A New Gin-eration of Cocktail

Among the many fun activities we had going on last weekend for the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, we had the opportunity to pop in to the penthouse of the James Hotel in SoHo, where our very own Insider Alex Ott was mixing up some cocktails with New Amsterdam Gin. The day's takeaway--that gin is a spirit that can go with just about any ingredient (those of us in attendance tried to stump Ott but to no avail) was a welcome lesson for any cautious sort who cringes from experimentation. Among our favorite drinks was the New Amsterdam Sling (sorry, Singapore), the recipe which follows below:

1 1/2 oz. New Amsterdam Gin

1 oz. fresh-squeezed orange juice

2 1/2 oz. pineapple juice

1 pinch of ground ginger

Dash of lemon juice

Combine all ingredients, shake vigorously, and strain over an ice-filled highball or frappe glass. Garnish with an organge wheel or pineapple wedge.

Cocktails in the Library

The Manhattan Cocktail Classic shook things up in the New York Public Library last night with an opening gala featuring brands such as Bacardi, Campari and New Amsterdam Gin, among others. For more event info, click here.

Bring Out Your Inner Mixologist

Two straight days of cocktails? Sounds like quite the bender. But on October 3 and 4, you won't just be imbibing, you'll be learning. The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, forty-eight hours of nothing but seminars on making mixed drinks, (and yes, tasting them, too), will be stirring—indeed shaking—things up at the Astor Center, in the East Village. Seminars are open to the public and will cost $50 apiece. Depending on how much of your coursework you consume, this could actually turn out to be quite a good deal. (Have you ordered a drink at the Eldridge lately? That's your class tab right there.)

Among the highlights of the just-announced class schedule include all you ever needed to know about agave (the plant that helps bring you tequila) and a brush-up on must-haves for your home bar.

Registration and ticket sales begin over Labor Day weekend, so get your swizzle stick ready now. Cheers!