Roz on the Rocks

Michael Henderson's Bass Playing On Title Track Of Marvin Gaye's Soon To Be Released 1972 Album!

2019-04-11T07:34:00.003-07:00

Marvin Gaye's Never-Released 1972 TamlaMotown Album!

LOS ANGELES - March 21, 2019 - In celebration of Marvin Gaye's 80th birthday on April 2, Motown/UMe released his never-issued 1972 Tamla/Motown album, You're The Man, in 2LP gatefold vinyl and digital editions on March 29. The album's CD release will follow on May 10. You're The Man features all of Gaye's solo and non-soundtrack recordings from 1972, with most of the album's tracks making their vinyl release debuts. SaLaAM ReMi's new mix of the album track "My Last Chance" is available now for streaming and for immediate download with album pre-order.

In 1972, Marvin Gaye was on top: or so it seemed. "What's Going On," "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)," and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler")," the three singles from his universally acclaimed album What's Going On, had each hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart (since renamed Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) and Top 10 Pop the year before. His new single, "You're The Man" – a percolating, sarcastic riff on political non-action issued as the U.S. presidential campaign was kicking off – reached No. 7 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart. He saw Motown schedule a You're The Man album (catalog number Tamla 316). But when the lead single didn't cross over Pop, stalling at No. 50, Marvin retreated. Ambivalent about recording, stubborn about moving to Los Angeles with Berry Gordy and Motown, Marvin by his actions proclaimed no more new Marvin Gaye music. Or so it seemed.

In this singular and transitional year for the late music legend, Gaye recorded more than an album's worth of music in Detroit and L.A. He produced himself, creating a suite of aching ballads; he worked with songwriters-becoming-producers Willie Hutch, then known mainly for the Jackson 5 smash "I'll Be There," but soon to be lauded for his film scores to The Mack and Foxy Brown; and with Pam Sawyer and Gloria Jones, whose "Piece of Clay" for Marvin decades later became a smash in the 1995 film Phenomenon. He cut two sought-after tracks with Freddie Perren and Fonce Mizell, half of the hit-making machine behind the Jackson 5; he got together with Hal Davis, who was preparing a Marvin Gaye-Diana Ross album, to cut another topical gem, "The World Is Rated X." And Marvin funneled his anger over the Vietnam War, and his brother's experiences there, into a sequel of sorts to "What's Going On," the poetic holiday ballad, "I Want To Come Home For Christmas." He even re-cut "You're The Man" as an eerie funk jam, perhaps for the LP as a bookend to the single. None of these tracks or any other on the LP, except the single, were issued at the time.

Three tracks from the album are newly mixed by SaLaAM ReMi, the songwriter and producer long associated with Nas, the Fugees, and Amy Winehouse: "My Last Chance," "Symphony," and "I'd Give My Life For You." Also included is the rare, long LP version of Gaye's cancelled 1972 Christmas single, plus an unreleased vault mix of its instrumental B-side. Over the years, songs from You're The Manhave been included on several CD releases but 15 of the album's 17 tracks have not been released on vinyl until now.

You're The Man's 2LP vinyl edition includes new liner notes by Marvin Gaye biographer David Ritz. In his essay, Ritz delves into Gaye's deeply personal internal conflict as a source of creative vigor and emotional burden as he experienced What's Going On's massive success and all that came with it. "Now I could do what I wanted," Gaye told Ritz in an interview that first appeared in Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye. "For most people that would be a blessing. But for me the thought was heavy. They said I'd reached the top, and that scared me because Mother used to say, 'First ripe, first rotten.' When you're at the top there's nowhere to go but down. No, I needed to keep going up – raising my consciousness – or I'd fall back on my behind. When would the war stop? That's what I wanted to know – the war inside my soul."

Despite his inner turmoil, that same year Gaye recorded a duets album with Diana Ross, and he accepted an offer to write what became his landmark Trouble Man film score. A year later, he released Let's Get It On, the biggest hit of his career.

In addition to You're The Man, Motown/UMe will release a new expanded edition of Marvin Gaye's 1965 album, A Tribute To The Great Nat King Cole, digitally on March 15. Honoring what would have been Cole's 100th birthday, the album's original mono mix makes its digital debut with the new edition, which also adds more than a dozen bonus tracks, including six alternate takes from the studio sessions.

Marvin Gaye: You're The Man [2LP vinyl; digital; CD]

Side 1
Produced by Marvin Gaye (1), Hal Davis (2), Gloria Jones and Pamela Sawyer (3), Freddie Perren and Fonce Mizell (4)
1. You're The Man 5:45 * Michael Henderson (Bass Guitar)
2. The World Is Rated X 3:50
3. Piece of Clay 5:10
4. Where Are We Going? 3:53
Side 2
Produced by Willie Hutch
1. I'm Gonna Give You Respect 2:55
2. Try It, You'll Like It 3:55
3. You Are That Special One 3:35
4. We Can Make It Baby 3:20
Side 3
Produced by Marvin Gaye except *Freddie Perren and Fonce Mizell
Mixes for tracks 1-3, by SaLaAM ReMi, and track 5, by Art Stewart, are previously unreleased.
1. My Last Chance 3:40
2. Symphony 2:52
3. I'd Give My Life For You 3:31
4. Woman of the World* 3:30
5. Christmas In the City (instrumental) 3:48
Side 4
Produced by Marvin Gaye
1. You're The Man Version 2 4:40 * James Jamerson (Bass Guitar)
2. I Want to Come Home For Christmas 4:48
3. I'm Going Home (Move) 4:38 * Michael Henderson (Bass Guitar)
4. Checking Out (Double Clutch) 4:50 * Michael Henderson (Bass Guitar)

Pre-order You're The Man (digital; 2LP vinyl; CD): https://UMe.lnk.to/YoureTheManPR

Musicians on this classic recording are Uriel Jones: Drums, Michael Henderson: Bass, Ray Parker Jr: Guitar, WahWah Watson: Guitar, Leroy Emmanuel: Guitar, Marvin Gaye: Vocals, Keys, Bongos: Legendary Motown Bassist James Jamerson plays on, "You're The Man" Part II.. Listen here: https://bit.ly/2CtwRYc (https://ume.lnk.to/YoureTheManPR) For Pre-Order
Contact
BestComm PR
***@gmail.com

Make It Happen CEO Says Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

2012-09-13T14:58:00.001-07:00

Make It Happen CEO Says Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Actress Krishawn Peace Says 'Sparkle' is Phenomenal Experience

2012-09-08T12:51:00.001-07:00

Actress Krishawn Peace Says 'Sparkle' is Phenomenal Experience

Pen Pal Discusses Work with Game and Music Legends

2012-09-06T09:12:00.001-07:00

Pen Pal Discusses Work with Game and Music Legends

Labor Day Celebrations 2012, Detroit, Chicago and New York

2012-09-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

If you're looking ahead with mixed feelings to Labor Day and the unofficial end of the summer, perhaps even a tinge of sadness at the summer exit — the best thing to do is to send it out with a bang. After the parades and fanfare of the last holiday of the summer, you may want to stop off at a local hot spot (pun intended) and make some memories to float you through to the fall transition. –roz edward

Detroit
32nd Annual Detroit Jazz Festival
Hart Plaza and Detroit Riverfront
Aug. 31- Sept. 3

Just up the street at the Motor City Casino, step into one of the citiy's newest nightclubs, Amnesia, and order a Hennessy Black Apricot Sunray. But as the club’s name indicates, you’re bound to not remember much.

Recipe:
1 375 ml bottle – Hennessy Black
1 bottle of Chandon Brut
24 ounces of Orchard Apricot Liqueur
12 ounces Kern’s Apricot Nectar
12 ounces fresh squeezed lemon juice
32 ounces fresh squeezed blood orange juice
15-20 apricot slices
5 thinly sliced lemons
1 blood orange, halved and thinly sliced
12 brandied cherries
In a large punch bowl or pitcher, add all ingredients and stir with ice.
Note: Since President Barack Obama will be in Detroit on Labor Day for the annual celebration of workers, security will be

Chicago
Navy Pier Fireworks, Chicago
Saturday, Sept. 1

The Boutique is an exclusive outlet for entertainment moguls looking to get away from the main club district. Owner Marc Bortz (Hogs & Honeys, Sangria nightclubs) is behind this hip-hop focused club. Bortz beefed up his hip-hop cred when he partnered with John Monopoly, a hip-hop talent scout, music video producer, CEO of GOOD Music and Kanye West’s manager. The tri-level club aims for a Tibetan vibe with rich woods, stone and ample artifacts from the region.

New York
Labor Day Parade and March
New York City – Fifth Avenue and 44th Street
Saturday, Sept. 1


Unfortunately, this officer was busted for dirty dancing at New York's Labor Day Parade.

After the parade stop by and pay homage to one of the late greats, Nick Ashford of the legendary musical duo Ashford & Simpson. He and wife, Valerie, established the Sugar Bar in a converted brownstone on Manhattan’s trendy Upper West Side. Celebrity patrons include Stevie Wonder, Whoopi Goldberg, Patrick Ewing, Al Sharpton, Eddie Murphy, Johnny Gill, Freddie Jackson, Maya Angelou ... it’s a veritable Who’s Who list.


Actress Robin Givens ignores an admirer at the Sugar Bar.

Exclusive Interview with Artist James Dozier

2012-08-29T08:35:00.003-07:00

“I devote myself to enjoying, and to the extent that I can, promoting art and culture in my community.” –James Dozier, artist and art collector
The depth and breadth of the works being created and collected on Detroit's local art scene is as varied as are the works themselves. We at Roz on the Rocks have over the past months explored Detroit’s ultra-eclectic art scene and have found that “the made in Detroit” slogan applies to more than automobiles. Another of the Motor City’s local treasures, fine arts photographer James Dozier, spoke with roz on the rocks about his latest work and his diverse collection. –roz edward

Which came first the artist or the art collector?
The artist. My mom was an artist … and that was the beginning of my interest in art which developed into a love of photography. … And as I got more into it, I came to the realization that this was a medium that one could really use to express how one was feeling. Over the years it [developed] into an interest for painting and drawing and other forms of art including sculpture, and that’s also reflected in my collecting interests.

Is it common for an artist to work in so many different mediums?
Some artists can work in a number of mediums. … As I became interested in exploring abstract imagery, it really got me more into painting and drawing. I admired my artist friends who could paint and draw because they could take an abstract idea and start creating, whereas with photography I would have to try and find something to photograph. … I [decided] that it was taking too long to be able to express what I had in my mind … so that got me interested in exploring painting and melding it with photography.

You combine a digital process with your photography to create your art. How does that work?
I use digital technology, computers and various software to create my work. Sometimes people think a computer is creating the work, but that’s no more true than saying that a paint brush creates the painting, or a pencil creates the drawing. It enables me to use my various image making processes and mate them with the medium.

Who and what works do you collect?
I collect in the areas of photography, sculptures, ceramics, and paintings. Some of the ones who are my favorites are James Van Der Zee and Ansel Adams, and in terms of painting I collect Shirley Woodson Reid, her son Senghor Reid, Carole Walker and Al Loving to name a few.

The Mojito: The Most Versatile of the Summer Cocktails

2012-07-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

The Mojito — which was has been all the rage for savvy and sophisticated summer partiers — took over the cocktail spotlight with a vengeance over the past few years. The drink, which, is actually a traditional Cuban highball, became wildly popular because of it’s versatility and the many variations of Mojitos offered in restaurants and clubs around the country. This cocktail has that certain something that captures the excitement of the heat, the splendor of summer and our little acohol-loving hearts.Try a few of ro’s favorites. –roz edward

Basic Recipe
1 1/2 ounces light rum
12 fresh spearmint leaves
1/2 lime
2 tablespoons simple syrup (equal amounts sugar and water heated until sugar dissolves, cooled) or 4 teaspoons sugar
Ice
Club soda
Lime wedge and mint sprig, for garnish

Preparation:
In a tall glass, muddle or mash together the mint leaves and lime. Add the simple syrup or sugar and fill the glass with ice. Add the rum and top with club soda, stir well. Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.

Northeast
This mojito cocktail using Cruzan Orange was created by Trina Storm, bar manager at City Bar in Boston.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounce Cruzan Orange Rum
2 splashes soda water
1 teaspoon super fine sugar
1/2 Kaffir lime
6 mint leaves
lime wedges

Preparation:
In a mixing glass, muddle kaffir lime, mint sprigs, sugar and a splash of soda water. Add ice and Cruzan and give two strong shakes. Pour into a tall glass, top off with a splash of soda water and garnish with lime wedge.

Southwest
Recipe provided by Sommelier Jason Carlen and Chef Dan Zivic, Old House Restaurant in the Eldorado Hotel & Spa, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
1 1/2 ounces lime juice
ginger ale
6 mint leaves
3 slivers of fresh ginger
mint sprig

Preparation:
In a tall glass, muddle mint leaves, lime juice, and fresh ginger. Add Captain Morgan and ice. Top with ginger ale and garnish with a mint sprig.

Wine Basics for Your Home

2012-06-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the continued love affair with wines, savvy consumers are making sure to have the proper accoutrements to optimize the wine drinking experience. Storing and chilling are critical junctures in wine consumption, and if not handled correctly, you may not only diminish the taste — you could lose your investment.

Keep wine out of dark, damp or musty spaces — like your basement! The singular modular wine rack from Pottery Barn ($12.00) is perfect for storing wine. These iron wine racks are the ultimate in space-saving simplicity. Simply secure one to the wall and hook multiples below to create a chain-like vertical rack.

Fill your rack with a collection of Sterling Vineyards varietal like the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or the Shiraz from the Sterling Vintner’s Collection.

Typically, white wines and roses are to be chilled, while heartier reds are best consumed at room temperature. But when there’s no time to chill a wine the conventional way in a bucket or in the fridge, wine chillers work like a charm. They can cool wines down to the desired temp in a matter of minutes without compromising the wine. Try a Blossom Hill Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio or White Zinfadel in the chiller and taste how refreshing and crisp the outcome is.

Stainless steel chiller available at Target ($29.99).

Note: Don’t assume a wine with a twist off cap, aka Stelvin closure, is a cheap wine. Twist off caps are fast becoming the winemakers preferred method for the bottling process, as they practically eliminate the problem of mold-contaminated wine corks.

Chill a bottle of bubbly or serve ice for cocktails in dapper topper ice buckets. These stylish ice buckets turn a cocktail party into a special affair. Try it out with a very special opaque pale champagne like Moët & Chandon or Dom Perignon. to make any occasion extraordinary. –roz edward

Loews Eleven: Brilliance in a Brilliant Town

2012-06-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

When visitors approach Atlanta’s nighttime skyline from the north, the “Capital of the South” looks like Emerald City, a dazzling array of colorfully lit skyscrapers outlined in garnet green, ruby red and diamond-hot white lights. It is a breathtaking display, even if it does border on gaudy. But so what, it’s spectacular.

Stay on course, and you’re bound to arrive at Peachtree Street and find that it is literally jammed with great prospects for night life, dining and entertainment. One of the latest and most spectacular of those is the Atlanta Loews Hotel at Peachtree and 11th streets and its jewel inside — Eleven, one of the hottest clubs in town. Located in the hotel’s lobby, with dramatic story-high windows that entice passers-by to come in for a cocktail at its stunning bar, Eleven features a beautifully lit wall of bottled libations from every corner of the world.

“It’s not just a bar. It’s a venue that spotlights exactly what Atlanta has,” explains Loews entertainment director, DeMarco McMillan. “The point is really to become a part of the community and bring [people] together, regardless of race or class or ethnicity. It’s a comfortable, vibrant and inciting environment. It’s what we call a ‘guestination.’ ”

On Thursday nights, Eleven hosts free jazz concerts featuring performers from both the national and local music scenes. While the well-heeled soak up the sounds, the well-versed indulge in signature drink concoctions and top-shelf cocktails. –roz edward

Where: Eleven, in the lobby of Atlanta’s Loews Hotel at Peachtree and 11th streets

What: “Music and Mingle” event every Thursday. First Thursdays of the month feature industry headliners, which have included Ledisi and Norman Brown.

Guests rush the bar at Eleven where expert bartenders make every effort to accommodate the enthusiastic crowd with superbly mixed drinks and top-notch service.

Signature Cocktail: The lavender drop martini is Eleven’s twist on the popular lemon drop martini. Of course, this is with lavender. The color is subtle, but the drink is potent.

3 Great Playoff and Poolside Cocktails

2012-05-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody,
Sorry I've been away so long, but had some advertising issues with Google so am looking to migrate site. In the meantime I owe you guys some cocktail recipes so let's get started.

We just ended one of the warmest winters on record. Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner bringing on an onslaught of reasons to get together with friends and family — cookouts, NBA finals and pool parties are happening (at least here in Atlanta they are).

Below are three great poolside cocktails that are sure to make your next pool party a splash. These drinks are made with Ciroc, Malibu and Remy Martin.

Coco Loso

1.5 ounces of Ciroc Coconut
Splash of pineapple juice
One wedge of lime

Pour Ciroc Coconut vodka over ice in a low ball glass, then add pineapple juice. Squeeze fresh lime juice into cocktail, stir and garnish with a lime.

French Mojito

1.5 ounces of Remy Martin VSOP
1 ounce of fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
7-10 mint leaves
3 ounces of sparkling water
Place mint leaves in Tom Collins glass, add crushed ice, Remy Martin VSOP, sugar and lime juice and muddle (smash mint leaves to release the mint oil).
The three cocktails featured here are light, refreshing and simple to make. Your pool party guests will have to request your recipe request once they taste them.

Tahiti Punch

2.5 ounces of Malibu rum
1.5 tablespoons of sugar cane grain sugar
Lime
Place two peeled lime slices in a lowball glass. Pour in the sugar and smash the ingredients in the bottom of the glass with a tablespoon. Add two ice cubes and pour Malibu rum into glass. Stir and garnish with a slice of lime

What's This Barbie Doll Thing All About?

2012-03-19T16:44:00.000-07:00

Apparently increasing numbers of black women have decided to give in to the beauty stereotype of the counter culture and are going for the blonde hair and blue eyes look that's become the standard for some sectors of the entertainment and fashion industries. But what's the fascination black women are having with the Barbie doll image, the candy colored hair, the hot-pink lipstick and the waist cinching clothing? Crazy costumes and colorful hair may be good gimmicks, but how about having the talent to sustain you without all of the distractions. Take Nicki Minaj for example:

Reason No. 1: Nicki Minaj’s “It’s Barbie bitch” picked up where Lil’ Kim left off. "I don't know, I feel like Nicki is glorifying the hypersexualized image of female beauty more than she is critiquing it. I don't think the average listener is going to peel back the layers and realize that the impossible body proportions Nicki's sporting shows that American beauty standards are messed up," comments one blogger Laura.

Reason No. 2: Not to be outdone and to reclaim the title Lil Kim appears here rocking a blonde wig and blue eyes for folks to think Kim was beautiful again. "I always got the sense that Black Barbie image was more about the perfection of black women because Barbie = perfection. They are calling themselves the best," says blogger Rebecca.

Reason No. 3: Rihanna may have toned it down in favor of a more realistic look with the fire-engine red hair, but the message is there. The Barbie Doll images is a means of connecting themselves with girls and girl culture. In Barbie’s world, clothes, cars and exciting lifestyles are the priority. "They want little girls to see them and look up to them, like she would with Barbie, but identify with the kick ass message in the next verse," continues Rebecca.

Reason No. 4: Rapper Diamond
"It’s like fighting a losing battle when it comes to being a female rapper. You’re going against all odds and you just have to go hard with your work," explains the former Crime Mob member.
To carve out a place for themselves in the industry female rappers are often forced to choose between tomboy or boy toy personas.

Reason No. 1: It's all gimmick. According to Harlem newcomer Azealia Banks, “I think a lot of the things [Nicki Minaj] started doing with her look were distracting,” she says. “I think she’s talented enough to sustain a very fruitful career without the ugly wigs and ugly costumes,” concludes the girl rapper who''s ben known to take on industry giants like T.I. and Minaj.

March Madness Cocktails: Bacardi, Tequila, MillerCoors Beer

2012-03-18T15:40:00.001-07:00

The NCAA Tournament is the year’s greatest event for college basketball enthusiasts — there’s just nothing like wall-to-wall basketball from noon to midnight. And what do fans want while watching their favorite teams on the court, to enjoy the experience with other b-ball devotees, either in sports bar or a friend’s home, anywhere with a tv, shots and beer.

Corazon (Heart) on the Rocks - This tequila is so good that Wine Enthusiast magazine suggests consumers drink it on the rocks with just a healthy twist of lime to complement the sweetness.

Of course, after you throw back that tequila you’re going to want to follow it up with an invigorating beer back. Rolling out’s recommendation: pretty much any MillerCoors brew, but specifically Coors Light or Miller Lite.

Coors Light is constantly bringing innovation to its bottles and cans, with recent features including the cold-activated bottle and cans, and two-stage, cold-activation bottles and cans.

Miller Lite is the only beer to win four gold awards in the World Beer Cup® for best American-Style light lager and it won the gold medal for best American-style Lager or Light Lager at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival.

And just in case you didn’t already know, the Final Four host city is New Orleans, so to make your virtual NCAA experience as close to the real thing as possible, you’ll have to try one of New Orleans’ most authentic drinks or just have a shot straight up.

The Skylab:
1 ounce Everclear (190 proof grain alcohol)
1 ounce Bacardi 151 proof rum
1 ounce Blue Curação liqueur
1/2 ounce apricot brandy
1 ounce orange juice
1 ounce pineapple juice
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons sugar syrup

Academy Award Winning Cocktails: The Oscar Goes To ...

2012-02-27T13:22:00.000-08:00

Typically with all of the hoopla of the Academy Awards aftermath and the all night revelry that accompanies those glamorous parties for winners and losers, several cocktails distinguished themselves in the sea of libations and rose to the top of the heap to take Oscar Gold. Thankfully, some of my favorites were served at the swankiest parties and now you and I can recreate them at home for our close-up with the camera moments. So with out further adieux — the Oscar for best cocktails in a lead role go to .... -roz edward

For the 2012 Governors Ball, the official after-party of the Academy Awards, the signature drink featured was a stunning Moet Red Carpet Glamour Cocktail. I was able to get a hold of the recipe to share with my favorite stars and fans.

Red Carpet Glamour Cocktail

1 ounce fresh sour mix

1 ounce Hum Botanical Spirit

Moët & Chandon Imperial Champagne

Rose petal for garnish

Fill a chilled champagne flute half way with ice.

Stir the sour mix and Hum together in a mixing glass with ice.

Strain into the flute until half full.

Top with champagne.

Garnish with a single rose pedal.

As for Sir Elton John's party, the annual AIDS Foundation Academy Awards gala at the Pacific Design Center, the arbiter of all things grand and tasteful pinched Food Network personality Sandra Lee to dream up several divine cocktails for the soiree – thankfully she used a rolling out favorite, Ciroc Vodka which is Academy Award winner Diddy's personal brand of vodka.

Red Carpet Cosmo

4 ounces cranberry juice

1 ounce Ciroc vodka

½ ounce Godiva chocolate raspberry vodka

Ice cubes

Cranberries

In a glass, combine juice, vodka, and chocolate raspberry vodka. Add ice. Garnish with cranberries.

Lee also created another fruit-based cocktail, again with a brand that we hold dear.

The Golden Truffle Cocktail

1 ounce Ciroc vodka

1 ounce pineapple juice

1 ounce white cranberry juice

Ice cubes

Raspberries

In a glass, combine juice and vodka. Add ice. Garnish with raspberries.

Drunk With Love

2012-02-22T13:50:00.000-08:00

Short of voodoo, if you could mix a potion for passion and pleasure that would make your love swell with passion and your body blaze like firewater, wouldn’t you do it? Absolutely!

Remy Martin, often called the nectar of the gods, offers the ideal love potion — Remy Red — all bottled and ready to work its magic. The fine cognac is best consumed just as it is — straight, no chaser. For optimal results, heat in a snifter over a candle warmer.

Remy Martin also produces a Cherry Heering liqueur which can be combined with champagne for a festive Cupid’s Bowl cocktail. For the more daring, try the Remy Martin Knockout cocktail with Cointreau, cranberry and pineapple juices. He’ll never know what hit him.

Here's a new celebrity favorite, low calorie X-Rated Fusion Liqueur cocktail. A sensuous blend of ultra-premium French vodka and blood orange, it’s unapologetically pink and delectable. And at only 96 calories per serving, it’s no wonder it’s a favorite of celebs La La Anthony, Giuliana Rancic, Gabrielle Union and Ciara.

The Midnight Kiss

2/3 glass of Sparkling Rose

1 ounce X-Rated Fusion Liqueur

Pour the Sparkling Rose in a flute and top with the X-Rated Fusion Liqueur.

The Starbright Valentine

1 1/2 ounces SKYY Vodka

1/2 ounce X-Rated Fusion Liqueur

1/4 ounce simple syrup

Half a lemon squeeze

Champagne

Muddle a star fruit in a shaker. Shake all ingredients, then strain into a champagne glass. Top with champagne. –roz edward

January Closeouts

2012-01-25T14:50:00.000-08:00

Here are the last of the after-the-holiday recipes — just in time to close out January. But these are a four of the most attractive and tasty cocktails I have sampled in a while. These festive concoctions are just the ticket to get in you in the holiday mood. –roz edward

Blood Orange Bourbon
Recipe: Ice cubes
3 tablespoons blood orange juice, strained
2 tablespoons bourbon
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
1 drop aromatic bitters
Blood orange slice

Fill a short glass with ice. Add blood orange juice, bourbon, sugar and bitters; stir vigorously. Bend orange slice in half, slide into glass. Serve immediately.

Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Cocktail
Recipe: 2 1/2 ounces Jose Cuervo Resposado Tequila
1 ounce peppermint schnapps 3/4 ounce Godiva liqueur
1 1/2 ounces cream
Chocolate syrup and candy canes for garnish

Rim martini glass with chocolate syrup and crushed candy canes. Shake ingredients in shaker with ice and strain into a martini glass.

Sugar Cookie Cocktail
Recipe: 2 1/2 ounces Jose Cuervo Resposado Tequila
1 teaspoon brown sugar
Brown sugar for garnish

Rim a cordial glass with brown sugar. Add tequila and brown sugar into a shaker with ice and shake ingredients well. Strain into glass.

Dress up classic Spanish sangría with Spiced Simple Syrup and tart cranberries to create an ideal cocktail for a winter holiday celebration.

Spiced Cranberry Sangria
Recipe: The Fruit
2 cups fresh cranberries
2 Granny Smith apples, large dice
1 cup Spiced Simple Syrup
3/4 cup Cointreau
1/2 cup ruby port wine

Recipe: The sangría:
1 (750-milliliter) bottle Tempranillo rosé
1/2 cup ruby port wine
1/2 cup Cointreau
1/2 cup cranberry juice

For the fruit:
Combine all ingredients in a 3-quart container with a tight-fitting lid.
Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.

For the sangría:
Add all ingredients to the fruit mixture and stir to combine.
Refrigerate until chilled; serve over ice.

More Of the Best Of

2012-01-17T21:36:00.000-08:00

Last entry we examined — and tasted the best beers and wines of the 2011 variety. Now we'll move on to the hard stuff, the gins, rums, vodkas and whiskeys. Whether these are your favorites or not, they enjoyed immense popularity throughout the party season. The criteria for making it to my best of list is include taste, adaptability, availability and at what price point. Bottom line these are affordable and sitting on a shelf in shop — or as we say here in Atlanta — a package store near you.

Best Gin - Bombay Sapphire® Gin - The spirit is delicately infused in a Carterhead still with the aromatic flavours of 10 botanicals. It is an altogether great gin... complex, refreshing and well-balanced

Best Rum - Bacardi is the most popular rum sold within the United States.

Best Vodka - Cîroc Vodka releases the true flavors in every cocktail. The sweet complexity of the distilled grapes draw out and complement the flavors of whatever is mixed ...

Best Scotch - Glenrothes Select Reserve is a fine single malt scotch, decently-balanced, full-flavored and easy-going enough for casual cocktailing, but with enough complexity to pair with a fine cigar.

Best Whiskey - Crown Royal Black is an extra bold whiskey matured to perfection in oak barrels. This deliciously black whiskey has a higher proof and more full bodied flavor.

Best Beers and Wines of 2011

2012-01-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

It’s the start of the new year and time to recap the events and items that made a real impression on us in the world cocktails an libations. Here are my top choices for domestic brands. –roz edward

The pieste de resistance the best champagne of 2011 is still the reigning royalty of champagnes — Dom Pérignon.

A truly unique style heralding the creator of champagne, Dom Pérignon is named after the creator of champagne, a monk called Pierre Pérignon. And when it's stored and consumed properly it's like inhaling, the nectar is airy and nothing short of divine.

Best Beer: Guinness

The only global stout brand – the much adored Guinness, which recently celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the lease on St James’s Gate Brewery, Dublin.

Red: Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

This lush wine reveals fruit-forward blackberry and cherry flavors and dark fruit aromas.

White: Concannon Conservancy Chardonnay 2009

A wonderfully expressive wine with ripe tree fruit flavors of peach, pear and guava show on the nose and palate. Hints of lemon, subtle herbs and brioche balance out the fruitiness of the finish.

Moscato Sutter Home Winery Moscato

This wine is from United States, California region. Dessert Muscat Blanc A Petits Grain Wine.

Affordable Wines for Every Holiday Soirée

2011-12-21T11:55:00.000-08:00

‘Tis the season to be jolly and what better way to accomplish that objective than with a good bottle of wine. When guests come 'round you’ll be ready for for everything from casual entertaining to a full blown house party with a few good wines. The thing that makes wine a perfect choice for holiday celebrations is that you don’t have to dip into the Christmas shopping budget to afford them, since there are a number of good brands available at about $10 per bottle. –roz edward

McManis Family Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
$10
This wine will “wow” the most discerning guests, especially if you tell them what you paid per bottle. A deep garnet colored red wine with plenty of blackberry and cherry on the palate. The perfect party wine.

Kendall Jackson
Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay 2005
$10

To make and cherish fond holiday memories, break out this chardonnay is a delicious compilation of fruit and smoke, full-bodied and balanced, and supported by a rich, buttery texture. Kendall-Jackson is known for consistent quality, and its reputation for producing wines that are reasonably priced.

Vog Quatro
$9

The stylish packaging houses a blend of merlot, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir (hence the name) from Italy, the unique bottle and price will hook many buyers looking for an interesting bottle of wine that won’t break the bank, but the pleasant way the different varietals blend will certainly have you coming back for
more.

Sutter Home Moscato
$9

While the jury is still out on sweet wines, there is something about the sweet, creamy, peach flavor of Sutter Home’s moscato that makes you feel like maybe it shouldn’t pair with dessert so much as replace it.

Yellow Tail Shiraz
$7

There is a reason that the Yellow Tail brand has done so well in the U.S. and abroad, and it comes down to making consistent, quality wines at a perfect “party” wine price point. The wine has a fruit-forward flavor that guests will enjoy whether they are “into” reds or not.

Korbel Champagne
Brut
$10
And no celebration is complete without a bottle of the bubbly on hand, This is a champagne stand by that is perfect for party goers, the taste is good and the price is right for poppin’ corks all night. .

Thanksgiving: LET’S DRINK TO IT

2011-11-17T08:40:00.000-08:00

The holiday crunch is upon us. And while you may have planned your Thanksgiving menu — traditional or something with a twist — if you haven’t decided what to serve your guests pre, during and post meal, here are a few suggestions.

Pre-dinner: Apple Pie Cocktail
3/4 ounce Bacardi Traditional White
Rum
1/4 ounce Martini & Rossi Rosso
Vermouth
1/4 ounce Apple Brandy
1/2 ounce Lemon Juice
dash of Major Peters’ Grenadine

Stir in a mixing glass with ice, and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Chocolate Pumpkin Pie-tini

3⁄4 ounce vanilla flavored vodka,
Smirnoff®
1/2 ounce Irish cream liqueur, Baileys®
1⁄2 ounce coffee liqueur, Kaluha®
1⁄2 ounce crème de cacao
1⁄8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, Irish cream, coffee liqueur, crème de cacao, pumpkin pie spice, and cayenne pepper. Add ice; cover and shake until very cold. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

During Dinner: Wine

Serving wine at Thanksgiving, can be a challenge because of the variety of dishes and flavors. If the dish is sweet (sweet potatoes), look for wine with fruitiness. If the dish is spicy, look for wine with low alcohol content to minimize the heat. Acidic foods such as cranberry sauce or collard greens, call for a wine with acidity, for it to stand up to tart tastes. Pinot Noir is a great silky, sensuous red wine that meets all of those characteristics. With its typical tart-berry fruit, warm spices, and earthy aroma, it’s a slam dunk for Thanksgiving. A pinot can do right by almost all the exuberant side dishes a turkey requires.

You might also want to try mulling wine in a crock pot. Mulling spices are available in most fine wine stores and specialty food markets. It’s a great and cozy addition for a holiday meal, that you may just want to make a holiday tradition.

Post-Dinner: The Ciroc Truffletini
1/2 ounce Ciroc Vodka
1 ounce Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 ounce Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with Godiva Milk Chocolate Truffle or White Chocolate shavings.

The Most Affordable Cocktails for Holiday and Pigskin Parties — Make It A Potent Punch

2011-11-09T18:05:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is coming soon, and it’s time to think about making drinks en masse for guests who will gather at your home for the holiday or a Sunday afternoon football game — or both. In general punches with alcohol are the best and most affordable way to accommodate revelers. I suggest moderately priced alcohol — not the bottom of the cask that causes those awful hangovers but it doesn’t have to be top shelf, either. That goes for all the alcohols — something moderately priced and for moderate consumption — if you can manage the latter. –roz edward

Cranberry and Pineapple Champagne Brunch
Start off your party with this festive punch made with pineapple juice, cranberry-raspberry juice concentrate, and seltzer or champagne.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 11 cups

1 can (48 ounces) pineapple juice, chilled
1 container (8.5 ounces) cranberry- raspberry juice concentrate
1 liter seltzer water or 1 bottle champagne, chilled

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a 3-quart pitcher or punch bowl. Serve over ice. Makes 11 cups.

Hennessy KAWS N’ Effect

1 ounce Hennessy VS
1/4 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce mango juice
1/2 ounce pineapple juice
1/2 ounce passion fruit juice
1 ounce Amaretto liqueur
2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
A splash of Grenadine

Garnish with orange and lemon slices.

The Big Brew
A great game day cocktail. The ease of making the Big Brew makes it ideal for holidays, football parties and tailgating.

Make a whole pitcher of the mixture:
20 ounces Ginger Beer
4 slices of ginger
2 tablespoons of lime juice
5 mint leaves, torn up

1. Combine in a pitcher keep in fridge, set a liter of Bombay Sapphire gin near the pitcher in the fridge with instructions on how much to pour.

2. Pour 2 ounces Bombay Sapphire in a pint glass.

3. Pack with ice, top with mixture.

Check this one out. This is one potent punch!!!

The Chatham Punch was created in Savannah, Ga., to accommodate as many as 200 guests. We scaled this one back for a party of 20.

4 cups Bacardi White Rum
2 cups Bombay Sapphire Gin
2 cups Jim Beam Bourbon
2 cups Christian Brothers Brand
1 1/2 bottle sweet red wine
1 gallon strong cold tea
1 cup maraschino cherries, drained
1/4 pound pineapple chunks (fresh)
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
Juice of 4 lemons
1 bottle dry champagne

HIP-HOP INSPIRED COCKTAILS TO BUILD YOUR PRE-THANKSGIVING SWAG

2011-11-03T14:54:00.000-07:00

MCs rappers and hip-hop artists have made their mark on the culture on so many different fronts, from fashion to food and even the language, they are shaping a brave new world on urban scenes across the nation. And most tend to have a drink du jour, whether it’s “poppin’ corks,” “sippin on gin and juice” or just plain “blame it on the alcohol” it’s big business for the clubs, the artists and the companies looking to connect with young African American urbanites.
So, every time Luda or Diddy name-drops a product, sales automatically shoot up — so here’s to them. –roz edward

Conjure
As Luda says of his premier cognac,
“We get straight to it. We’re straight no chaser …
I might put a little lime in there but I like mine just on the rocks. You’ve gotta taste the essence of what’s going on.”

Thug Passion
This drink is one of 2Pac’s favorites, which he references in the song of the same name. But instead of a $350 bottle of Cristal, use any champagne that fits your personal tastes and finances.

2 ounces Hennessy® Cognac
2 ounces Alize® liqueur
2 ounces champagne

Mix all ingredients in shaker with ice and pour into champagne flute.

Babygirl
Both 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes signed on to promote Leyrat premier cognac. But we caution, “Not a lot, baby girl, just a lil bit.”
2 ounces Leyrat cognac
2 ounces Baileys® Irish Cream
2 ounces Kahlua® coffee liqueur
Pour all three ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with cracked ice. Shake well, and strain into a highball glass filled with cracked ice. Top with whipped cream, if you’re into it.
Shake ingredients over ice and serve.

Tap That Ass
Swizz Beatz debuted on May 5 as the new frontman for Hennessy Black with his live performance in New York of “When I Step Into the Club,” alongside the JabbaWockeez of “America’s Best Dance Crew.” Here’s one of the label’s hottest new cocktails.

1 ounce Hennessy Black® cognac
1 ounce Alize® Red Passion liqueur
1 ounce Alize® Gold Passion liqueur
1 splash cranberry juice
top with soda water

Fill the hurricane glass with ice. Pour the Hennessy, Red Alize and Yellow Alize. Splash in some cranberry juice and top it off with soda. Add blackberry to garnish.

Ciroc Peach Vodka
The newest entry in hip-hop-influenced libations is Diddy’s CIROC Peach Vodka. The music mogul and branding beast dropped the newest and fourth in CIROC’s line of flavored vodkas on Oct. 21 at Love nightclub in D.C. to celebrate Howard’s homecoming weekend.

The Georgia Dome
2/3 ounce Peach CIROC
1/3 ounce ginger ale
Pour in tall glass and fill with Mango Fruitista.

Ledisi Rocks Atlanta's Symphony Hall on Friday Night in Atlanta

2011-10-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

It’s her time, and Ledisi is pushing it all over the top in her first ever headline tour that tore the roof off the Atlanta Symphony Hall in downtown Atlanta on Friday, Oct. 28. The powerhouse singer has matured beyond her years professionally since rolling out first covered as an emerging artist only a few short years ago.

Ledisi told a sold out house that some in the industry told her she couldn’t pull off her own headline tour and she appeared to be honestly overwhelmed and surprised when the very animated audience sprang to their feet to applaud and shout their approval and appreciation. The New Orleans born singer’s spectacular vocal control, sometimes simmers in ow bluesy and jazzy tones and then erupts into an ethnic rock which is reminiscent of the Mother’s Finest sound.

And when Ledisi wasn’t winning converts her nothing less than amazing voice, she was thoroughly entertaining as she performed a bit with back up singers in which she played a champagne-drinking and cigarette-smoking diva. One of the most powerful transitions in the show was when Ledisi and opening act, Timothy Bloom sang the moving duet, “Stay Together.”

Concert highlights included show-stopping renditions of “That’s What It’s About,” “Turn Me Loose,” “I Tried,” and wrapped with her signature “Pieces of Me,“ which was perforated with a brilliant scatting run. Fans stayed and cheered until the singer came back to the stage for an encore performance and again thanked Atlantans for making the first headline tour a success.

All-in-all a powerful and first rate performance. –roz edward

Welcome to the Sweet Shop

2011-10-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

The mood-altering properties of chocolate is the stuff of legends. The creamy confection is commonly associated with pleasure and even love — and coincidentally, so are alcoholic beverages in varying forms. So, a marriage between the two was inevitable, and these much-celebrated cocktails featuring rich and luxurious chocolate liqueurs and liquors may be just the boost you need at the end of the day.

Adult Chocolate Milk
Adult Chocolate Milk (that our girl Patti is holding) tastes just like the original classic — with a very adult alcohol update.

Naughty Nightcap
2 ounces Adult Chocolate Milk
1/2 ounce coffee liqueur, 1/2 ounce Amaretto
A splash of grenadine.
Mix ingredients. Serve chilled as a martini or on the rocks.

Frozen Mudslide Recipe
2 ounces vodka
2 ounces Kahlua coffee liqueur
2 ounces Baileys® Irish Cream
6 ounces vanilla ice cream

Blend alcohol with ice cream. Serve in a frosted hurricane glass and enjoy.

Mint Baileys Chocolate Martini
½ ounce vodka
1 ½ ounces mint Baileys® Irish Cream
½ ounce Godiva white chocolate liqueurs
Chocolate syrup
Ice
Mint leaf for garnish

Vanilla Vodka Oreo Shake
3 ounces vanilla vodka
2 ounces chocolate syrup
8 ounces whole milk
8 ounces premium vanilla ice cream
3 ounces (about eight) crushed Oreo cookies

Place all ingredients in a blender and puree on high speed for 45 seconds. Pour into two chilled glasses.

Cocktail and Cocktail Etiquette for Business Gatherings

2011-10-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

While clubbing is cool and lunching with colleagues can be a learning experience, there’s nothing like meeting new people and sharing business ideas over a cocktail. Networking offers the opportunity to share ideas, connections and referrals with others.

Actually, you need to get the art of business networking while drinking down because it’s an activity that you’ll probably repeat many times. Knowing how to behave will be the key to success in your business environment.

And the holidays are coming which means the office party. They can be tricky to navigate, you don't know how much of your hair to let down, and then there's always some horror story about the way so-an-so behaved last year. Don'y tou be the so-and-so.

Look focused, look driven.

You will be regarded as a positive person who isn’t afraid of going after what he wants. This is a crucial part of the first impression you want to project. Only, don’t try too hard. This is, after all, a party, and some of the most influential guests might be somewhat annoyed by an obsessed brownnoser.

The drink for that: Cape Codder
Recipe:
3 ounces cranberry juice
2 ounces vodka
lime wedge

Be Energetic
Make sure your energy level is high, and that you sparkle. Your attitude is the first thing other guests will notice about you. Don’t scan the room for people you find more worthy of your presence. When you wish to move on, excuse yourself during a pause, such as after everyone has shared laughter.

The drink for that: Lilac Martini
Recipe:
1 ounce lilac simple syrup
2 ounces vodka
splash of club soda

Always Mingle
Even if this is a business affair, deals won’t be made around a table with documents and computers. You’re there to schmooze and show off your people skills. Work the room and introduce yourself to the people you want to meet. An even easier way is to find a common acquaintance to make the introduction.

The drink for that: Rare Maple Leaf
Recipe:
2 ounces Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey
1/2 ounce lemon juice
1 teaspoon real Canadian maple syrup
ice

MVI 3127

2011-10-12T20:53:00.000-07:00