Corkage Fees

I’m definitely reaching that breaking point where I seriously need a massage and a day off. I was sure that if that there was one ounce of bullshit tonight that I was going to stomp it out with a gusto reserved for drunks who break glasses on purpose and then start fights with their best friends because they suddenly decide they're gay. Unfortunately, the only thing that happened that was even remotely worthy of such vigor were three annoying women who brought in their own wine and then ordered $15 worth of food between the three of them. We had live music this evening which was not cheap, the point being that the band draws a crowd to pay for itself. We don’t have a corkage fee (never been an issue, everyone drinks cocktails for the most part). We only have two regulars, who ever bring in wine, and they always bring in great bottles which they leave us a glass or two of. But today a new rule is born, the discretionary corkage fee. Unbelievably rude, they arrived with an already opened half-drank bottle of white! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

For anyone who hasn’t tried it yet, you must have the 360 Vodka and the new Rangpur Gin by Tanqueray. The 360 Vodka is a brilliant product packaged very environmentally in an 85% recycled glass bottle with 100% recycled paper labeling. The bottle is resealable with a Grolsch-like lid. You can take the lid off and mail it back in a postage-free mailer provided and they will re-use the lid and donate a dollar for every lid received to a renewable energy program. If you order a case, the box is recycled cardboard and is the same size as a filing box, so it can easily be re-used. Every company can look at these guys for some simple and smart ideas. Not organic like the Square One, but pushing the envelope nonetheless. The vodka itself is filtered four times and will beat Grey Goose in any taste test and in fact, beats the new Diamond 100 (filtered 100 times) which practically tastes like water.

Tangueray just offered the new Rangpur in its portfolio. It is distilled with rangpur limes, which are a little fruit which is actually a hybrid from a mandarin orange and a lemon. Nonetheless, the flavor is very limey and very yummy. My new favorite cocktail is a gimlet made with the Rangpur and the 360 with a splash of Rose’s lime.

Cheers!

"A good writer is not, per se, a good book critic. No more so than a good drunk is automatically a good bartender."

-Jim Bishop