By Nanette Wiser
HOSTESS GIFTS ‘Tis the season for holiday parties, so eschew the flowers and bring a bottle as a hostess gift, one for tasting at the party and one for the host to tipple at leisure. PN suggests award winning craft brews, bubbly (Mermosa started here), local spirits (St. Pete Distillery, Kozuba) and independent purveyors (Hawthorne Bottle Shop, Try Wine, Norman’s Liquor & Bottle Shop, Cellar Masters, American Spirits). Total Wine, ABC Liquors and Leukens will feature fantastic gift sets as usual. We like some of Esquire Magazine’s 2022 top choices as gifts: Larceny Barrel Proof C922, Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon, Rossville Union Rye Whiskey, The Glen Dronach Cask Bottling Batch 19, Tequila Ocho Puntas 101 and Overproof Bristow Barrel Aged Gin. Why not pick up two winners from the prestigious Great American Beer Festival this fall, Tampa Bay Brewing’s Day Donkey and Tampa’s Cigar City Brewing Maduro porter.
SIP & SASHAY In downtown Clearwater’s Cleveland St. 11/19 (1-7pm), adults 21+ can enjoy free beverage samples from Tampa Bay Craft Brewers at the first annual Bottoms Up Beerfest with a $10 wristband. Enjoy neighborhood restaurant tastings, live entertainment, and glorious views of the harbor. St. Pete Brewfest 11/4-5 serves up tastings, food truck delights and live entertainment in downtown St. Pete. Sail into Thanksgiving with a Yacht StarShip two-hour cruise from Clearwater with a Thanksgiving feast, cash bar, DJ and dancing. Sea Salt St. Pete continues its monthly wine pairing dinners with a six-course oyster dinner 11/8 and a seven-course Chef’s tasting dinner 11/16.
ENTERTAINING COCKTAILS Select a signature cocktail served in a drink dispenser, set up your bar cart with mixers and garnishes so guests can prepare to taste. Be sure to offer non-alcoholic options as well.
Apple Of My Eye Pour 2 ounces of Calvados into a Burgundy glass over ice. Top with tonic water. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Christmas Punch In a large drink dispenser mix cranberry juice, pineapple juice and almond extract. Pour in ginger ale and stir. Add cranberries, ice, and cinnamon stick. Adult guests can add 1 ounce tequila or vodka to their personal drink.
Sherry-tini In a mixing glass with ice, combine 1 1/2 ounces fino sherry, 1 ounce Dolin tarragon-infused blanc vermouth, 1/2 ounce Cocchi Americano, 1/2 ounce coconut water, 1 tsp pear brandy. Stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
FYI: October’s cover story correction; it’s Brugal 1888!