Champagne Cognac
“Romance sells drinks,” says Frank Weber, beverage director at the Omni Parker House in Boston. “When I tell guests that, before release, Kelt Grande Champagne Cognac is sent on a three- month sea voyage around the world, bringing out a unique balance of flavors and aromas and producing an elegant roundness, well, they just have to try it.”

And since Kelt Cognac is not on the back bar at many restaurants, this is another reason for guests to return to the hotel’s Last Hurrah, “a happening bar that happens to be in a hotel.”

He also frequently gets an “Ooh, you have that?” when suggesting Frapin VSOP or VIP XO. “This is a superb Grande Champagne that is attracting a cult following,” he adds.

Other spirits are not neglected. When Weber notices a guest wondering what to order for an after-dinner drink, he’ll suggest a snifter of Gosling’s Family Reserve Old Rum. “Someone who enjoys a fine Cognac will love this very smooth aged rum,” he says. “It brings a different, exciting flavor to the table.”

Another aficianado of this rum is Drew Levinson, beverage manager at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He paired a cocktail, Nuvola Nera (Dark Clouds), with food prepared by Bellagio chefs at the James Beard House last Fall.

Nuvola Nera

• 1-1/2 oz. Gosling’s Family Reserve Old Rum
• 2 oz. ginger beer
• 1 oz. fresh apple cider
• 1/2 oz. Falernum syrup
• 1/4 oz. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. brown sugar.
• Lightly shake all ingredients (avoid making the ginger beer go flat) and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange zest and fresh ground nutmeg.

That drink you created especially for Valentine’s Day may light your guests’ fires throughout the year, when romance is the order of the evening. Silvio Garcia, wine director/sommelier at the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta (downtown), created the Pink Valentine for Valentine’s Week and continues to have calls for it regularly from couples reserving the “Cheaters Booth” in the Atlanta Grill.

A private drapery encloses the booth, a leather banquette that seats six. Enhanced by warm lighting and a painting by Nigel Cooper on the wall, it has become “the” place for marriage proposals. Or whatever.

For the Pink Valentine, Champagne flutes are dipped in melted chocolate, letting the chocolate drizzle down the glasses and drying for a couple of minutes. NV Nicholas Feuillatte Rose Brut Champagne is then poured into the glasses and garnished with strawberries.

It's Post Time
While mint juleps are delicious when prepared properly, this is not everybody’s cup of tea. The people at GranGala have come up with their tribute to the Kentucky Derby.

The Gran Derby

• 2 oz. Makers Mark
• 1-1/2 oz GranGala Triple Orange Liqueur
• 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz. fresh orange juice
• Shake well with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with sugar.

This drink has legs. Since the odds are that the Kentucky Derby winner will race in the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, this is a natural salute to the Kentucky Derby winner during, preceding and after both of those races.

Notes From the Nightclub & Bar Show
A light beer with full-bodied flavor? Anheuser Busch has somehow produced a 5 percent abv beer with only 114 calories in a 12-ounce bottle, Michelob Ultra Amber Light Beer. This will be in demand this summer.

Your back bar will transfix guests when you line up the eight spectacularspirits infusions now available from 267 Infusions, the flagship product line from Boz Spirits. Fivetimes distilled American Grain Vodka is infused with real fruit in these flavors: orange, lemon, cranberry, and olives & pearl onions (a Gibson and Martini in one combo).

Ultra-premium Barbados Rum is infused with tree-ripened mango slices and pineapple slices. Triple distilled platinum Blue Agave Tequila is infused with fresh handpicked oranges and with fresh chili peppers.

Served straight from the bottle or in whatever your mixologists dream up, these new spirits will draw a crowd.

Dave Steadman is editor & associate publisher, HOTEL WINE, BEER & SPIRITS