Swarms of diehard cocktailians gathered for the Indie Spirits Expo at Astor Center this evening.  With tables full of handmade, artesnal booze, and mixologists in the making, Lush Life felt right at home sampling the sixteen brands present. 

Most of the "brand ambassadors" were the distillers themselves- humbly hawking their wares with the ardent passion that led them into this industry.  The noisy crowd hovered around each table taking a taste and shaking hands with each distiller. 

As expected, the vodka tables were the most mobbed, but since over half of the brands present had at least one variety of the spirit, everyone had a cocktail in hand.  One of our favorite brands, Tuttletown, left behind their vodka, choosing instead to focus on their whiskey and rum assortment.  And, while they were tucked behind a corner, the line was among the longer ones at the Expo.  Maybe it's because they were one of the few whiskies present. 

Bluecoat Gin, our favorite semi-local distillery, hosted the first cocktail demo, which felt more like science class than anything else.  I left fully informed on the topic of gin distillation and with a newfound pride in american made spirits.  Robert Cassell, Bluecoat's master distiller, lead the discussion- passing around juniper berries and proponol- comparing each to his gin and his competitors.  And, while he won't divulge all of the botanicals used in Bluecoat (apparently he uses a citrus peel that no one else in the world does), he waxed poetic about his specially made still and the virtues of Angelica root (to add earthiness).  Robert's passion for the spirit was infectious and the crowd perked up with each pass of the Bluecoat.

in possibly the most compelling portion of the Indy spirits expo, H. Joseph Ehrmann led the Square One Vodka demonstration.  As you've probably noticed, we here at Lush Life are huge fans of H., and were excited to taste a cocktail personally made by the green bar god himself.  He began the demonstration by pulling just about everything you can imagine out of the Astor's refrigerator before inviting members from the peanut gallery down behind his makeshift bar.   After carefully explaining each of the bartools (with explanations for his choice in muddler, strainer, and shaker), he set the new mixologists to muddling the blueberries and lemons for the Country Thyme Lemonade. 

Check out the Disney-fied version of H. making the "mock-tail" on

this San Francisco Morning Show

and the recipe, which you can find right here:

Country Thyme Blueberry Lemonade
8-10 Fresh Blueberries
Half of a Lemon cut into wedges
.5 oz Agave Nectar
2 Sprigs of Fresh Thyme (Slapped)
1.5 oz Square One Vodka

Muddle blueberries and lemons (with their rinds to release some of the bitterness that will balance the cocktail) in the mixing glass portion of a Boston Shaker.  Add Agave Nectar and Square One.  Add ice and shake vigorously. 

Add thyme to rocks glass after slapping it once to release the flavor.  Add ice to rocks glass, and strain cocktail into glass. 

Garnish with a sprig of thyme (also slapped).

Allan and Matty take a trip down to Philly's Rum Bar

So, now y'all know this blogging thing is merely the tip of an iceberg of depravity. In the not too distant future, we will be working non-stop to make sure every last dime of your disposable income is in the wrong hands of people like Matty and I. We're going to take you on our hedonistic binges roughly as often as you brush your teeth, which will likely inspire you to brush your teeth a lot more.