Allan and I attended a media event the other night sponsored by Courvoisier.  It was held at this ornate bistro called the Crimson Lounge.  The folks at Courvoisier are all about brand and image. They scored by having the event at Crimson; it was a nice marriage of brand and atmosphere. The Crimson has Victorian era  heavy drapery, period piece chairs, chandeliers and lots of dimly lit candles. It’s kind of a seductive place and, that’s the point. Courvoisier wanted to seduce us with their brand.

There were very petite women in high heels and little black skirts strutting around with trays of Courvoisier cocktails, and short male servers quietly passing around tiny bites of shrimp, caprese salad on sticks, baby quiche, beef tenderloin with button mushrooms and a tuna wasable nibble.  The hostess gave us a number to be announced for our blind tasting.  When our number was called, like lemings to the Courvoisier, we gathered in a side room that looked rigged up for a seance. In front of us were two baby snifters of the liquid gold and a blindfold. (Is this getting kinky yet?).  Our leader asked us to put on the blindfold (to increase our sense of smell). We were then asked to hold the baby snifter up to our nose. As this was going on, one by one, someone went around the room spraying a particular scent:  orange, creme brulee, coffee, vanilla etc.  Each time the scent reached my nose it co-mingled perfect with the scent coming from the courvoisier.  It was quite a multi- scented experience!  Oh, and then we were able to drink the liquid gold. It sure makes your insides feel warm and comforted.

So, now I know that there is more than one way to skin the Courvoisier cat.  I don’t just have pour it for my guests to swill with their stogies.  We can serve tropical like pre-dinner cocktails, and we can all get blindfolded and catch the wave of the scent.

All in all it was a very nice representation of or extension of the brand. And I got to keep the blindfold!

COURVOISIER MOJITO

INGREDIENTS

1 part Courvoisier Exclusif Cognac

1 part club soda

2 parts Ginger Ale

Fresh, chopped lime

4 mint leaves for muddling

Mint leaves for garnish

Muddle lime and mint leaves with a splash of club soda. Fill glass with ice and add the Courvoisier Exclusif and Ginger Ale. Gently shake all ingredients together and pour over the ice filled glass. Top off with club soda and garnish with fresh mint leaves.

VeeV, the world’s first açaí spirit, is planting a tree for every VeeV “Treetini” cocktail ordered at participating bars and restaurants in Chicago through the month of April. VeeV is the world’s only carbon neutral spirits company, and it is distilled at the only wind-powered distillery in the U.S.

Packed with antioxidants from Oprah’s favorite superfruit (the Açai), VeeV is distilled from organic Idaho grains, before infusion with açaí fruit, an exotic-tasting Brazilian fruit that is widely considered to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet. VeeV contains 30 times more heart-healthy anthocyanins than red wine, which means you can enjoy a cocktail while doing yourself and the environment some good at the same time! As always, VeeV is also donating $1 from every bottle sold to the Brazilian Rain Forest to ensure the safe harvest of açaí.

The ‘Treetini’ initiative for eco-enlightened drinkers, together with “Trees for the Future,” plants a new tree in deforested communities of India for every VeeV Treetini cocktail ordered at participating bars and restaurants nationwide.

For more information about the Treetini initiative, go to www.treetini.com. VeeV can be purchased locally at Sam’s Wine and Spirits.

·        Uncommon Ground – Wrigleyville;  3800 N Clark St Chicago, IL

·         Uncommon Ground – Devon;  1401 W Devon Ave Chicago, IL

·         Rustik;  2515 N California Ave Chicago, IL 60647

·         Intercontinental Hotel;  505 N Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611

·         Bar Louie;  226 w Chicago Ave Chicago IL

·         Bar Louie;  5500 S Shore Drive Chicago, IL

·         Bar Louie;  3545 N Clark Ave Chicago, IL

·         Bar Louie;  47 W Polk St Chicago, IL

·         Bar Louie;  1321 W Taylor St Chicago, IL

·         Bar Louie;  741 W Randolph Chicago, IL 60661

·         Relax Lounge;  1450 W Chicago Ave Chicago, IL

You can also try one at home:

Treetini Recipe from Uncommon Ground

2 ounces Veev Açaí Spirit

2 ounces housemade honey-ginger liqueur

1 ounce orange juice

½ ounce blood orange bitters

Squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Orange twist, for garnish

Shake all ingredients well with ice and strain into a martini glass.  Garnish with the orange twist.

(Read on …)

In my foodie research, I found Tyler Colman (a.k.a. Dr. Vino).  Tyler’s an expert on all things wine.  He has compiled a list (and map) of all the BYOB restuarants in Chicago.  So, for all you BYOB fans, give Dr. Vino a visit if you have a hankering to bring your favorite wine along to sip on your culinary journey:

http://www.drvino.com/chicagobyob.php

 AVENUE M

1 Cabaret
Rent the club (about $100 a head for groups up to 200) and flaunt your message on the megawatt marquee. 15 W. Hubbard St.

2 Lottie’s
BYO music for the private basement, featuring a full-service bar; 40-person minimum, $15 to $35 each. 1925 W. Cortland St.

3 Ghostbar
Cocktail events start at $30 a person, dinner at $54, in this chic 4,500-square-foot space for 50 to 200. 440 W. Randolph St.

4 Sugarcane Lounge
SushiSamba Rio’s enclosed roof deck holds 100; parties start at $1,000 and top out at $15,000. 504 N. Wells St.

5 Avenue M
Packages run $40 to $150 a guest; options include private balconies with plasmas overlooking the bar. 695 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Courtesy: Chicago Magazine