With Cinco de Mayo fast approaching, plans for the perfect barbeque may be derailed by a simple question: what drinks should I serve?  Of course, beer is a must, but what else?  Bourbon is a perfect choice.  But what if you’re serving more Mexican fair to go along with the celebration?  Tequila would be more appropriate.  Now, there’s a way to do both.

Corozan’s Expressions Tequilas.  Three impressive tequilas barrel-aged in ex-bourbon barrels, from esteemed distillers Buffalo Trace, George T. Stagg, and Sazerac Rye, and a special Artisanal Blanco as their bases.  Each bourbon imparts complex flavors to the tequila, turning an already noteworthy drink into something truly remarkable.

Corazon Artisanal Edition Blanco Tequila is tequila in its purest form: un-aged and crystal clear.  Powerful agave scents lead the nose towards more subtle citrus and spice notes.  But on the tongue it is more subdued, with more agave and touches of vanilla and spice.  Not overly harsh, the mid-palate brings out some warmer spice and depth, without becoming harsh.  The finish is soft and smooth, ending with clean and refreshing agave flavor.

Corazon Buffalo Trace Reposado Tequila starts off life as Artisanal Blanco before aging in ex-Buffalo Trace barrels for ten and a half months.  This short ageing period is only enough to impart a pale-gold hue, but it more than makes up for this in flavor.  Buffalo Trace, a complex and powerful whiskey, is first apparent in the nose, where heavy oak and spice leads before giving way to the tequila’s natural agave.  But on the tongue, the oak is balanced well by the bourbon and tequila’s spice, which intermingle in delightful ways.  It expands during the mid-palate, without becoming overpowering, into bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla.  The tequilla ends superbly with the clean agave flavors balanced by the bourbon’s sweetness in a long and lingering finish.

Corazon George T. Stagg Anejo is aged for a longer 22 months, but is only marginally darker than the Buffalo Trace.  The tequila opens with a simple nose, primarily oak with hints of citrus and caramel.  But this is not a tequila for sniffing; it is for drinking.  The agave is balanced well by more caramel, expanding nicely into oak and bourbon sweetness.  It ends cleanly, but richly, far closer to a bourbon than a tequila.

Corazon Sazerac Rye Anejo is the darkest of the three (but still very pale), aged for 24 months.  It opens with oak again, but is tempered by curious fruit and butterscotch notes.  It’s higher alcohol content creates more classic tequila spice and heat, with agave holding its own against caramel and subtle citrus.  Though it burns noticeably initially, the finish cools substantially into lasting caramel sweetness.

Whether you enjoy tequila, bourbon, or both, there is something special in each of these fine tequilas.  Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Patrón Spirits Introduces Patrón Citrónge Lime Liqueur

Patron Spirits’ Patron Citrónge Lime

Patrón Spirits has launched the first brand extension in the highly successful Patrón Citrónge liqueur line. New Patrón Citrónge Lime is an ultra-premium liqueur crafted from the highest-quality Persian limes cultivated from the Mexican states of Veracruz, Michoacán and Colima. For decades, Mexico has reigned as the premier growing region for lime, and the world’s largest producer and exporter of this savory citrus fruit. The cork-finished Patrón Citrónge Lime bottle was designed to align with the Patrón Citrónge Orange liqueur bottle. The package communicates the brand’s upscale, ultra-premium positioning, and the extended neck on the bottle also makes it easy to pour.

As they say ” You can’t buy happiness.” But you can make bliss with ‪Patron Citronge Lime‬.

Strawberry Bliss Recipe:
1 oz Patrón Silver Tequila
1 oz Patrón Citrónge Lime…
2 oz fresh lemon sour
3 chopped strawberries
2 basil leaves
Garnish: strawberry

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a rocks glass with ice.

What’s in your glass has to do with economics?

 

 How does your finance change your taste in wine & spirits? or even better question is What do wine & spirits have to do with finance?

Well- One of the major family’s operating our beverage world know as the Rothchilds turn out at least one kind of alcohol in a bit of an economic bellwether.

Shawn Banayan, the CEO of Mel and Rose, says champagne purchases has and will change with economic high and lows. Champagne is not just one of the trends in this summer heat but rosé wines are catching on as well. Our clients have gotten more interested in Provençale rosés which are lighter in style, more flexible with food.

Another major trends are in tequila. We are not talking about the traditional brands such as Jose Cuervo or Don Julio that you do shots of, but the high end sipping tequila retailing for $250-500 a bottle such as Casa Dragones & Gran Patron Burdeos. Ofcourse there are high end single malt, bourbon & vodka that are hand crafted with a nice price tag.

If you are trying to find out what has brought this trend of higher end taste, it’s because we are more foodies and like to know where and how the product is made. This global trend is moving accorss the country like a storm.

Now you can enjoy your next hot summer drink!

 

 

 

Nightclub crowd & Bottle service

 ” Grey Goose, Cognac and now tequila hits the clubs! “

 

 

 

Do you order Bottle-serviced Grey Goose or cognac in a club – if so you need to watch your back.

You now have competition from high-end tequilas, ranging from decent to delicious, and all designed to attract the nightclub crowd. There are high-end tequilas out here now.    Baron Tequila, a ritzy, certified organic and gluten-free blanco in a stylish bottle, hosted its thumping, DJ-fueled launch party at Butter Midtown in NYC. Distribution is still limited, but you’ll find it at celebrity-studded, Yelper-blocking nightclub 1Oak. Meanwhile, our best seller  high-end tequila Casa Dragones has been hosting see-and-be-seen parties during Coachella, Art Basel and other beautiful-people hotspots.

 

 

Those tequilas may all end up looking like first-timers on the dance floor later this year: At the beginning of January, spirits giant Diageo announced it was partnering with Sean “Diddy Combs who just t acquired DeLeon, a super-pricey tequila ($100 to $900, depending on expression) out of Guanajato, Mexico. This agave juice — aged in wine barrels and elaborately packaged with a large sterling silver cap — is already known among fashionistas and rockers. Now Mr. Diddy wants it everywhere: “There is no tequila on the market like DeLeon,” says Combs. “And we are going to make it the No. 1 brand in the world for this category.” It just might work: Diageo and Diddy last teamed up to convert Ciroc from an unknown French vodka to a incredibly successful club staple.