the duque coffee bar @ tales of the cocktail …

williams & humbert spirits @ the duque coffee bar
(photo credit jennifer mitchell)

morning coffee and cocktails? it was a natural pairing and the daily hot spot at this year's seventh annual tales of the cocktail july 8-12 at the hotel monteleone in new orleans. gran duque de alba along with the williams & humbert portfolio hosted "the duque coffee bar" for three straight mornings serving both coffee and coffee cocktails featuring grand duque de alba solera gran reserva brandy de jerez, crema de alba cream liqueur, dry sack sherry, dry sack 15 rare aged sherry and dos maderas dual aged rum.

new orleans mixologist meade kincke at the duque coffee bar
(photo credit jennifer mitchell)

"the 'duque bar" was the perfect way to feature gran duque de alba to the tales of the cocktail community in a relevant and innovative setting, as well as demonstrate the versatility of our brands. conference goers perked up their mornings with both a carajillo - a tradition in southern spain that pairs a shot of spanish brandy with coffee and enjoyed different hot and cold coffee cocktails from our leading mixologist," explained abbey glaser, director of marketing for miami based kindred spirits usa, importer for williams & humberts' fine sherries, brandies, liqueurs and aged rums.

gran duque de alba solera gran reserva is a rich, super-premium brandy from jerez in southwestern spain. aged for 12 years in oak casks that previously held oloroso sherry it develops a light mahogany color with gold reflections and flavors of roasted nuts, warm caramel and dark fruit notes tinged with brown spice. jerez is one of only three regions in the world (along with cognac and armagnac) to be given a specific appellation for its brandy. gran duque de alba was awarded gold medals in 2008 by both the san francisco world spirits competition and the beverage testing institute's international review of spirits. additionally named a "classic" with top ratings by wine enthusiast magazine.

local coffee for the event was generously provided by new orleans coffee roasters. fresh baked croissants were provided by local bakery, bittersweet confections. cocktails were mixed by meade kincke.

"we sampled more than 400 people a day with our portfolio of spanish products, including crema de alba, one of the most luxurious cream liqueurs on the market and a highly anticipated preview of dos maderas px , a new rum that is double-aged 10 years; first in the caribbean and then in spain in sherry casks," said glaser.

featured cocktails at the duque coffee bar at tales of the cocktail:

taurus

recipe by mead kincke, new orleans

2 ½ oz. hot milk

1 oz. gran duque de alba

¼ oz. crema de alba

¼ oz. marie brizard apry

2 dashes of peychaud's bitters

dusting of filé powder

mix ingredients in a pre-warmed mug. dust with filé powder.

macchiato de crema

4 oz. dark roast coffee

1 ½ oz. crema de alba

1 tablespoon rhum clement creole shrubb

macchiato foam

orange slice

mix ingredients into cup or mug. top with macchiato foam and garnish rim with orange slice.

café de alba

4 oz. coffee

1 ½ oz gran duque de alba brandy de jerez

whipped cream

1 caramel candy cube

combine coffee and gran duque de alba in glass or glass mug. top with fresh whipped cream. float caramel on top to stir-in or dissolve as drink is consumed.

swindler's whistle

recipe by mead kincke, new orleans

1 ½ cooled espresso

1 ½ oz. grand duque de alba

¼ oz. la fée parisienne

2 dashes regan's orange bitters

½ oz. simple syrup

add ingredients. shake and strain into cocktail glass.

iced crema caffé

4 oz. coffee

1 ½ crema de alba

2 oz. cold milk

add crema de alba and cold milk to coffee. stir. pour over cubed ice in tall glass.

crema de mint cocktail
(photo credit david ransom)

crema de mint

1 shot of espresso

1 ½ oz crema de alba

2 sprigs of mint

1 coffee bean

add ingredients, including one sprig of mint, into cocktail shaker with ice. one quick shake, and strain into small martini glass or copita. garnish with 2^nd sprig of mint and float coffee bean on top.

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all brands are imported by kindred spirits of north america www.kindredspiritsusa.com. kindred spirits, inc. is a beverage import and marketing company with a select portfolio of premium wine and spirit brands. kindred spirits is a joint venture between spirits industry veteran joel gosler, williams & humbert of spain and the reformed spirits company group. its brand portfolio includes: dry sack and dry sack 15 year old sherry from spain, gran duque de alba brandy de jerez, crema de alba, dos maderas dual-aged rum, cherry heering liqueur, xante liqueur, martin miller's gin, the rhum clement portfolio and malt trust single barrel cask whiskies from scotland.