The Drinks of the Night . . .

We got eats, we got swag bags and giveaways, we even got an afterparty -- last but certainly not least, we got the drinks on too! Whether you prefer sipping on our signature cocktail, a simple glass of wine, or an exploration through beers or fine spirits, we got you covered.
First, we welcome Pinky Vodka back again; in addition to supplying our swag bags with mini bottles of their product, they also teamed up with our committee member Natalie (a.k.a The Liquid Muse) to create the signature cocktail of this event! Coasters with the recipe will be available tonight, but just to give you a little preview, here's how it's made:

Pinky Confidential
2 ounces Pinky vodka
1 ounce Chambord
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup
½ ounce egg white (optional & NOT used in the bloggerprom version)
Powdered sugar (for garnish)

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Dry shake for 15 seconds. Add ice, shake again. Strain into a powder sugar-rimmed martini glass.

Additionally we are partnering with the fine beverage sponsors below:

Cabana Cachaca, which will be making caipirinhas on-site.
Zaya Gran Reserva Rum and Casa Noble blanco and reposado tequilas, which you can enjoy straight-up or in a cocktail.
The Beer Chicks will be doing refreshing tastings with locally-made Eagle Rock Brewery beers.
And The Dalmore representatives will take attendees on a tour through their range of Single-Malt Scotch Whiskys.
For wine lovers, Fresh & Easy is again providing some wines that taste great and is even better for the value! Here are their notes on the white & red wine of the night:

The Vine Yard Chardonnay, 2008 – Under $12
From the Columbia Valley of Washington State, the Vine Yard Chardonnay is a fruit-forward wine with impressive length and well-balanced finish. It has fresh green apple accompanied by generous amounts of ripe juicy pear and framed by warm vanilla and a hint of citrus. Pairs well with seafood and white meat dishes.

Chianti Re De Castello, 2007 – Under $10
Coming from the beautiful area of Tuscany, the grapes are picked at optimum ripeness. It has brilliant ruby red color with bright raspberry fruit aromas and a touch of spice. Harmonious and well structured, this is a full-bodied red with persistent length of flavour. Ideal with Bolognese and strong Italian cheeses such as Parmesan.

Finally, another official note from the committee: This year, to ensure everyone has a wonderful BUT safe time and so that all attendees gets to try a little of everything, we are providing each attendees with 3 drink tickets. Each ticket is good for 1) our "Pinky Confidential" signature cocktail, 2) Cabana Cachaca Caipirinhas, 3) the featured red & white wines from Fresh & Easy 4) drinks made with Zaya Rum or Casa Noble Tequila OR 5) for you teetotalers, a non-alcoholic beverage of your choosing. Additionally, each attendee will have an opportunity for a beer AND a Scotch tasting. Afterwards, a cash bar is available for additional drinks.

And if you do feel like you've had too much to drink, Y Drive LA will be on hand at the valet stand ready to drive you and your car safely home. They'll offer all Blogger Prom attendees 10%. Stop by their table for more information!

So raise those glasses and toast in style, and don't forget to tip your hardworking bar staff. Cheers!

Vino and Suds at the Blogger Prom

We of the bloggerprom committee do love us a good drink and we don't discriminate, so to round off the fantastic cocktails that Natalie have created for the event, we've teamed up with other sponsors to provide us some tasty wines and beers too for those preferring grapes and suds.
First, we have the 2007 Boro Hills Sauvignon Blanc. According to the notes provided by Fresh & Easy, this is made from grapes in the Marlborough region of New Zealand, the grapes are primarily cool fermented in stainless steel tanks (with a fraction barrel fermented and aged for 3 months). The final product has aromas of "elegant gooseberry" and "ripe, tropical" fruits, with a "nicely balanced acidity on the long finish" not to mention striking a nice middle-ground between minerality and fruit. Best served chilled, either as an apertif or to pair with lighter dishes such as salads and seafood dishes.
For those preferring something more red 'n robust, Fresh & Easy is also supplying the award-winning 2008 Ambas Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. Again, the grapes are primarily fermented in stainless steel to preserve fruit notes with a portion aged in oak for richness and complexity. The flavors and aromas are "rich and concentrated"; expect "bold, ripe blackberry" with a long, velvety, smooth finish. And, if it's anything like the 2007 version, it's a "stick to your ribs country-style breakfast" kind of wine. Best paired with steak or tomato-y dishes.
Finally, for the beer-inclined - we partnered with Newcastle just in time for the debut of their DraughtKeg (using the same technology as Heineken's), a pressurized, recyclable mini-keg with a internal CO2 mechanism that dispenses up to 10 pints of "fresh-from-the-tap" Newcastle Beer, And, in case you can't finish it all, the DraughtKeg keeps the beer fresh for up to 30 days!

The best part? You can bring home the experience without a whole lot of wallet damage! At Fresh & Easy, you can get these exclusive sauvignon blanc and malbec for $5.99 and $4.99, respectively; and the Newcastle DraughtKeg will be available at select Southern California locations for approx. $23.

So no matter what glass you'll be holding (yes, even if it's a water goblet) there's something celebratory to cheers to!


~H.C.