Inventory for January 25th, 2015

In this week’s inventory Marie Claire lists the UK’s best first date bars, Americans are readying themselves to enjoy some authentic Cuban rum, Del Maguey is ranked as No.1 in The World’s Best Bars Brand Report, Scotch exports have dropped by 8.6%, and Bon Appetit explains why vanilla extract is available at the supermarket even though it has the same proof as rum.

Not only known for its Monkey Bar, Berlin’s Bikini House has so much more to offer. This Tuesday for example, Gestalten is hosting a talk on Finnish design and ‘Finnishness’ at the Gestalten Pavilion. To join the conversation with Marko Ahtisaari and Ville Kokkonen, the creative minds behind heritage manufactures Nokia and Artek, and possible enjoy a drink with the duo, simply RSVP on Facebook.

1) The UK’s Best First Date Bars

Marie Claire teamed up with designmynight.com to show their readers the best first date bars around the kingdom. The shortlist included: The London Cocktail Club as well as  London’s Bounce – a bar that combines ping pong restaurant with British cocktails and wood fired pizzas.

Manchester’s Dusk till Pawn hides behind a pawn shop facade but the customer quickly learns to expect a rotating choice of killer cocktails. For the consummate drinker with a taste for the Victorian era Birmingham’s The Jekyll and Hyde will be just right – a first date during retro quiz night seems like it should blow away any lingering awkwardness.

Last, but certainly not least, is Glasgow’s Hillhead Bookclub. Located in one of Glasgow’s funnest boroughs, the bar hosts weekly craft and ping pong nights besides offering excellent cocktails.

2) American Cuba Fans start planning boozy Vacations

After Obama announced his plans on significantly altering US’ policy on relations with Cuba the hearts of Cuban rum and cigar aficionados must have gone pitter patter in all sorts of directions. Same goes for vice staff writer Lauren Rothman.

In her latest Munchies piece the author muses about the authentic daiquiris she’ll soon be enjoying and goes into detail on the US’ next steps towards reestablishing relations with Cuba.

3) Del Maguey Ranked No.1 in The World’s Best Bars Brand Report

Following an independent evaluation by the Academy, which is comprised of 334 international bartenders, commentators, and industry trainers, Del Maguey was named as the most relevant brand to have in a bar in this year’s World’s Best 50 Best Bars Brand Report.

This was an unusual year, as the mezcal beat out the usual winners such as Tanqueray Gin, Beefeater Gin, Bacardi Rum and Tapatio Tequila. The World’s 50 Best Bars Brands Report 2015 is a spin-off of The World’s 50 Best Bars, now in its sixth year.

4) Scotch Export Numbers Continue to Drop

The Spirits Business reports that Scotch exports have dropped by 13.6% since 2013. The largest decline is seen at China’s main entry point Singapore with a 41.1% dip.

“The slowdown in exports has also been attributed to a global slowdown in spirits consumption as international spirits sales increased by a marginal 0.1% to 3.09bn nine-litre cases in 2013”.

5) Bon Appetit explains why Vanilla Extract is readily Available at the Supermarket

Did you know that, at 35 – 40%, vanilla extract has the same proof as rum? And yet in the States it isn’t regulated like liquor, but easily available to bored teenagers looking for a buzz (though if the alcohol regulations in the States were different, maybe those bored teenagers could just buy some beer instead of poisoning themselves by downing a bottle of vanilla extract  – but that’s another story for another time).

In 1919 the US became a alcohol-free country, at least on paper. Just before this was enforced congress was flooded with telegraphs demanding that there be an exception made for flavor extracts that use alcohol. When the Volstead Act went into effect the following year it included a clause that exempted flavor extracts – “as long as they were deemed non-potable and a reasonable person wouldn’t drink them straight”.

Even after prohibition was lifted, vanilla extract still fell under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration instead of that of spirits and liqueur, as long as the TTB can prove that no sane person would consume them straight. This was the short version, for the longer explanation of vanilla extract’s history head to Bon Appetit’s website.