Bar Owner Profile

THE LOCALS BAR OWNER PROFILE Xan Garcia Her trip with a sip

Xan Garcia-Riley has been working in the service industry for close to twenty years, half of which has been devoted to bartending and mixology. Her passion for creating cocktails started when she was mixing drinks in famous clubs like The Limelight. She began to experiment with infusions and seasonal ingredients, which led local restaurants and clubs to take notice and add her cocktails to their menus. Little Giant, which served her LES Egg Cream, was awarded “Best Spiked Fountain Drink” by Time Out Magazine for her creation. Now she is the owner of two bars, Cornerstone Tavern and The Stags Head, where she brings her passion to Midtown Manhattan satisfying and sometimes even challenging her patrons’ palates to try something fun and different. “In the past 10 years I have watched the New York palate challenged by the new breed of mixologist, becoming more refined when it comes to cocktails,” says Xan. “New Yorkers are more adventurous, passionate and knowledgeable about mixology than ever before. It’s an exciting time to experiment, from a new twist on an old classic to trying to embody an experience in a glass. I endeavor to transport the customer with a sip, to the verandah of an antebellum mansion, the seat by a fire on a cold winter night, or the chocolate room in Willy Wonka’s factory. The customer palate nowadays is far more willing to take the trip with a sip.”

Photos courtesy of The Stag’s Head Ruby PoRCH SwIng

IngredIents

2 oz. Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon Splash of lemon juice Splash of Cranberry Juice Dash rose hip syrup

PreParatIon

Infuse Bourbon with rose hips and hibiscus. Add dash of rose hip syrup and splash of lemon and cranberry juices.

To LIfE LovE anD LooT The world is thirsty for darker, bolder cocktails. And today’s most innovative bartenders are busy crafting their darkest, boldest concoctions yet. Chilled Magazine is proud to present ‘Battle of the Black’, sponsored by Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum. This year’s competition will feature bartenders from across the country tasked with creating the most inventive Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum cocktail with the masculinity of whiskey and the drinkability of Captain. Cocktails will be judged by three criteria: name, taste profile, and overall creativity and originality of recipe or presentation. ParticiPating markets include: MAdISoN, WI MINNEApolIS, MN poRTlANd, oR AThENS, GA GAINESvIllE, Fl TAllAhASSEE, Fl BoSToN, MA ANN ARBoR / EAST lANSING, MI From each of these markets, one cocktail will be chosen to continue to the final round of the ‘Battle of the Black’. of the eight final cocktails, only one will be recognized as undeniably bold, unmistakably daring and the darkest Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum cocktail created. do you have what it takes to harness your dark side? Remember to always choose adventure over the mundane and visit chilledmagazine.com for contest details and entry information. Then check out the summer issue of Chilled Magazine where the winning bartender will reveal the darker side of Captain Morgan. Sponsored by Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum Chilled Magazine presents… Battle of the Black

The Battle of the Black

Captain Morgan BlaCk SpiCed ruM

are you bold enough to let the Captain lead you into the black?

The Captain and his crew are on a mission to discover a charismatic mixer, one who, like the Captain himself, is complex, full of fight and willing to navigate the lightless sea of mediocrity to unveil something authentic, edgy and timeless. Captain Morgan’s Black Spiced Rum is a darker, bolder, more masculine rum distilled from black strap molasses, finished with double charred blackened oak and blended with select spices, such as clove and cassia bark. The remarkably smooth finish is bold enough to trump any brown spirits occasion. Dark and delicious, Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum is a commanding liquid with the time-honored drinkability of The Captain. Honoring the true spirit of the legendary privateer, Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum is bottled in a shorter, wider bottle reminiscent of authentic rum grog bottles from the Captain’s time. The embossed cork closure and vintage parchment paper accent a rich discovery element on the inside of the back label revealing the Captain’s dark history. Legend has it, after being buried on the shores of Port Royal, Jamaica in 1688, the Captain’s casket mysteriously washed out to sea.

The Captain’s spirit is said to roam the waters of the Caribbean to this day. Discover more of the mystery within. Do you have the courage to mix with a bold and daring flavor, in lieu of the safe and predictable? It takes a bold soul to navigate through unfamiliar waters. Do you have what it takes? Remember, always choose adventure over the mundane. Everyone has a dark side. What’s yours? Make sure to enjoy the darker side of Captain responsibly!