Latest news with #D.L.Chandler
Black America Web
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Crown Royal Marquis Is The Brand's Newest Expression
Canadian whisky is a popular spirits category that has its fair share of fans all over the world, and Crown Royal is nearly ubiquitous here in the States. Crown Royal Marquis, a new expression from the famed whisky brand, is slowly rolling out in select locales, and CASSIUS had the honor of trying it out. Back in May, I had the privilege of experiencing Crown Royal's new Marquis expression, which takes its classic Canadian whisky and finishes the liquid in Caribbean casks that previously held rum. This style of finishing is growing as brands are looking to build upon their existing expressions. Source: Crown Royal Before we get into the tasting experience, allow me to share what I've learned in my brief time with the brand and the Marquis collection of cocktails. First, we should explain that rum, unlike whisky and bourbon, is made from sugar versus grain. Some rums in the Caribbean are crafted from molasses, and the terroir of the region impacts aging, flavor, and other factors. It isn't known which rum brand barrel Crown Royal employed for its finishing, but it is very noticeable on the nose. Source: D.L. Chandler Marquis was launched last month in Georgia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., and at select military bases, making this a coveted expression among Crown Royal fans. I shared with some colleagues regarding my experience with Marquis and was met with requisite envy. Source: D.L. Chandler On behalf of the brand, I attended the Souled Out Dates Three Year Anniversary, which was sponsored by Crown Royal Marquis. The well-attended day party was hosted at the outdoor venue, The Bullpen DC, and boasted near or around 3,000 guests, along with local sports stars who joined the partygoers. Sounds were provided by a rotating panel of DJs, including DJ Showcase and DJ PeeWee. Source: D.L. Chandler The bartenders at Bullpen employed Marquis in cocktails, including a frozen version of the Marquis Moment that was perfect for the warm temperature of the day. I also took a moment to sample the whisky on its own, and I was grabbed by familiar rum flavors, which complemented Crown Royal's delightful baking spice notes. Source: Crown Royal Marquis / Crown Royal As some might know who read this space, my column aims to educate others and myself about the history and creation of cocktails. Source: Crown Royal Last month, the USBG (United States Bartender Guild) Presents World Class Sponsored By DIAGEO event brought together several dozen bartenders, industry professionals, and more to Atlanta in the city's Buckhead neighborhood. World Class is billed as one of the leading bartending competitions in the States while providing spaces for education and training with the assistance of the Diageo Bar Academy. Source: D.L. Chandler Until this trip, I was unaware of the World Class event, now in its 13th year, or the United States Bar Guild. However, the spirit of the event was on full display at the Top 10 Dinner sponsored by Crown Royal Marquis at Unknown, which featured 10 of the finalists for World Class. What was brilliant to see in real time was the support and sense of community among the bartenders, and for curious outsiders like me, the competitors couldn't have been more inviting. Source: D.L. Chandler The Top 10 Dinner also featured Caribbean-inspired cuisine paired with cocktails made with Marquis. Here again, I tasted the whisky neat next to some of Crown Royal's other offerings. A neighboring afterparty was amazingly festive, and plenty of Marquis was poured before the night ended far too soon. Source: D.L. Chandler I only had enough time to attend one day of World Class, and Diageo pulled out all the stops by featuring other brands from its vast portfolio in dazzling activations hosted by knowledgeable brand ambassadors and bartenders who graciously talked shop to anyone who asked. Again, the familial aspect of the event was striking to see, as I'm not privy to how service workers, especially in the bar industry, show solidarity. I also had sort of a foreshadowing experience. More on that in a moment. Source: Crown Royal My visit ended on a high note at the Crown Royal Marquis Atlanta Launch event, held at Cam Kirk Studios in Atlanta, for a taste of nightlife, a key component of the Marquis concept and became an evening out that transformed from typical to truly unforgettable The venue was packed with revelers who all worked their way to the bar for Crown Royal Marquis cocktails and premium eats from American Deli. Early in the evening, DJ Unruley and local DJ collective Player 99 (Champagne, Cleo, and Thrice Groove) had the party jumping with tunes, and it was certainly wall-to-wall inside the venue. Source: Crown Royal Joe Kay of Soulection closed out the night and delivered a thumping set that must have summoned the storms in the region, but it couldn't dampen anyone's spirits after all the Marquis that was poured. I spoke to several attendees to ask them what they thought of the cocktails, and, without hyperbole, everyone gave high marks to the Marquis Moment. Source: Crown Royal Upon returning home to Washington, I learned that the winner of this year's USBG World Class was Nic Wallace, becoming the 2025 U.S. Bartender of the Year. Wallace, a native of Darien, Ga., stood out to me after I saw him at one of the bar stations at USBG demonstrating his ability. Source: Crown Royal Harkening back to what I said earlier, Wallace, impeccably dressed and coifed, was not unlike watching an artist or musician at work, and his cool confidence was just as evident as his skills with the mixing tin. If I were a gambling man, I would've bet the house on him after what I saw. His cocktail creations for World Class, Soul Of The South, and All Glowed Up helped propel him against some of the nation's best. Source: Crown Royal / Crown Royal Now a 10-year veteran of World Class, Wallace endured the three-day, five-part competition against 29 of his peers and will go on and represent the United States at the Global Finals in Toronto this fall. 'This was my chance to represent Georgia—Atlanta, specifically—as the only competitor from the state. I had to show up and bring the South home a championship,' Nic Wallace shared in a statement. 'I want to show people that no matter how much you want something, no matter how long it takes—you can get it.' Away from the festive nature of parties and competitions, I can share my further thoughts on the whisky as I continue to figure out the best ways to enjoy the spirit. I'm no Nic Wallace, not yet anyway, but as summer bears down upon us, I can see how Crown Royal Marquis will bring balance to fruit-forward cocktails, or as a replacement in classics that call for whiskey. Also, considering my Caribbean roots, Marquis speaks to me in ways that other whiskies cannot. My thanks are eternal to Crown Royal for giving me plenty of Marquis moments of my own. Learn more about Crown Royal Marquis here. Learn more about Diageo here. Learn more about the United States Bartending Guild here. — Photo: Crown Royal Crown Royal Marquis Is The Brand's Latest Expression & We've Tried It Out was originally published on
Black America Web
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Spirit.Ed: Celebrate National Martini Day 2025 With One Of These Martinis
Today (June 19) is National Martini Day, and we're putting a focus on the classic cocktail along with some riffs. Whether using gin or vodka, a Martini can go in a lot of directions, and we've got some unique twists in our roundup below. If I sound like a broken record in this next sentence, forgive me, because I love a Martini made with gin. Gin, which wasn't my favorite in my early days of imbibing, is probably my favorite spirit and far more versatile than expected. As I've learned over time, the origin of National Martini Day is hard to pinpoint, as is the actual history of the Martini. Some historians point to the Martinez cocktail as the precursor to the Martini, which was introduced to the masses in the 1800s. There are also claims that the drink rose to prominence in 1910 at New York's Knickbocker Hotel. What we can determine from older bartending manuals is that the drink usually involved gin, Italian fortified wine, and bitters. My first Martini was made with Hendrick's Gin, a curious choice for some due to the brand's infusion of cucumber and rose, along with familiar gin botanicals of chamomile, elderflower, juniper, lemon peel, orange peel, caraway, coriander, cubeb berries, angelica root, yarrow root and orris root. Thanks to the expert bartenders of now-closed Washington, D.C. bar, Wisdom, I became adept at understanding different gins and expanding my choices. In this year's National Martini Day roundup, we have some familiar brands I've featured before, like Still G.I.N. and Reyka Vodka, along with brands new to me, Prairie Organic Spirits and Four Pillars. I didn't get a lot of pitches for this day, so this will be a quick read. If there are some brands or recipes we need to know about, email D.L. Chandler at dchandler@ to get those on our radar for future roundups. Have a happy National Martini Day. — Photo: Ali Waxman / Getty Celebrate National Martini Day 2025 With One Of These Martinis was originally published on Source:Still G.I.N. RECIPE: 1.5 oz dry vermouth 1 dash orange bitters METHOD: Place your serving glass in the freezer to chill (ideally 10+ minutes before making drink). Add gin, vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass. Fill mixing glass with moderate size/up to 1'x1' cube ice cubes. Stir gently for 30-45 seconds (until very well chilled). Remove serving glass from freezer. Strain into the chilled glass using a julep strainer. GLASSWARE: Nick & Nora glass or classic martini glass (4-6 oz size ideal) GARNISH OPTIONS: Lemon twist Source:Prairie Organic Spirits (Featured in the 2025 Cocktailmanac, a free-to-use tool for learning about mixing drinks.) 1 ½ oz Prairie Organic Vodka ½ oz Kamora Dulce de Leche Liqueur1 ½ oz chilled espresso ½ oz pistachio syrup Paint the inside of a martini or rocks glass with pistachio syrup. Shake remaining ingredients with ice until well chilled. Fine strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice. Source:Four Pillars Ingredients 1 1/2 Oz Four Pillars' Rare Dry Gin1/2 Oz Orange Liqueur2/3 Oz Lemon Juice1 Barspoon Orange MarmaladeEgg White (optional) Orange Method: Combine all ingredients in a tin with ice and shake. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with an orange twist. Source:Reyka Vodka Created by Reyka Vodka Ambassador, Jeffrey Naples Ingredients: 2 parts Reyka Vodka2 parts olive brine 2 dashes fish sauce Method: Build in a mixing glass over ice and stir until chilled. Serve in martini glass with seaweed garnish. Source:The Old G Ingredients: 2 oz The Old G Gin1 oz passion fruit purée0.5 oz vanilla syrup0.5 oz fresh lime juice1 oz passion fruit liqueur Passion fruit half for garnish Method: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine The Old G Gin, passion fruit purée, vanilla syrup, fresh lime juice, and passion fruit liqueur. Shake well until chilled and silky smooth. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a halved passion fruit for a bold, exotic finish. Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Black America Web
07-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Black America Web
Check Out These Women-Owned Cannabis & CBD Brands For Mother's Day 2025
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Mother's Day is May 10, and if the Mom in your life is into cannabis, we've whipped up a quick and handy guide to help you shop. We just published an epic 420 gift guide last month, so this one will be a bit more streamlined as we're only focusing on women-owned brands. There are several women-owned cannabis brands out there who develop products for all cannabis enthusiasts, and we'll attempt to center those brands in this roundup. You will certainly see companies we've covered in past roundups, and that's just because we're big fans of the featured brands. Even if Mom doesn't usually use cannabis products that employ THC, we've also got some CBD items below, which are purported to have vast therapeutic benefits. We're certain to have a little bit of something for everyone in this guide. If there is a women-owned cannabis brand with great products for Mother's Day you'd like to see featured, email D.L. Chandler [dchandler@ and we'll do our best to update the guide. — Photo: Getty Check Out These Women-Owned Cannabis & CBD Brands For Mother's Day 2025 was originally published on
