The Art of Mixology at CMA

I was recently invited to attend The Art of Mixology - an exploration of the history and evolution of the French 75 cocktail at Provenance at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Will Hollingsworth of the fabulous The Spotted Owl gave an in-depth lecture about the evolution of the French 75 while Sullivan served as his lovely assistant and bartender. These expert mixologists were the perfect combination of knowledge, skill, humor and great storytelling. Obviously, the cocktails didn't disappoint.

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Will described the cocktails as "a beautiful young woman with a dark past" and told the fascinating history of the French 75, from it's origins in WWI in France to England and eventually America. Sullivan created each of the versions for everyone to sample.

The 1919 French version was my favorite. It contained Apple Jack from Tom's Foolery (instead of the traditional Calvados from Normandy), grenadine, gin and absinthe. This potent drink definitely lived up to it's reputation for having a kick like a 75 Howitzer (yep, that's where the name came from!) but the slightly anise flavor of the absinthe won me over.

The British version of 1922 was my least favorite of the trio because it was a little harsh but it certainly wasn't terrible. It was shaken instead of stirred and contained lemon juice, 2 dashes of grenadine, apple jack and gin.

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The 1928 American version was a tasty lemonade like cocktail of lemon juice, lemon sherbet, Tanqueray and champagne and was refreshing and delicious.

We discussed champagne too and learned about the Champagne Riots of 1911 and that you should always serve your champagne cocktails with ice and not in a flute.

Besides samples of all three versions of the cocktail, they also provided a very nice board of cured meats and cheeses.

More Art of Mixology events are in the works but they do not have the specifics yet. My only disappointment was that they used plastic instead of real glassware. Otherwise, it was a fun and tasty event and well worth the $35 fee. Check Facebook for details as they become available.

Other upcoming events at the museum are:

Food and Wine Inspired by Art
March 16th - Chef Katz will present 5 courses paired with wines from the Pacific Northwest. $90 per person, $70 for museum members. Reservations available exclusively by phone at 216-707-2600

Pharaoh: King of Ancient Egypt 

The special exhibit brings 3,000 years of ancient history to life through some of the finest objects from the vast Egyptian holdings of the British Museum, from monumental sculpture to exquisite jewelry, supplemented by masterworks from the Cleveland collection. The exhibit runs from March 13th to June 12th. $17 per adult.

Mix at CMA

The first Friday of every month experience a fun mix of art, music and mingling that is a fun way to kick off the weekend featuring music, special tours and make your own art. Advance tickets $8; $10 day of event. CMA members FREE.

** Disclosure: I am a member of CMA. I attended the event compliments of Provenance but as always, my opinions and thoughts are my own 

as was my decision to share them with you. **