Derek’s Sparkling Manhattan makes Tasting Table’s “Best Cocktails of 2011“. Also featured, the Columbia Room’s Back & Forth!

Derek was in Spain for Copa Jerez, an international food and wine pairing competition featuring the great Sherry wines of Jerez, with the Consejo Regulador de la D.D.O Jerez-Xérès-Sherry. There he toured Sherry Bodegas, traveled in Southern Spain and ate his way through Seville and Madrid....

Derek lead and judged an amateur Bloody Mary competition at Culinaire. Drumroll….the winner was a Tequila-based Spicy Mary.

We had a great photo shoot today for an upcoming article on Tasting Panel Magazine that will highlight Derek’s collaboration with RJ Cooper on Rogue 24′s cocktail program.

Derek during a video shoot at the Columbia Room about his OCD Dry Martini making process for an upcoming Lush Life Productions project.

Derek toured Champagne during harvest with the CIVC (Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne). There he interviewed houses and growers and tasted through a staggering array of great Champanges, culiminating in a Karaoke party in Reims (sorry the pictures from the Karaoke party were...

James Beard dinner at The Source featuring D.C.’s most talented Chefs and Bartenders (see the bartenders rock out below). Derek’s drink… The Kilrain Fight John L. Sullivan’s Irish Whiskey Cocoa infused Irish Breakfast Tea Lemon...

On Sunday we celebrated the Rickey being recognized as D.C.’s native cocktail with a party so swanky it was featured in the Washington Post’s Style Section. Our guest of honor Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton unveiled a plaque commemorating the birthplace of the Rickey at the...

We had the press conference today! It’s official: the Rickey is D.C.’s native cocktail as proclaimed by Councilmember Jack Evans after a unanimous vote by the D.C. City Council! Derek said a few words about what a great step this is in establishing Washington D.C.’s identity...

We hosted a tasting together with Marriott’s Insight, Strategy + Innovation team for Starbucks executives visiting from Seattle. We had raw materials to work with from the vaults of Starbucks… here’s a peak! Caramel macchiato bon-bon The Uji cocktail (Boyd & Blair...

Derek made some killer Knob Creek cocktails under the watch of the Empire State Building. Yes, one of them was a Manhattan. Chef Mike Isabella was doing the food (superb as always).

We are very excited for the Fancy Food Show this year, we will be representing Mexico and their glorious Tequila and Mezcal. This is our gorgeous bar getting some finishing touches before the big day(s): We’ll be serving… Watermelon Mezcal Punch 1 oz. Mezcal 1/2 oz. Lemon...

The team was down in New Orleans for the wrap party of Ken Burns’ Prohibition documentary held at the Museum of the American Cocktail. Derek was invited to speak about Prohibition in Washington D.C. and lamented how the the bill to remove the bar from congress was passed (everyone who...