Miss Charming's Cocktail Cinema at Tales of the Cocktail

I want to give a big, huge, shout-out and hug to Cheryl Charming, aka: Miss Charming. At the last minute, she could not attend Tales of the Cocktail but as they say on Broadway: "the show must go on."

And it did!

Cheryl chose "Auntie Mame" as the movie, and people piled in to watch it. There were Side Cars a-flowing and both Jeffrey Morgenthaler and Darcy O'Neill showed up to help out.

See a bit more in my Daily Recap Webisode #5. I gave Cheryl a big "hello" from New Orleans which didn't make it into the final cut (once it was filmed, it was out of my hands in the editing room...).

But, I'm sure we all agree that Miss Charming was there in spirit! We missed you, Cheryl!

Best Cocktail Books of 2008

I thought you'd all like to see Colleen Graham's Top Ten cocktail books of the year on about.com. (Guess what happens to make the list...!)

1. Cocktail Kingdom

While Cocktail Kingdom is not an individual book, it tops my list for the year because it is the home of Mud Puddle and is working on republishing many of the classic bartending guides. While the work of the company is still in progress, titles include essentials like Jerry Thomas' How to Mix Drinks: A Bon Vivant's Companion from 1862 with an introduction by David Wondrich and C.F. Lawlor's The Mixicologist from 1895 with an intro by Ted "Dr. Cocktail" Haigh. The significance of these new editions is that many have been out of print for years or edited beyond belief and the first few editions are hard to find. Cocktail Kingdom's mission is to revive the classic bartending guide - all great additions to the modern library.

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2. The Essential Cocktail: The Art of Mixing Perfect Drinks

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Dale DeGroff (aka King of Cocktails) is back in another essential hardcover that should be in every cocktail enthusiasts' library. DeGroff is one of the masters of modern mixology and his last book, The Craft of the Cocktail was spectacular, but the new book has a twist. In The Essential Cocktail DeGroff dissects 100 cocktails, showing us how to make them perfectly, then throws in a variation of each with an equal amount of valuable mixing advice. Add this to your wish list because it is the best individual books released this year.

3. Artisanal Cocktails: Drinks Inspired by the Seasons from the Bar at Cyrus

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Scott Beattie's book is a big hit, especially among slow food/drink and local ingredient enthusiasts. Artisanal Cocktails includes 50 seasonal recipes from Beattie's experiences at the Cyrus Restaurant in Healdsburg, California (Sonoma County) and uses the plethora of fresh ingredients available there. Although the Californian seasons are prominent in the recipes, there are lessons for mixologists in all regions to utilize fresh and local ingredients available to them in their own market.

4. Market-Fresh Mixology

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The subject of the year is fresh and no other book highlights the universal freshness of ingredients than Bridget Albert's Market-Fresh Mixology. This miniature bartending guide is perfect for anyone who wants to know what produce is in season when and find a few original drinks to impress anyone you're entertaining. Your next trip to the farmer's market will not be the same after reading this book because you'll see a drink in everything from avocado to rhubarb.

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5. The Flavor Bible

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The Flavor Bible is designed for cooks as well as bartenders and is the ultimate thesaurus of taste and pairing for anyone who wants to perfect their flavor matching skills. Written by the authors of What to Drink with What You Eat, Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg, have included every possible flavor combination in this awesome reference guide including flavors that work with the most popular spirits. If you're planning a full-course meal with a matching cocktail menu or simply trying to create a new drink you need this volume in your library.

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6. Preggatinis

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Mocktails are not limited to the Shirley Temple and "virgin" varieties of this and that and Natalie Bovis-Nelsen has proven that in Preggatinis. This is the most enjoyable and entertaining bartending guide I've seen that is mostly about the non-alcoholic drink and should be the first gift you think of for any woman you know who is trying to get pregnant or already is. Preggatinis is fun and includes non-alcoholic drinks that follow all of the stages of a pregnancy. Ladies, you don't have to feel like a kid just because you're going to have one and guys, there are tips for you to spike the same drinks your wife is having so she doesn't feel left out and everyone is happy.

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7. Kindred Spirits 2

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Anyone interested in finding the best whiskey or exploring the array of tequilas on the market now needs to own Kindred Spirits 2. The value we found in the first edition of this book has not been lost in F. Paul Pacult's newest collection of over 2,400 distilled spirit reviews. This is a welcome addition to the library because the liquor market has increased in so many areas over the last 11 years and Pacult's expertise in tasting is an invaluable guide to navigating this vast world.

8. Frozen Drinks: An A to Z Guide to All Your Frozen Favorites

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Forget those store-bought margarita mixers and learn how to make the best with fresh ingredients that will blow people's minds. Cheryl Charming has created another fun bartending guide, this time filled with frozen drinks of every kind - over 800 of them. Not only will you find Margaritas, Daiquiris and all your favorite frozen treats and more, but Charming also gives her time tested advice for creating the best blended cocktails. This is one of the best frozen drink compilations available yet and she's not stopping because in 2009 Charming's newest book, Knack Bartending Basics will be on the shelves (and you can pre-order it now).

9. Bartending Inside-Out: The Guide to Profession, Profit, & Fun

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The third edition of one of the most valuable professional bartending guides was released in April of this year. Author Lori Marcus has updated Bartending Inside-Out to include information about the newest spirits and beers as well as some of the more recent challenges for bartenders. Not only will the aspiring bartender learn drinks, how to make them efficiently and the myriad of tricks pros use, but there is a wealth of information included about the other parts of the job: managing customers, legal issues, tipping and more.

10. The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Martinis

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This is a handy little book that is filled with nothing but Martinis and it is a great introduction to bartending that anyone can understand. Written by James O. Fraioli (with Vincenzo Marianella), there are a lot of "Martini" drinks including everything from an Apple Streudel Martini to Smoked Salmon Martini and, of course, all the favorites. The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Martinis is like looking at one of those martini lounge menus with 100+ martinis and it's pretty fun.

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So You Wanna Be A Bartender?

Miss Charming to the Rescue!

Let's face it. If you live in LA, NYC or Vegas, you know that a good bartending gig is as competitive to land as a regular role on a daytime soap.

If you're a "creative type" looking for extra cash (and bartending is the top of the heap) you may be in for a rude awakening. Just showing up to fill out an application ain't enough anymore. You need a resume. A good one.

In addition to being a published author (8 books under her belt) Cheryl Charming has been a bartender for many years. For a reasonable fee, she can craft your "passport" to a killer "day job." And, who knows, once you're a star behind the bar, you may just tell Hollywood to take a hike!

Get 'In The Know' in 2009!

Remember when we had to subscribe to newspapers to stay informed? Well, today, the web makes it easy - and FREE - to stay on top of fun things going on in the cocktail and foodie spheres. Below are a few of my favorite online newsletters. If I've missed some that you love, feel free to leave them in the comments section!

The Liquid Muse Mixology Museletter: Just in case you aren't arleady signed up, I want to let you know about my monthly Museletter which highlights liquor reviews, cocktail recipes, fancy-schmancy events and other fun cocktailian tid-bits.

Charming Cocktails: My gal-pal and fellow cocktail mover-and-shaker, Cheryl Charming, has written numerous books and has been circulating a newsletter for a decade. Sign up and see why!

Tablehopper: This Bay Area-based newsletter written by Marica Gagliardi keeps San Franciscans up to date as to where to eat, drink and savor the good life.

Alcademics: Blogger / journo Camper English offers great give-aways when you sign up on his mailing list.

Intoxicated Zodiac: Gwen Kaiser is one of the nicest cocktail bloggers on the web and has a very cool concept of blending what's in the stars with what's in the glass. Intrigued? Get it here!

Ardent Spirits: If you're a bartender or cocktail enthusiast, you probably already get Gary Regan's newsletter. But, if you don't, get it now!

More Holiday Cheer!

This festive article, written by Jenny Adams for Nightclub & Bar Magazine, features two of my holiday creations: Ho-Ho-Hot Holiday Margarita and the White Creole Christmas Punch. A couple of my cocktail-loving pals, Cheryl Charming and Jonathan Pogash, also present their yummy recipes.

And, one thing is for sure - if you're not in the holiday spirit by the end of Jenny's article, you'll - at least - be thristing for a drink!