The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America convention is coming up (April 18-21 at Caesars in Las Vegas) and I’ll be there scoping out some new drinkable innovations. To set the mood, here are a couple of cocktails using a couple of the spirits that will be exhibiting at the convention’s expo.

“Barrel Hidden in the Tropics” by Chris Chamberlain of @PhiladelphiaDistilling – last
year’s winner in the Call for Cocktails competitions, featuring a unique blend of BlueCoat Barrel Finish gin:

• 1.5 oz Bluecoat Barrel Finish gin
• 0.25 oz Montenegro Amaro
• 0.75 oz Honey Syrup
• 0.25 oz Lemon juice
• 1.25 oz Smoked Pineapple juice
• Bar spoon of Greek Yogurt

Beach Day by Troy Clarke @1224Cocktails features Boodles Gin and Licor 43

• 2 oz Boodles gin
• .5 oz Licor 43
• 1.5 oz coconut water
• .5 lime juice
• 2 bar spoons of pineapple preserves

Shake all ingredients and strain into a chilled double rocks glass that’s been rimmed with coconut palm sugar. Troy also made the umbrella, beach towel and surfboard to match the drink’s beachy theme.