Random Tales of the Cocktail update: Danny DeVito

Some of you probably already know about this, but for anyone who's on the fence about going to Tales of the Cocktail you should know that Danny DeVito will be there.

That's right, according to the good folks of Tales, Danny DeVito will be in attendance. Mr. DeVito is a producer not just of films but of premium liqueur as well. Unless you've been under a rock, you've probably heard of Danny DeVito's Premium Limoncello. He admitted to having overindulged in the stuff with George Clooney during a now infamous appearance on The View. Me? I say you can't even possibly buy celebrity endorsement any more raw than that. It was freakin' awesome. I'm also a fan of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," so I could be biased.

Tangent: Speaking of celebrity endorsements, I was watching Lady Gaga's video for "LoveGame" a little while back and realized the pretty prominent presence of Campari and wondered how "LoveGame" stacked against Busta Rhymes, P Diddy and Pharrell's ode to the cognac of Napoleon, "Pass the Courvoisier" when it came to songs about specific alcoholic beverages. Though I thought it was weird because I don't know how much Campari would catch on with the "kids trying to relive the Club Kids days that truthfully they aren't 'reliving' because they were still in diapers then" crowd.

Aureole's new summer cocktails

May 14

Aureole held a small gathering on the afternoon of the 14th to showcase several cocktails using Limonce limoncello and GranGala orange liqueur created by mixologist Ektoras Binikos. There was also a blind taste test for orange liqueur and the cocktails were paired with food created by Aureole's executive chef Tony Aiazzi. To say the least, the cocktail flavors were mainly citrus, and some played up the lightly sweetened aspect even more with a hit of soda. All seemed like drinks to go with food.

The food was interesting ranging from a very crispy-on-the-outside mini crab cakes, to some pretty sweet oysters. Though some guests (including myself) couldn't help but grab at some of the kumquats decorating the cocktail table.

The Amalfi
1 1/2 oz Citorn Vodka
1/2 oz Limonce Limoncello
1/2 fresh lime juice
2 sprigs lemon thyme
splash of yuzu juice

Capri
1 oz Miller's gin
1/2 oz Limonce Limoncello
5 kumquats
4 fresh mint leaves
3 dashes Regan's Orange Bitters
splash of soda

Mediterranee
1 oz Pineau Des Charentes
1/2 oz Limonce LImoncello
1 oz fresh Meyer lemon juice
zest of a Meyer lemon
2 dashes of Regan's Orange Bitters
1 sage leaf

Havana
1 1/2 oz Marti Autentico Cuban Rum
1/2 oz Imported GranGala Triple Orange Liqueur
1 oz fresh ruby red grapefruit juice
3-4 drops of Angostura bitters
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
fresh mint

Cote d'Azure
1 1/2 oz of Millers Gin
1/2 oz Imported GranGala Triple Orange Liqueur
Dash of Creme de Cassis
1 oz fresh lemon juice
splash of soda
9 blueberries, 3 for garnish
4 fresh mint leaves



Madame Butterfly
1/2 oz Imported GranGala Triple Orange LIqueur
1/2 oz orange vodka
1/2 oz Aperol
1/2 oz Verjus
1/2 oz yuzu juice