Happy Hour Heaven: Talavera's Margarita Lab

Known and loved for authentic Mexican cuisine, Talavera in Downtown Coral Gables has raised the bar on happy hour with the recently introduced Margarita Lab. Offering six super-sized shots (about 3 1/2 ounces), this Wednesday evening deal serves up creative variations on the standard Margarita. Recently, this cocktailian had an opportunity to experiment with the Lab.

The Brilliant

Good sippers start with good spirits. Rather than making a strong tequila statement, mellow Jimador Tequila is used to boost the flavor of the Lab's fresh ingredients. In the passion fruit offering, its subtle baked agave grounds the dominant, vivid citrus and natural sweetness. Instead of building heat, the shot's spiced rim adds a clean finish that makes this selection a fitting opener after a long day at work.

Moving into rounder flavors, the cilantro variation is a unique gem. Incorporated into lime juice, the herb lends a satisfying medium body while bright lemon notes and, of course, tequila keep the finish light. Paired with homemade sopa de chilorio, the shot’s cooling qualities tame the pork’s warm spice and enhance its slightly smoky qualities. 

Deeper into the lab, the fresh mango variation is well executed. Pulpy by nature, fresh mango juice can sometimes drown out other flavors, but Talavera strikes the proper chord. Round and full, the mango still makes room for a robust smoke on the nose and a spiced finish, which, together, render one satisfying, complex cocktail. 

The Lackluster
While gently sweet, the tamarind shot is a bit thin; an additional component that gives more body could amplify the tamarind's quiet play between sweet and sour. Yet, overall, this sipper is mellow and subtle with the tequila's agave and the tamarind offering a gentle, earthy combination.

Final Insight

A prime cocktail opportunity, the Margarita Lab offers novice cocktailians a gentle opportunity to try new flavors and creative variations with a familiar cocktail. For more experienced drink lovers, the focus on fresh, bright flavors paired with complimentary authentic bites (definitely try the delicate cactus salad) is an equally valuable experience.

For the adventurous who wish to take drink discovery a step further, the one missing element is the Paloma, Mexico's most consumed tequila cocktail. However, the quality selection of tequila and mezcal matched by the staff's first-hand knowledge makes Talavera an excellent location to learn more about all things agave. .

Generously priced at $16, the Margarita Lab is intended to be shared with others, so bring a friend, a coworker or a loved one who is ready to have the middle of their week brightened.

Talavera Cocina Mexicana
2299 Ponce de Leon (at the corner of Giralda in Coral Gables)
Margarita Lab
Wednesdays 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
$16 with complimentary bites from the menu

Cheers, Cocktailian!

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Cultured Cocktailian: Where to Imbibe during Miami Arts Week

Art and drink have long been bedfellows. With Art Basel and a rich variety of satellite fairs dominating the landscape this week, be sure to head to a few events where fine art and good drinks are beautifully blended and perfectly balanced.

The Grove Calls Shotgun.
Coconut Grove is not waiting for Wednesday. Art Starts in the Grove begins today (Nov. 29th) in the Coconut Grove business district. Local bar and restaurant specials begin at 5 p.m. served as a warmup to exhibitions and gallery openings at 7 p.m. Expect a diverse range of fine art from local and emerging artists, then stay for the after-party at the Mayfair Atrium Sculpture Garden for more food, drinks and music. Admission is free and open to all. Meet the Grovehouse Artists at 3390 Mary Street in the Mayfair Promenade.


Red Fair. Green City.
Red Dot Fair starts Wednesday (Dec. 1st) with an opening reception benefiting Green Miami, which seeks to increase our city's diminished tree canopy. Join them between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m to view carefully curated art. The $25 ticket covers the opening reception and the full week. From Thursday to Sunday, pick up a day pass for $15 and be there between 6-8 p.m. for complimentary cocktails provided by Camarena Tequila. Red Dot runs until Sunday December 5th at 3011 NE 1st Avenue in the Wynwood Arts District.


Rest Easy.
Veuve Clicquot has been working hard on the science and design of relaxation. From Tuesday to Sunday at over 40 locations in South Beach, Downtown, Wynwood and Midtown, Once Upon a Dream is offering a full-sensory experience featuring sleep capsules designed to promote relaxation at its most conceptual level. Bedtime stories and a flute of, you guessed it, Veuve Clicquot complete the rejuvenating journey. The experience is available to all Design Miami ticket holders who can RSVP by emailing DesignMiamiVC@LSagency.com.

O Cinema! O Opportunity!
Running Wednesday to Sunday, O Cinema is featuring a daily showing of the special Art Basel cut of Scissors & Glue: The Miami Project. The film takes a deeper look at the South Florida art scene through in-depth interviews with key local players. As the work is still in progress, the Scissors & Glue showing is a unique opportunity to catch a film in its developmental stage. Head to the opening on Wednesday night to meet the filmmakers over cocktails in the O Cinema patio after the film. All screenings are free.

Food and Drink Zone
The Zones Contemporary Art Fair has woven food and drink right into the fabric of the exhibition. This niche fair has always had a strong focus on local, emerging talent, but this year, food-tastings, music, drink and conversation are positioned as part of the fair's experience. Admission is graciously free, and the fair runs from Wednesday Decemeber 1st to Sunday December 5th at 47 NE 24th Street.

Cocktails on the Verge
Opening Thursday December 2nd, Verge Art Fair has set up one serious opening party at the Catalina Hotel starting at 6 p.m. Sip Mamajuana cocktails to the up-close and personal Cirque du Soleil performance. Browse the art then head down to Chillax at the hotel's Red Bar where Bombay Sapphire, Bacardi and Grey Goose are ready to keep the conversation rolling. The reception is $20; the fair continues Friday to Sunday at $10 for general admission.

Cocktail Couture
Deco One Interior invites you to join them on Thursday December 2nd for Artistically Fashioned, an event that blends art, interior design, fashion and photography. Expect a live fashion shoot, free dessert, cocktails and goodies provided by the amazing non-profit Abandoned Animal Foundation. Entry is free but you need to RSVP here.

Pool Hopping
PooL Art Fair opens Friday December 3rd with Vernissage. At this lively opening party, get exposed to brilliant, unrepresented artists showing their best in guest rooms throughout the Carlton Hotel. Check out the live performance by Pocket of Lollipops and grab a specialty cocktail at the Lobby Lounge. RSVP here or via FB. The $20 suggested donation helps PooL continue its work to support unrepresented artists. PooL opens at 3 p.m.; Vernissage begins at 6 p.m.

From PooL, head to NADA at the Deauville Beach Resort for "Manuel Transmission" after sunset on Friday. The pool deck will be lit by analog projections; inside, the ballroom will be filled with NADA's comprehensive cross-section of contemporary artists. Grab a drink at the pool deck to keep the conversation flowing, just be wary of tiki, tourist-trap cocktails.

F it.
When you've had your fill of the art scene, head to the The Electric Pickle in the Wynwood Arts District to get some relief. The quirky cocktail lounge has a three-night Fuck Art, Let's Dance series ready with two-floors of music by local and international acts. All shows begin at 9 p.m.

Welcome to Miami Arts Week, Cocktailian!

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South Florida Drink Culture Recap

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a sane Black Friday. Kick back and enjoy the long weekend with this week's South Florida drink culture highlights.

Breaking Tradition
The Miami Herald explores the brave new world of Japanese whiskey and gets the distiller's critique of the Scots' traditional approach.

Giddy Up!
Boy Writes Miami moseys into the Lost and Found Saloon.

Honey Just Got Sweeter
Clean Plate Charlie informs us that the brewers of Florida honey beer are opening soon in not-so-distant Orlando.

Lost in a Tequila Sunset
Cantina Beach at the Ritz-Carlton has the largest tequila roll call in Miami, according to Short Order, but there's no word on mezcal.

TGISBS: (Thank God it's small business Saturday)
Orlando cocktailians Drink Up! have a Black Friday cocktail that will compliment (or offset) this clip from yesterday's mad rush at Dolphin Mall.

Happy Reading, Cocktailians!

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Weekend Cocktailian: Where to imbibe in Miami

Season is on with new restaurant openings, Miami Arts Week and plenty of cocktail possibilities. This weekend, enjoy Miami drink culture in every part of town.

Black Friday Bargain
Today takes many of us to through every shopping mall in town. Ocean Prime at the Aventura Mall is offering sound relief from the maddening crowd with an all-day extension of its Prime Hour coupled with a special $15 pre-fixed lunch. Cocktail offerings vary from standards such as the Margarita and the Lychee Martini to more playful options like the Grand Smash, which incorporates lemon and mint into Grand Marnier, and Whiskey Clover, which tempers Gentleman Jack and Hennessy with honey water, lemon and orange. Featuring options for every imbibing preference, the deal also includes reduced prices on select straight sippers (go for Zacapa or Crown Royal) as well as $7 glasses of wine and $2 off bottled beer.

Wind Down with H Y P E
Bar 721 on Lincoln Lane offers a Black Friday cool-down with its Friday weekly H Y P E featuring DJ Brian Zero and a one-time special performance by Stephanie Carcache. If you over-spent during the day, Bar 721's fairly-priced vintage cocktails, complimentary vodka cocktails from 10 p.m to 11 p.m. and vodka bottle service for $125 will de-stress your wallet. The event begins at 10 pm and runs with no cover charge all night.

The Anticipated Finally Arrives
The wait is over; Pubbelly has finally opened its doors this week and is serving up delicious pork options (like pork belly dumplings and mofongo) alongside carefully selected beer, sake and wine lists. Expect a warm tavern atmosphere and food that blends Asian and Latin (particularly Puerto Rican and Spanish) elements at very reasonable prices. Entrees top out at $25 and bottles of wine at $80. Pass by 1418 20th Street on South Beach between 6 p.m and 2 a.m for dinner, light bites, evenings warm-ups and nighttime cool-downs.

Hangover Helper
Sra. Martinez is serving up brunch in small plate sizes perfect for tender tummies that partied a wee bit too much. Pair dishes with gentle drink options such as the Velvet Underground featuring bubbly cava, bitters and Velvet Falernum and the Brazilian Ballerina with caraway-seed cachaça and lemon soda.

Art Basil Pre-Game
Art Basil may not officially begin until Wednesday but Miami Arts Week kicks off Sunday with the MiMo Art Boulevard Biscayne Art Fest. From noon until 8 p.m., meet, engage and participate with artists and their creative process at stations located between 65th and 77th on Biscayne Boulevard. The festival also includes all-day music, a culinary station and an opportunity to explore the neighborhood's rich history with a guided walking tour. Stop by convenient watering holes like Red Light, Moonchine and Michy's to grab a fresh cocktail or a good glass of wine.

Weeknight Spillover
Gifted Rums cordially invites you to join them for a complimentary Botran Reserva Rum Tasting this Tuesday (Nov. 30th). Between 7 and 9 pm at Big Game Liquors in Coral Gables, sample this Guatemalan rum with 60 years of family experience behind it. With a balance of dried fruit, vanilla cream and warm spices, expect a spirit meant for cocktails and straight sipping. RSVP with Gifted Rums here.

Pouring in soon...
Tuesday December 7th, Morton's on Miami Beach continues its ongoing Brown Bag Evening at 7 p.m. The monthly event is dedicated to sipping, celebrating and learning about wine one varietal at a time through blind tasting with expert sommelier Chad Lipson. For the next event, rsvp early and bring a bottle of syrah/shiraz from any region. Twenty dollars are all you need for a full evening of wine, lite bites and expert knowledge in a warm atmosphere. Call to reserve at 786-454-4022.

Drink, eat, play and just call the damn cab: 305-444-4444

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Digestifs for Thanksgiving Relief

For many of us, Thursday will end with a massive meal followed by long, fitful naps and exhausted stomachs that need days to recover. To counter post-Thanksgiving heaviness, turn to the long-standing tradition of digestifs. Composed of a diverse group of beverages ranging from whiskey to tea, digestifs are imbibed after meals and work to soothe, purify and aid an overworked stomach. So, before dropping off into Thanksgiving comatose, take a sip of one of these to drift off into pleasant dreams.

Applejack
Before there was bourbon, there was applejack, and lots of it. The preferred drink of the Founding Fathers, applejack and its sibling, apple brandy, use hard cider as a base. Underneath a dominant apple perfume, it is slightly sweet and medium-bodied with subtle warm spices that tame an angry stomach. A few varieties exist; however, opt for Laird’s Applejack produced by America’s oldest running distillery for a digestif with the spirit of Thanksgiving built-in. Swing by Total Wine & More or Sunset Corners Fine Wine & Spirits to pick up a bottle for around $22.

Anis del Mono
Under the category of herbal liqueurs is an entire world dedicated to variations of anise. From Greek ouzo to French pastis to Mexican Xtabentún, anise has long been a popular liqueur variation and an international tummy soother. Sambuca may be the best known expression, but its Spanish cousin Anis del Mono features a natural, milder sweetness and a more vibrant liquorice taste for a few dollars less. Widely available in Miami liquor stores, Anis del Mono can be purchased in either a dulce (sweet) for sipping straight or over a few ice cubes or in seco (dry) to round out an espresso.

Harlem Liqueur
Once upon a time before there were frat boys, the German category Kräuterlikör, which includes Jagermeister, was valued for its intense herbal qualities that settled a full stomach. Although not a German liqueur, Harlem is a Dutch relative that offers a far lighter, less cough-syrupy version of this group. Full of orange and cherry notes rounded by a mild spice, Harlem can be chilled and sipped straight or used to replace the sweet vermouth in a Manhattan. Find it at Total Wine & More and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits for around $25.

Averno Amaro
This traditional liqueur is a Sicilian’s go-to source for relief after a heavy meal. Known as a bitter herbal liqueur, Averno is a balance of sweetness and mild herbs that works wonders on an overstuffed stomach. Widely available throughout Miami for about $23, Averno can be sipped straight, although a few cubes of ice help “open” the liqueur. Squeeze in a slice of orange, and let the liqueur work its magic.

Happy Thanksgiving, Cocktailian!

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South Florida Drink Culture Recap

Reviews ruled the roost this week. Pour an afternoon sipper and lean back with informed opinions, a Thanksgiving cocktail and a few good photos.

Although he prefers soda to cocktails, Burger Beast tests out the menu offerings at Coral Gables local watering hole, The Bar.

After sipping liquid inspiration, Live Laugh Snap captures some beautiful images at Fairchild"s Ramble.

The irreverent Boy Writes Miami illustrates the average food, drink and entertainment experience at The Van Dyke Cafe.

Clink! details the Eden's deliciously festival L'Orange Pumpkin Carver.

Soul of Miami walks us through a night at Downtown's Ecco Lounge.

Sunday Night Bonus

The South Florida Beer Blog has the list of local viewing parties for tomorrow night's premiere of the highly anticipated Brew Masters.

Drink Lovers' Options in Downtown Miami

Over the course of the weekend, many of us will be found browsing through books at the MDC Wolfson Campus in Downtown Miami. The culminating event of The 27th Annual Miami Book Fair, the Street Fair runs this weekend from Friday, November 19th to Sunday, November 21st.

Strolling around the fair's many stalls filled with publishers large and small gives way to lingering in Downtown for good drinks and great food over which all things literary can be discussed. Filled with hidden gems and hit-and-miss hours of operation, Downtown is a district best mapped out in advance so that one can separate the diamonds from the rough. To cut out time spent hunting, here are a few drink options to satisfy your epicurean tastes during the literary weekend.

Sip your pisco and eat it too

Winner of the Ceviche Throwdown, CVI.CHE 105 is conveniently located just a few blocks from the fair and is open everyday until 11 p.m (save Sunday when they wrap up at 9 p.m.) Focused on authentic Peruvian food, CVI.CHE 105 offers quiet, modern ambiance for bookworms in need of an authentic pisco sour and a transporting dining experience. Expect to find pisco in uncommon places. Dishes, such as the cream "pisco" ceviche, expertly incorporate the iconic Peruvian spirit in creative and delicious ways. From the fair, head just a few block away to 105 NE 3rd Ave.

Drink in artinsinal ambiance

Soya e Pomodoro at 120 NE 1st St balances homey mom-and-pop comfort with beautiful old-world ambiance. For those on the prowl for a palpable artisan feel, this is a fitting spot for a pre- or post-fair bite complete with a restorative glass of wine and an atmosphere that beckons to book lovers. Just be certain to mind the time. Friday you can catch them for lunch until 4:30 p.m. For dinner, head over on Friday or Saturday from 7 p.m.-11:30 p.m.

On the move to The DRB
Okay, this one requires getting on the Metromover's Omni Loop, but the short ride is well worth the trip. With over 500 beers from every people-populated continent, The DRB is a haven for beer lovers. The beer selection is matched by plenty of entree options and an appetizer menu featuring international appetizer staples such as hummus, tacos, sliders and tostones. Once on the ground at the Adrienne Arsht Metro Station, you'll find The DRB down the block and around the corner at 255 N.E. 14th St.

Enjoy the view

Overlooking Brickell, Area 31 on the 16th Floor of the Epic Hotel offers multiple drinking and dining experinces. Go laid-back and causal at the pool bar, or, if you leave the fair ready for an evening out, head to the outdoor terrace bar for a luxury view. Open until 1 a.m on Friday and Saturday (11 p.m. on Sunday), you have plenty of time to sit back with a few good drinks. Friday, catch them between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. when cocktails like the 31 Manhattan, featuring Pampero Rum with a dash of maple syrup, run for $5. Head to 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way on foot or catch the mover to the James. L. Knight Center if you're loaded down with fresh reads.

Cheers, Cocktailian!

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Test

Hello to all. This is a simple test to get a feel for the site. Articles posted by Cocktail Mia will be published here first before being repurposed to Examiner.com. This is only a temporary site that will be in effect until January 1, 2011, when the Year of the Cocktailian kicks off at the permanent site. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy these articles. Feel free to get connected with Cocktail Mia at the website, twitter or via email: contact@cocktailmia.com. Cheers to all!