Cocktail Kingdom Releases Reserve Collection
Courtesy Cocktail Kingdom
Wherever you are on the side of the Starbucks red cup debate, we can all agree on one thing this holiday season: cocktails are a necessity. Sensing the opportunity to capitalize on this bipartisan, religiously neutral demand, barware retailer Cocktail Kingdom has released a stunning new Reserve Collection.
While I’m kidding about Cocktail Kingdom’s incentives, there’s nothing jestful about the pieces in the Reserve Collection. I was lucky enough to swing by Alcohol Professor favorite Mace to sip some delicious cocktails and view the barware first hand. These items are gorgeous, dare I say extravagant, but still useful. Cocktail Kingdom owner Greg Boehm explained that he wanted to create barware modeled after the luxurious vintage pieces in his own private collection. Although he’d been pondering the idea of the Reserve Collection for some time, only recently did he feel comfortable releasing what he believes to be a collection that’s suitably luxurious and practical.
Mace cocktail, photo by Aliza Kellerman
Mace is a great bar to showcase the items. As you can read from our previous review here, the drinks revolve around exotic spices. Making cocktails with eclectic flavors is always a challenge, but Mace delivers drinks that are both excitingly fancy and drinkable. Believe me: that’s hard to do. Often, a cocktail that revolves around an odd spice will leave you unable to think about anything except that spice, but Mace’s drinks aren’t like that. Take, for instance, their title character cocktail: the Mace. Aperol, aquavit, beet juice, orange acid, young Thai coconut cordial, and mace mist blend to give you a drink that’s out there in vegetal flavors, but is still delicious. While unique, this geeky, intricate cocktail could be enjoyed by any old Joe.
Similarly, the Reserve Collection is a cocktail fanatic’s dream, but Boehm and his team stress that the collection is functional, for real people (and bartenders) to use and enjoy. When it comes to the hand-etched, lead-free crystal mixing glasses, I believe them. $79.95 for a 550ml mixing glass is steep, but feasible. However, as practical as the 100% silver, black diamond encrusted, Swarovski Crystal tip barspoon may be, it is simply too precious for a commoner such as myself to imagine using.
CKR-BSP_BLKDIAMOND_sgb0283
Oh, and it’s $2,750. Made in Japan, this spoon is pretty limited edition (Cocktail Kingdom can only cook up one a month). So even if you did have some disposable cash, it looks like the wait list for this piece will be long. Regardless, a girl can covet.
The Reserve Collection is available for stalking (and purchase) starting November 17th at Cocktail Kingdom website. In the meantime, budget accordingly, here’s what’s on the table:
Yarai® Sen Mixing Glass – 550ml ($79.95) – lead-free crystal
Paradise Palm Mixing Glass – 550ml ($79.95) – lead-free crystal
Yarai® Royal Palm Mixing Glass – 550ml ($79.95) – lead-free crystal
Haru Stemmed Mixing Glass – 750ml ($109.95) – an exclusive design inspired by traditional Japanese patterns
Stepped Jigger ($39.95) – based on a 1930s design; 0.5oz, 1oz, 1.5oz and 2oz markings
The Cardington Shaker – 710ml ($119.95) – based on a popular design from the 1880s; two-drink capacity
Gotham Juicer ($69.95) – based on a popular 1950s post-industrial design; 100% cast aluminum body
Black Diamond Barspoon – 43cm ($2,750) – Swarovksi Crystal tip and lined with black diamonds
Leather-Bound How to Mix Drinks: A Bon Vivant’s Companion –by Jerry Thomas, signed by David Wondrich ($99.00; only 160 copies in existence)
No matter what you’re celebrating this holiday season, do it with a drink in hand, preferably with top notch liquor mixed in some jazzy barware!