BAR GEAR, GADGETS AND BEYOND

Our experts share some of the best ones found.

Hayley Maxwell, General Manager at a Local Gaming Bar in Las Vegas; Marketing, Sales, and Buying

Hayley Maxwell works in the hospitality industry and really understands the bar business. People love gadgets, with new ones being invented, manufactured, and marketed every day for those in the food and beverage industry. Hayley is one of the experts who will share her unique perspective on gadgets.

Daniel “DD” de Anda Fast, Bar & Nightlife Consultant Daniel “DD” de Anda Fast offers more than two decades of hospitality experience having opened more than 30 venues during that time including bars, restaurants, pool experiences, nightclubs and more. Daniel has created craft cocktail menus on the Las Vegas Strip, worked as corporate mixologist for American Beverage Ventures (ABV) and is one of a select group of lead judges for PR%F Awards.

Vinloq

Visit Vinloq.com for more info.

What our experts have to say:

DD: Hey Hayley did you look at the Vinloq slow decanting and wine preservation system?

Hayley: Yes! I got to test it out over the weekend. Vinloq is the first slow decanting and wine preservation system. I am a wine drinker, and I know you enjoy good wine as well, so I’m always excited to see anything to do with preserving wine.

DD: I thought the system was easy to use, and the directions were very clear. You just place the nitrogen gas dispenser onto the gas reservoir, which is a little bag that seals in the nitrogen gas. The stoppers go right into the opened wine and are labeled by little red and white dots. When the red dots line up, that means it’s ready to store, and when the handle is down and the white dot is matched with the red, you are ready to pour. Hayley: I think this is a great product for home with expensive wines that you don’t want to go bad after you have opened it. I like that the kit came with tasting notes for you to keep track of and put on the chart the wines you like and the complexity of each wine because, after a few bottles of wine, you may not remember which wine you liked. Wine tasting has that effect on me.

DD: Yes, I also thought the little tasting note cards were a fun addition to this new wine experience. The Vinloq slow decanting and wine preservation system is a great gift for wine connoisseurs or even someone just getting into drinking wine. It’s fun and innovative in the world of wine. Vinloq slow decanting and wine preservation system

Siligrams

Visit Siligrams.com for more info.

What our experts have to say:

Hayley: My husband is a scotch drinker and really enjoys a good scotch. I have been looking for an ice cube tray to make larger cubes not to dilute the scotch. Siligrams makes custom whiskey ice ball molds that are such a great gift. They can do a ball, cylinder, or cubes, and to make it extra special for a gift, they add custom logos or initials. This makes a wonderful gift.

DD: What I love about this product is that it is a high-quality silicone mold and the mold itself is very thick, so it is durable. The size of the cubes that Siligrmas make is perfect to fit into a rocks glass.

Hayley: Do you think that whiskey and scotch drinks are popular again? I see more and more specialty cocktail lists incorporating old recipes and constructing new drinks using scotch or whiskey. DD: Absolutely! Old school cocktails always have a place at a local bar, casino, expensive high-end restaurants, and even nightclubs. I see Manhattans, Whiskey Sours, an old-fashioned drink, everywhere I go. Now just think you can have your restaurant logo on a beautiful ice ball to go into these traditional drinks.

Hayley: I think that would really add to the experience at dinner, even at home. I had my husband’s initials put onto the cylinder ice cube Siligrams offers, and it is really a conversation piece with friends since everyone wants to know where we got it.

DD: I tested the ice ball mold and even added pieces of cherries and orange slices into the water to freeze and let the essence come out as the ice melted.

Hayley: What a great idea. I love infusion in drinks. How fun would it be even to make a mojito and then add the mint right into the ice ball? It would look beautiful with the Siligram ice cube with a logo or initials on it.