IMBIBE

The PDT Cocktail Book

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:21:00 -0500

Ever since the media first caught wind of PDT’s hotdog-hideaway, fans have been piling in from all over the world to sip old fashioneds and order kimchi-slathered Momofuku sausages from their secret Crif Dogs menu. As one of the innovators in the field of mixology in NYC, a field that has become notably over-crowded recently, it only makes sense that the folks over at PDT continue to blaze trails by breaking into the world of publishing. Although the recipes in this tome are, of course, excellent - it’s truly the innovative and whimsical animal-themed illustrations that make it worth purchasing.

Gangster-inspired Bootleg Brewery’s branding is...

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:15:27 -0400

Gangster-inspired Bootleg Brewery’s branding is dangerously dead-on.

ABSOLUT Pinstripe Decanter

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:53:38 -0400

Hand-blown by Swedish glass artisans in Reijmyre, this is not your average ABSOLUT bottle. Limited to a run of 800, the stylized crystal decanter comes with two matching pinstriped tumblers and is sure to skew towards the higher end of the iconic vodka brand’s price range. Design aside, this is a nice attempt by a vodka category to reclaim a classic bartop accessory normally reserved for the likes of single malts and vintage reds.

“Cancan” Champagne by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:57:53 -0400

“Cancan” Champagne by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Photo

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:17:36 -0400

Ryesenberg Rye - Concept Packaging

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:32:11 -0400

New from Israeli designer David Riesenberg comes a brilliantly nuanced piece of concept work concerning his own brand of imaginary rye whiskey. Despite the obvious aesthetic advantages to Mr. Riesenberg’s design, it yields a great deal of ethos as well. Suitable for small run premium batches, according to the designer, “the label is a piece of the actual barrel the whiskey was aged in. Following a process of drying, pressing and silk screening the label is attached to the bottle and can be removed to be used as a coaster or simply as a collectible once the bottle goes dry. Each piece is naturally unique, maintaining the black color from the charring process and slight aroma.” David’s concept includes some nifty OOH pieces as well including a branded coaster. Now if only it could get manufactured in reality!

Veuve Clicquot Origami Ice Bucket

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:16:00 -0400

New from Veuve Clicquot comes a brilliant little promotional piece in the form of an origami ice bucket. Constructed from fully foldable, water-resistant material, the bucket is the brainchild of the aesthetically-oriented champagne brand and Belgian designer Mathias van de Walle. Complete with instructions and a bottle of bubbly, this fully-foldable chilling device can be easily carried with the lucky recipient anywhere they go, just incase there’s a sparkling wine-related emergency.

ABSOLUT x Gareth Pugh

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:38:00 -0400

British goth-chic designer Gareth Pugh has recently teamed up with ABSOLUT MODE EDITION to participate in a redesign of the iconic ABSOLUT bottle. Having served as a blank canvas for the likes of Andy Warhol, Kurt Wenner and Spike Lee, the Swedish brand’s bottle serves doubly as a container and a piece of art, especially when designed as special limited editions. For his turn at the trademark spirit, Pugh chose to evoke the realm of fashion by creating a bottle with twelve facets and wrapping it in a midnight blue silk cloth embroidered band. Available exclusively at Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, the distinctive ABSOLUT model is sure to be a collectors item for fashionistas and discerning drinkers alike.

Via my article on Hypebeast.

Hennessy x KAWS

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:25:05 -0400

Hennessy x KAWS

Emergency Cocktail Station

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:15:24 -0400

New from urbancase comes a witty, tongue-in-cheek nod to the classic “emergency” first aid kit that every school, office and home has tucked away in a corner somewhere. Crafted completely out of a smooth, beautiful lacquered MDF and designed by Darin Montgomery, this emergency kit caters towards a different kind of crisis: the urgent need for a hand-crafted cocktail. Providing the ideal storage space for liquor, glassware, and tools - the “Emergency Cocktail Station” doesn’t come cheap. Retailing for $850, the sleek, stark and humorous design is available now through Design Public.

ABSOLUT BLANK Artist Series

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:57:08 -0400

The ABSOLUT Vodka bottle’s kaleidoscopic range of iterations in print ads, short film pieces and throughout copious collaborations have made the liquor brand’s basic container a valuable asset and a veritable canvas for aspiring artists across the globe. Honing in on a marketing opportunity, ABSOLUT selected 18 creatives to get involved with ABSOLUT BLANK - a project that pretty self-explanatorily asks each participant to lend a visual makeover to a model of one of the brand’s standard, blank vodka bottles. The eclectic results include the intricate and surreal work of Good Wives and Warriors, energetic collage imagery from Mario Wagner, graphic design from Robert Mars and bright, geometric artwork from UVA, among others. Simply a great idea, ABSOLUT BLANK demonstrates how the venerable vodka brand has managed to once again leverage one of their most basic commodities - their bottle - as a trademark. It may not be tall, slender, glossy or frosted; but the ABSOLUT bottle makes for an ideal blank canvas for artists of all kinds. At the end of the day, that’s a lot more valuable than a luxurious or high-end perceived brand value. Art as commerce - Warhol would have been proud.

Check out more from ABSOLUT BLANK here.

New from Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, an organic...

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:41:00 -0400

The Story of Art in the Age RHUBY from Art In The Age on Vimeo.

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New from Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, an organic produce brand dedicated to “work marked by fine craft and intellectual rigor” that offers a slew of culturally-relevant, anti-industrialization products, comes Rhuby. A rhubarb spirit, Rhuby’s creation was inspired by the tale of how the deliciously bitter root vegetable found its way into the US in the first place: brought over in seed form by Benjamin Franklin as a gift to one of his botanist friends in 1771. The botanist, John Bartram, then proceeded to use the ingredient to make a fresh garden tea, mixing it with beets, carrots, lemon, cardamom, pink pepper, coriander, vanilla and sugar cane. Since then, we’ve enjoyed Strawberry Rhubarb Pie as a national dish, yet little to no rhubarb has made its way into cocktail culture. Rhuby, however, is out to change that by turning Bartram’s tea into a refreshing and tasty organic liquor completely unique in the marketplace. Although it may sound only remotely appetizing to some, a spirit as earthy and savory as Rhuby is sure to have a myriad of uses in the fickle world of mixology. Those who are curious can check out some recipes on how to make Rhuby cocktails here and view a quirky, informative and beautifully-animated video from Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction above.

Hangar One Vodka Blimp Tour

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:53:26 -0400

Hangar One Vodka has long been a favorite of mine. From their quirky, seasonal flavored offerings (Buddha’s Hand Citron, anyone?) to the eponymous vintage airplane hangar that serves as their headquarters in Alameda, California - Hangar One is not your run-of-the-mill liquor brand. As the company has purposely eschewed standard publicity tactics such as club partnerships and celebrity-laden party-throwing in favor of a craft cocktail series and creation of self-promoting, limited edition flavors such as Chipotle and Wasabi, it’s no surprise that their latest advertising stint is not exactly a party bus. The Hangar One Vodka Blimp Tour harkens back to the brand’s aerial origins by sending a fully-branded zeppelin on a twenty-city, cross-country journey, landing at planned destinations along the way in order to host bartender “mix offs” using their hand-crafted vodka as the key ingredient. Destined to land at home in California by the end of November, the 120’ long blimp’s promotional material includes some lovely commissioned drawings and a bottle of classic Hangar One alongside information on where and when to spot their flying brand ambassador and - why not? - a map and some stickers.

Imbibe responsibly and learn more about the Hangar One Vodka Blimp Tour here.

Could tequila be the "wonder fuel" of the future?

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:53:01 -0400

Could tequila be the "wonder fuel" of the future?

Redhook Brewery Rebrand

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:41:48 -0400

Redhook Brewery is an interesting case study in the ever-shifting world of craft beer and microbreweries. A bit of an anomaly, Redhook was not started in Brooklyn but rather Seattle. It’s a microbrew, historically, yet the brand is almost 30 years old and owned partly by Anheuser-Busch. So, what does a slightly corporatized, ever-expanding beer company with a history of local tradition do when it wants to rebrand its product? Well, according to Seattle agency Hornall Anderson, choose an aesthetic rarely embraced by beer drinkers of any kind. With it’s tapered bottle reminiscent of a sports drink, brightly colored flavor-differentiating labels and clean, stylized mountain logo re-imagined, Redhook’s new brand is certainly a success visually. The question is, however, in a market where stark and modern design is rarely seen used successfully - how will the brewery’s fans react to the change? Personally, I like the look but am still dubious about how it fits into a sea of competitors touting van Gogh-style emblems (Blue Moon), tattoo-inspired inscriptions (Rogue) and heritage-driven no nonsense marketing (Blue Point), just to name a few.

Source: FastCompany

Leopards + Lions Bitters

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:02:17 -0400

With the cocktail revolution in full force, it makes sense that a line of artisanal bitters would pop up. Hand-manufactured in - where else? - Brooklyn, Leopards + Lions is leagues ahead of the rest of the Angostura-imitators. Why? Because with a product like bitters it all comes down to quality and packing, and Leopards + Lions has got both. Bottled in authentic 19th century apothecary jars, the NYC-based range of cocktail accessories are individually crafted with organic fruits and flowers, fresh herbs and a slew of exotic spices. Available in the enticing Cherry Burdock (sounds tailor-made for an Old Fashioned), savory Orange Cardamom (marvelous for a Sazerac) and refreshing Dandelion Lemongrass (which the brand deems “perfect for summer” and would be sure to spice up any old G & T), the bitters are available now for $18 over at End of Century. Despite the relatively high price, this stuff is potent and a little bit will go a long way. Plus, when you’re done with the product, you’ve got a unique, vintage cork-topped bottle to use as you see fit. Well done!

Imbibe responsibly.

Champagne's Servants Join the Masters

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:43:00 -0400

Champagne's Servants Join the Masters

Recipe: Liberté Cocktail

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:29:22 -0400

Although Hennessy Cognac is best known for being commissioned by Napoleon himself, the great Emperor shouldn’t get all the credit for Revolutionary-era drinking. Bastille Day approaches rapidly and, although most Americans couldn’t care less, I am a bit of a closeted Francophile and feel the need to honor the beginning of the great, bloody proletariat Revolution (the bourgeois Revolution technically occurred earlier when the clergy defected to the Third Estate, allowing it to seize control of the Estates General). Created especially for Lillet, a quintessentially French apertif, mixologists Nicole Cloutier and Jacqueline Patterson have crafted this recipe for the Liberté Cocktail (hopefully Egalité and Fraternité are not far behind). It’s simple, incredibly refreshing and no doubt something similar to any concoction the noble classes would find themselves sipping on the Riviera or at Versailles just moments before being dragged off to the guillotine. Here’s what you’ll need:

3 ounces Lillet Blanc

1 ounce Hendrick’s gin

2 dashes orange bitters (or more to taste)

1 orange peel

Combine all wet ingredients in a shaker full of ice, stir gently but vigorously (despite James Bond’s inclinations, vermouth shouldn’t be shaken as it bruises the delicate spirit) and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Twist the orange rind to release some essential oils, drag along the glass’ rim and drop into the cocktail to garnish. Sip slowly while thoughtfully pondering whether you’d be more of a Jacobin or a Dantonist.

Imbibe Responsibly.

Photo

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 11:34:06 -0400

The time-lapse making of a “curious” and...

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:53:16 -0400

The time-lapse making of a “curious” and “unusual” Hendrick’s Gin mural (in my home town no less!) on Stanton Street in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. If you can’t tell by now, I’m a big fan of really painting OOH advertising, not merely pasting up some poster or giant banner. Good work Hendrick’s!