Sinatra Cocktail Competition

The show "Drinking Made Easy" on HDNet is co-sponsoring a Sinatra-themed cocktail competition in conjunction with the release of yet another (!) Sinatra greatest hits collection. Besides making a drink inspired by one of the songs, entries had to include a video. I was lucky enough to enlist the help of a local theater company who happened to be staging a "Holidays with Dino" production. I grabbed "Dino" and "Sammy" after the production to help out with my video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpzOOAUim9U

As with every cocktail competition I enter, it was definitely a learning experience. And watching some of the other entries posted on YouTube, I'm learning even more.

• People who look like professional bartenders don't know that you never should shake a drink after adding soda and that egg whites should be given a "dry shake" without ice first.

• People are still shaking Manhattans. And some of the cocktail shaking can only be described as "tepid" at best.

• I thought that it was interesting that those who knew that Frank's drink of choice was Jack Daniels decided to use Gentlemen Jack's instead of the regular Jack Daniels.

• And a drink called "Nice 'n Easy" that takes like 17 steps to make:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fUZf6SpEsM&feature=related

• Somebody actually envisioned Frank Sinatra drinking bourbon and Dr. Pepper:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFe0LyTCc7E&feature=related

Or a drink rimmed with chocolate syrup that contains chocolate milk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv05J5h6ISc&feature=related

Or a drink with habanero-infused-pickled eggs and vodka out of a mason jar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24Tqa2KawGQ

Of course, I make fun, but watch one of these end up winning the competition! But I've learned never to try to figure out the logic with these kind of things. Like with kids, you send them out in the world expecting the worst and praying for the best!

Judging is supposed to be completed by next week. I'll let everyone know what happens.

Nice video, George! Now I'm thirsty and it's too early in the afternoon. Good luck in the competition.

Mele Kalikimaka to you and TornadoTiki,

-Tom

Great job George, best wishes! Of all the videos you posted, I like yours best (although it may have been a slightly skewed selection :D )

The easist to poke fun at it the "Old Fashioned, My Way" Aside from knowing Franks favorite liquor and then not using it, I didn't realize that "Teenage Wasteland" was a Who cover of a Sinatra song. Cherry bitters to enhance the flavors of the bourbon and then Dr Pepper to cover them up in case you don't like bourbon.

And I'm not sure which scares me more - the egg, the vodka, the habaneros, or the mason jar!

The rules said not to use music, but some people obviously didn't read that part.

They were supposed to announce the results yesterday. No word either way yet.

Great video and it looks like a great drink.

I personally lovd pickled eggs and have a great recipe from my friends grandma. The eggs are great but the brine is pretty gross to taste after the eggs have sat it in - a whole lot of egg taste and smell. Still, the biggest crime there is not using gin :wink:

By the way, why don't you shake club soda? I unerstand if you were using a lot or had a small shaker but I shake my Navy Grogs with the soda water in it and I think they come out fine. Is it that it goes flat?

gabbahey

Nothing wrong with the pickled-eggs thing if you want to go that way. I personally have some grilled jalapeno and grilled pineapple infused tequila that I made sitting behind the bar. My point was that I'm sure that I would never envision Frank Sinatra sipping one -- out of a huge mason jar no less!!

And yes, shaking a cocktail with soda water causes the carbon dioxide to come out of solution. Next time you are near the bottom of a glass of beer, shake in some salt and watch the reaction. If you are using a Boston shaker or a 3-piece shaker, you'll feel the extra pressure when it comes time to break the seal. If you need to mix carbonated ingredients to a cocktail add them last and swizzle or dredge the whole drink.