Crash Course in Cocktails

Last night, I went to the Plaza’s M&S Grill for a drink seminar called “Celebrating the American Cocktail.” Basically, this was a PR event to show off M&S’s drink menu, but anytime you put the words history, cocktail and samples together, I’ll show up. And, apparently, so would an interesting cross-section of local media types, like KCTV 5’s Surae Chinn and Randy Miller; KSHB’s Keith King and Chris Hernandez; Camp’s John Long; and assorted KC Magazine folks, including editor Chadwick Brooks.

We gathered in a back room, where bartender Noah Robinson set up shop. He stood behind a table laden with an array of bottles and glasses, as well as a manual juice press – which, besides the muddler and swizzle stick, is my favorite bar accoutrement. As he made us seven different drinks, he emphasized the importance of using fresh ingredients. He also talked about the “craft of the cocktail” and the “reversion back to classic cocktails.” After he talked about each drink, we got little samples. Just to be clear: I will listen to any lecture when it is followed by samples of cocktails.