Day 1
The plane ride to Vail Colorado was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I seem to always get sat next to the stinky guy or the talk too much guy, but this trip was quick and pleasant. Quiet and uneventful are all you can hope for while flying. Seattle to Denver took just over two hours and then another 2 hours in a shuttle bus to Vail which was still cramped but at least very scenic. I knew I was in the right place when I over-heard someone in the back saying “my test had three questions about aquavit…. Who the hell knows three detailed things about aquavit?”
Arriving at the hotel was jaw dropping, it was huge and beautiful. Everyone involved with the Mixology Summit was nice and accommodating. Your only obligation for the three days is to do a short “consulting lab” that consists of explaining your drinks while you make them. It is very low key and I have to admit I was a little nervous but that went away as I settled into my surroundings. Some notable people participating in this year’s event were: Bridget Albert, author of Market Fresh Mixology, she made a lemon sorbet tequila champagne drink. Jeffery Morgenthaler, Leo DeGroff, Chris Hannah, Lance Mayhew and Danny Valdez along with some local buddies, Michael McSorley, Zane Harris and Jim Romdall were there to name a few.
Evening came quick, with most of us at the hotel bar slowly filtering out onto a shuttle that took us to the “welcome reception” (aka, party). The bartenders behind the bar where top notch and so was the crowd. It was a Great night and before I had one too many I stumbled back to my hotel room to pass out. Something about traveling is so insanely tiring and I don’t know why. I didn’t do anything more then sit for four hours and it’s exhausting?
Day 2
The schedule for the day is skiing or intertubing but I wasn’t into either. I know it’s Vail and this is what you have to do but I didn’t want to rent gear and the whole thing, so after breakfast I went into downtown Vail. Now Vail is a resort town and beautiful to the point where you have to stop to take it all in. Galleries, boutiques and small restaurants are plenty with ski and snowboard shops sprinkled in between. Walking down some of the short brick streets full of metal animal and historical figure statues will lead you right into ski lifts. After eating lunch with Hanna Feldman, an editor with Imbibe magazine I went back to my hotel room to wait on my wife Amy who was supposed to be in Vail by 3pm. After taking a quick nap, Amy showed up just in time for the Gala Dinner that Grand Marnier was hosting for the evening.
The Gala dinner was a four course food cocktail pairing which started out with praises and info about the event as well as thanking everybody who made the event possible. We also found out that all of our cocktails will be made into an iphone app that you can download along with our pictures. After the dinner we were treated to an after party including craps tables, blackjack, and three bars serving up a drink menu using Grand Marnier and Navan. After a couple shots of Don Julio 1942 tequila and countless beers and cocktails, Amy and I made our way back into the room to call it a night. (By the way, drinking at seven thousand feet is extra fun…)
Day 3
With a two hour drive back to the airport, dealing with the airport, then flying for another two hours we left early afternoon from Vail to make sure we wouldn’t be too late into Seattle. The shuttle into Denver had a handful of San Francisco bartenders on board which made the two hours go by pretty quick, and I found out what a “cat in a bathtub” is… (check out urbandictionary.com if you really want to know, thanks Sierra…).
The flight back to Seattle was also pretty laid back and at about 6pm the whole thing was over. For those of you who are interested, make an effort to go next year. It is a great networking event as well as a great paid vacation and the best hosted mixology event I’ve been to yet, Prost!
By: Mark Sexauer
Filed under: Articles
