Welcome to Drinking the World; my thoughts on fine libations, special spirits, and fabulous cocktails. My name is Jonathan M. Forester and I'm a food & beverage writer / consultant, and formerly partner in a winery and brewery in Maine. Now, my new partner and I are currently in the process of starting an artisanal, farm distillery located on 370 acres in New York State called Dutch's Spirits. We will be specializing in premium, hand-made spirits. These will include bourbon, rye, and malt whiskey, peach and apple brandy, a variety of aged rum, gin, liqueurs, and cocktail bitters.
If the post is dated prior to December 13, 2008, it was previously published at Slashfood.com / AOL.com.
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The Absolut Sensory Experience - March 4th, 2010
By Jonathan M. Forester on Mar 6, 2010 | In Cocktail Revolution, Food
Some days are ho hum. I just flow through life, with little effort, pleasure, or meaning. Other days are filled with excitement or even terror. (Especially back when I was a professional mountain climber, rescue worker, and wilderness guide.) There are days with enlightenment, philosophical and educational. Now, many of my days are boozy times of food and luxury. Being in the food, spirits, and cocktail industry has raised my expectations, expanded my horizons, and even left me somewhat jaded at times. I get invited to events and I wonder, what’s next? Will it be fun? Exciting? Or just plain boring. At the worst of times it’s still pretty good. I get to meet up and chat with my friends, and make some new ones. Across the country, and even around the world, we’re a pretty tight crew. The bartenders and mixologists, spirit brand ambassadors and reps, cocktail/spirit writers and bloggers, fanatic cocktail enthusiasts, and a few others who have a tangible, if not visible presence. I’m glad to know so many, and to call them friends.
The other morning I was invited last minute to fill in for a writer friend, at a rare event. I tasted half a dozen cognacs, culminating with a few sips of a single cask bottling that sent me floating along on a wave of flavor and luxury. The few bottles that will be available will retail for $15,000 each, with only 30 allocated to the U.S, and I walked out of there more than a little blurry around the edges.
Now most people would call it a day. But this was just the start and had at least twelve more hours to go. I sat down at a nice tapas restaurant for something to eat, and a glass of wine, then a beer. I had to quench my thirst a bit and relax after an intense and overwhelming morning. I had an all day and night long event starting just after lunch, and by now I was starting to feel like I was wrapped in cotton wool, feeling no pain. In an unusual turn of events I didn’t know exactly what the next was about, with not even a plan of attack. I was just winging it. Although I had a feeling it might be pretty good, Simon Ford of Plymouth Gin and Absolut Vodka always puts on a great event.
