JAMESON IRISH WHISKEY TASTING AT MILK TIGER LOUNGE #YYC

The Jameson (and Red Breast) bottles, ready for tasting

Jars of Barley vs. malted barley

Amy O'Sullivan talks about Jameson Irish Whiskey

The selection for the tasting

The bartenders enjoy their whiskey (with a drop of water)
Images copyright K&S Media 2012

The Calgary Bartenders Association held a Jameson Irish Whiskey tasting at Milk Tiger Lounge, hosted by Brand ambassador Amy O'Sullivan.

From the difference among Scotch whiskey, American, whiskey, Canadian whiskey and Irish whiskey to the definition (and by that we mean trying it firsthand) of pickleback, to the meaning of the logo on the bottle (it was a family crest), the tasting was an interesting look into the world of Irish whiskey. The group tasted several whiskey from Jameson including the famed Red Breast, 12 year old, 18 year old and Gold Reserve.

Best of all - the hands of many a familiar face raised in toast at the long bar at Milk Tiger Lounge.

www.jamesonwhiskey.es

You may visit the Winter 2011/12 digital edition of City Style and Living magazine (also available in print) at the following address (follow the three simple steps to access the full magazine, online) :

1) go to http://www.citystyleandliving.com
2) click on the 'front cover' image, on the left hand side of your screen
3) to flip through the e-magazine, click on the bottom right hand corner
of the magazine, just as you would our print magazine!

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CALGARY BARTENDERS ASSOCIATION HOST PRESERVING BEHIND THE BAR PRESENTED BY MILK TIGER LOUNGE AND MAKER'S MARK

The event was hosted at Milk Tiger Lounge

Nathan Head of Milk Tiger Lounge mixes up the evening's welcome cocktail

A closer look at Earl's Garden the evening's welcome drink - which was delicious

The indomitable Christina Mah of justcocktails.org

The bar at Milk Tiger Lounge

Small bites were set out on a long horizontal table

Smoked salmon on flatbread with capers and onions

Charcuterie wrapped pretzels

Basil Hayden's bourbon - one of the featured bourbons of the evening

Colin Tait of Hotel Arts preparing a cocktail

A closer look at the Old School Jam (great name, by the way)

The always smiling Jimmy Nguyen making Apple Butter Manhattan
Photography K&S Media

Yes, the temperature was way below zero but a boisterous crowd gathered at Milk Tiger Lounge for the Calgary Bartender's Associations' Preserving Behind the Bar event. Christina Mah bedecked in a polka dot apron stirred pureed pumpkin invoking comforting memories, throughout the restaurant shadow boxes with miniature mixing tools (spatulas, whisks, wooden spoons) held recipes printed on lined cue cards (too cute), and Philippe Grandbois let guests know about the colonial practise of making a shrub (an important ingredient in the evening's welcome cocktail - vinegar and sugar preserved fruit).

Want to try the evening's cocktails at home? We've collected the recipes from Calgary's foremost cocktail experts for you (recipes courtesy Calgary Bartender's Association):

EARL'S GARDEN

Glass: Rocks

Method: Build all ingredients excluding ginger beer, in a mixing glass. Shake vigorously and fine strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and top with ginger beer.

Garnish: Grapefruit slice

Ingredients:
1 1/2 Maker's Mark bourbon
3/4 ms grapefruit shrub
4 dashes earl grey bitters
1/2 lemon pressed
top ginger beer

OLD SCHOOL JAM

Glass: Rocks

Method: Muddle all ingredients in the base of a rocks glass, swizzle, top with ice and soda

Garnish: Lemon wedge if preferred

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Basil Hayden's
4 wedges of lemon
1 1/2 bar spoon cranberry-elderflower jam
3 dashes Peychaud bitters
top soda

APPLE BUTTER MANHATTAN

Glass: Martini

Method: Build in a mixing glass, add ice, stir and fine strain into chilled martini glass

Garnish: Cherry brandies, flaming orange peel, or an apple slice

Ingredients:
1 1/2 ms Knob Creek Bourbon
1/2 ms Sweet Vermouth
3 dashes Angostura bitters
1 bar spoon apple butter

Cheers!

www.facebook.com/groups/calgarybartenders/

You may visit the Fall 2011 digital edition of City Style and Living magazine (also available in print) at the following address (follow the three simple steps to access the full magazine, online) :

1) go to http://www.citystyleandliving.com
2) click on the 'front cover' image, on the left hand side of your screen
3) to flip through the e-magazine, click on the bottom right hand corner

of the magazine, just as you would our print magazine!

Follow us on twitter @CityStyleMag