MERCHANTS OF BEVERAGE EXPANDS SERVICE TO LA's TRENDY BARS

Michael Hepworth

MERCHANTS OF BEVERAGE EXPANDS SERVICE TO LOS ANGELES TRENDY AND HIP BARS ADDED TO ROSTER

HOLLYWOOD(Spiritsman)6/8/15/–The San Francisco based merchant of drinks/cocktails etc have just teamed up with a handful of trendy bars in Los Angeles to market specialty cocktails that people can try at home.

This latest trend in the cocktail world is exploding, and the MERCHANTS OF BEVERAGE or MOB (no pun intended) might just be at the cutting edge of this trend. Launched in August 2014 the company also sells wines, spirits and champagne direct to the consumer along with stemware and items for the home bartender.

The founder is Jeffrey Meisel, a fairly passionate and resourceful individual whose main purpose In life outside of family is to convince the world that life is a celebration, and should be accompanied by a drink in the hand. He learned about the business working for Domaine Select Wine Estates in a variety of positions, and after that he was the wine and spirits consultant for Gilt Group.

One of the bars in Los Angeles where MOB is working with is the funky Harvard & Stone in Hollywood. There along with Mr.Meisel we enjoyed a Gold Fashioned, a potent blend of Bourbon, Navy Strength Jamaican Rum, Crème De Banane and Mole Bitters. That is available through the web site and the entire kit is available for $145.

Other bars from Los Angeles they are working with are Harlowe, The Varnish and Cinco where you can order the LA Bartender Cocktail Kits as well as the kits from San Francisco and New York.

At Cinco the cocktail of choice created by Ben Molina is called the Tres Brujas. Cinco is located in Playa Del Rey and is loosely described as a “pleasant and laid back Oaxacan haunt.” The basic ingredients are three spirits, Calle 23 Tequila, Mezcal Vago and Strega. Throw in some Angostura Orange Bitters and I think you have a cocktail that maybe is best drank at home. Price of this kit is $150.

Varnish has put together a rum based cocktail called Smugglers Notch by Eric Alperin. This Italian based cocktail was created at the Osteria Mozza with some smuggled Liquor hard to get or banned at the time. These are El Dorado 8 yr rum, Regan’s Orange Bitters and St.George Absinthe Verte.Price of this kit is $65.

The Harlowe Cobbler has been put together by Chris Amirault at the West Hollywood Hangout. This guy is a sherry freak and the drink is a combination of four different Sherries and it has a low alcohol content so you can drink a few of them. The sherries Included are Lustau Amontillado, Fino, Palo Cortado and Lusau Oloroso. The price for this treat is $110.

One of the key features of MOB is the Perfect Gift Platform that allows consumers to send gifts of either $50, $100 or $200 value to the recipients house even if the address is unknown.

The lucky person receives an e-mail advising that a gift will be sent from the MOB and to select the gift from the choices offered. This whole concept must have taken a lot of thought and planning, and if it works look for a lot of competiton to enter into this fledgling market.

www.MerchantsofBeverage.com