Through the rain and the wind, hundreds of New Yorkers braved the elements to attend The Village Voice’s 3rd Annual Holiday Spirits Cocktail Cruise on Thursday, November 19. The event took was held on the well-appointed Hornblower Infinity Cruise Ship. A little bad weather was no deterrent for the lively crowd. Attendees enjoyed three levels of entertainment. Three decks, with a live salsa band on the top deck in the Rums of Puerto Rico Lounge and below heads bopped and toes tapped to the party long DJ set by Tim Martell.
Before making the rounds of the twenty-five plus distillery and winery participants, I made sure to partake of the abundant fare on offer. Any serious cocktail aficionado knows you should never drink on an empty stomach. Included with admission were several options- passed hors d’oeuvres, four food stations featuring pasta, barbecue, Asian fusion and a carving station, with delicious roasted turkey.
Sponsors for Holiday Spirits 2015 included: Rums of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Tourism, Asahi Beer, Whole Foods Market, Jarritos, Hood River Distillers, Califia Farms, Zico, Fuerza Bruta, McClure’s Pickles, Four Roses Bourbon, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Trip of Love, Green Mountain Energy, Bruce Cost Ginger Ale, Hot 97, WBLS, WLIB,
Tastings were provided by Asahi Beer, Atsby Vermouth, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur, Denning’s Point Distillery, Breuckelen Distilling, Brooklyn Gin, Brooklyn Winery, Hood River Distillers, Iron Smoke Whiskey, Kings County Distillery, Port Morris Distillery, Prairie Organic Vodka, Prohibition Distillery, Queens Courage Gin, Rums of Puerto Rico, Sag Harbor Rum, Scorpion Mezcal, Tanteo Spirits, Tuthilltown Spirits and Van Brunt Stillhouse.
This was a no ordinary booze cruise, this was a party for a cause with a portion of the proceeds being donated to Lifebeat, the leading national nonprofit dedicated to educating America’s youth about HIV/AIDS prevention. Tickets will be on sale in January for the next Village Voice can’t miss the event, The 9th Annual Choice Eats at Metropolitan Pavilion. Always a sellout, 2016 will feature 50+ handpicked restaurants from all five New York City boroughs on Friday, March 11th.
Photos: Laura June Kirsch