Another fun evening was had by all last Friday night at Krohn Conservatory.  Not only did we shake some great cocktails and eat some fantastic appetizers, Diana Hoffman and Gary from Kama Salsa taught us some sexy salsa dance moves and Hannah Eaton from Mitchell’s Salon and Day Spa dazzled us with slick tricks for stylish summer party hairstyles and make-up.  The swag bags were filled to the brim with hand fans from the Bitty Breeze, Sunglasses, a sample bottle of Taste of Florida Mango Real Fruit Mixers and Hypnotic, mints, lip balm and coupons.  Check out the event photos and join us for our next Girl’s Night Out @ Krohn Conservatory on October 9th for “How to Host a Wine Tasting Party” presented by  Amy Tobin , party planner extraordinare.

See you there!

Connie Volker
EQ Event and Marketing Director

2006 Luca Laborde Double Select Syrah
91 points from W.S. and let me tell you why. We as a staff at dinner tasted this wine along with $50-$70 Oregon Pinot Noir,  high end Cali Cab and in my opinion it even hung with if not showed better than a $130.00 Spanish Cabernet. Luca is one of the hottest vineyards on the planet right now and this Syrah is one of the best bottles of juice I’ve had this year. Big, bold, and complex with a ton of charm. At this price buy 2 one to taste now and one to savor. I have already been working hard on my ‘09 top 100 wines of the year and I have this one marked #3 at present time.
SCORE: 4++++

Cheers,
Danny Gold
Fine Wine
The Party Source

If you enjoyed last night’s Zootini at the Cincinnati Zoo, you were not alone!  Jay Dickerson, EQ Bar Chef did a great job creating, mixing and shaking these cocktails just for you!  Let us know which was your favorite!

Cheers!

Connie Volker

EQ Event and Marketing Director

Manatee Melon Martini
1½ ounces tequila
1 ounce  melon liqueur
½ ounce orange flavored liqueur
½ ounce lime juice
2 ounces sour mix

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass.

The Watering Hole Hpnotiq® Martini
2 ounces Hpnotiq® liqueur
1 ounce coconut rum
2 ounces pineapple juice

Combine all ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain into a martini or cocktail glass and serve.

African Violet Martini
2 ounces raspberry vodka
½ ounce Chambord
1 ounce grape juice
½ ounce lime juice
Lime wedge

Shake with ice and strain into a well-chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Sihil’s Martini
2 ounces rum
½ ounce passion fruit liqueur
½ ounce simple syrup
1 lime wedge
2 ounces pineapple juice
Mint leaves

In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint, simple syrup, and limes.  Add ice, rum, passion fruit liqueur, and pineapple juice.  Shake vigorously and strain into chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with mint sprig.

Zootini Martini
1½ ounces bourbon
½ ounce maraschino liqueur
Dash grapefruit bitters
1 teaspoon of maraschino cherry juice
Maraschino cherry
Ginger ale

Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add all ingredients except ginger ale and shake. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Top with ginger ale. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Hahn SLH Pinot Noir-$24.99  California Aisle 6A

Hahn has a reputation amongst wine drinkers especially red as being solid and a safe bet for your money. In fact one of the first Meritage and Cabernet Franc wines I tasted 8 years ago were Hahn wines. They just released late last year with a new series of high quality performers and the buzz is mainly about this Pinot.   I had it last night with some Korean marinated Sea Bass and was impressed by it’s delicate touch and well mannered fruit. The wine was medium bodied packed with beautiful berry notes and floral tones.
SCORE: 4

Cheers!

Danny

As part of our restaurant series, Woodford Reserve’s repeat appearance last night at EQ was spectacular.  Executive Chef Mark William’s first trip to the EQ was a treat for the SOLD OUT class.

Great food was complimented by tasty drinks expertly mixed by Mary Perkins, Woodford Reserve’s Brand Events Coordinator.  Check out the drink recipes below.  If you missed this class, they’ll be back.  In the meantime, treat yourself to other top restaurants classes at EQ. Hurry, these classes book FAST!

A New Woodford Manhattan

2 parts Woodford Reserve
1/2 part Sweet Vermouth
1/2 part Grand Marnier
4 drops Peach Bitters

Serve up or on the rocks. Garnish with cherry or orange curl. Enjoy

Woodford’s New Old Fashioned

2 parts Woodford Reserve
1 part Cherry Juice
2 parts Lemon-Lime Soda

Serve on the rocks

The first Amy Tobin’s Girl’s Night Out: A Girl’s Guide to Cocktails event sponsored by EQ was held at Krohn Conservatory last Friday. What a fun night!!! Check out the event photos below. come back next week for more photos of the event!

If you missed this one, please join us on March 6th at Krohn Conservatory for Girl’s Night Out: Say Cheese! Fun French Wine, Fromage and Fashions!

Registration Required EQ@The Party Source 859-291-4007

See you at the Krohn!

Connie

When I tell people I work at EQ, the cooking school @ The Party Source most ask, “What does
EQ stand for?” I reply, “EQ stands for Entertainment Quotient, and we are here to raise
yours!” Today I received an e-mail and photos from EQ customer Sue Poling. All I can say
is “WOW!” Sue and her friends ended 2008 with a dinner party chock full of EQ recipes from
the classes they attended. This group of women embraced all EQ stands for and we are
touched by their enthusiasm for great food, wine and spirits. Below you will find the e-mail, recipes and photos from the dinner party.

Connie Volker, EQ Event and Marketing Director

Julie Henderson and I started taking Party Source Cooking Classes (demos only as we think it is more fun to have someone else do the work) in January 2008 when Julie’s husband gave her a gift certificate for a free cooking class for two. Our experience was so wonderful that we signed up for more and encouraged our friends Susan Schroeder and Loy Jonson to join us.
Thus it went. We attended at least one demo class per month and a few E-Quickies in
between. Towards the end of the year they started offering A Toast to Tuesday (Cocktail
Class) which quickly became a new favorite for us. Also to expand our horizons (more…)

By Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirit Manager

It seems Christmas has come early, as a bevy of great Scotch at closeout prices has fallen into our lap from one of Scotland’s premier whisky merchants. These offerings from Gordon & MacPhail range from the soft and gentle 1993 Dailuaine to a 1950 Glenlivet, all at substantial savings. The 1980 Benromach is the best I ever had from this resurgent distillery. And the three whiskies from the early 1950s just can’t be found every day, like buried treasure from a past civilization.

Apparently, you have been very good this year…

Dailuaine 1993 13 year regular price $48.99 sale $39.99

Old Pulteney 15 Year reg price $59.99 sale $37.99

Glen Grant 15 Year Cask Strength $92.99 sale $69.99

Dallas Dhu 1982 22 Year reg. price $119.99 sale $89.99

Benromach 1980 24 Year Cask Strength regular price $148.99 sale $106.99

Glen Grant 1957 44 Year reg. price 319.99 sale $215.99

Linkwood 1954 43 Year reg price $449.99 sale $239.99

Glenlivet 1950 44 yr reg price $699.99  sale $396.99

Trading in shorts for long john’s is never easy but for me the cold weather has it’s

moments. Shoveling snow, raking leaves and Christmas shopping are among my least favorite

pastimes but I do love this season for a couple of reasons and seasonal brew is at the top.

So the question to answer is why and what. Why change up my beer selection, What beers

should I try and what is the benefit? No worries, my sledders of the suds, we are the

Rudolph of beer, here to guide you all holiday long.

As seasons change so do the style of beers. (more…)