Testing Omni Hotel & Resorts’ Newest Cocktails (At A Speakeasy No Less)!

I was lucky enough to be invited to check out the just-over a dozen cocktails being introduced at every Omni Hotel & Resorts property between now and June 8th. The press tasting that I went to was held at Bathtub Gin, a speakeasy behind the Stone Street Coffee store in Chelsea around Ninth Avenue and 18th Street. It was the perfect location to test new cocktails. Guests (which mainly consisted of food bloggers) had to guess which alcohol was in each drink and yours truly guessed only about 70 per cent correctly, so there was no prize for me! The top three scorers got stays at the Omni Hotel of their choice and to say I am jealous is an understatement, LOL!We had a couple of tables of cheeses, charcuterie and desserts to accompany our drink tasting. These beautiful tables were prepared by the head honchos of the banquet department at the Omni Berkshire place in midtown and you can get them just as pictured above for your own event there. Everything from produce to cured meats are hand selected and locally sourced–and all breads and desserts are baked in the Omni Kitchens. It is a grazer’s paradise!The theme of the new series of drinks at the Omni is Flavor Origins, meaning the drink menu features cocktails grouped together by flavor profiles (Fruit, Botanical and Earth are all represented). At each Omni bar and restaurant, a cocktail flavor chart is provided to guests so that they can experiment and explore and waitstaff can recommend food based on their cocktail choices. This is definitely a fulfilling and fun way to try new drinks. You can actually see the first three I tried on the table photograph above. I got buzzed really fast but I enjoyed being able to discuss what was in each drink with some of the Omni mixologists stationed at each table.So I am going to name my Top Three out of the Omni Flavor Origins line of new cocktails. Above, you can see the Yellow Jacket which represents the Botanical section of the new cocktail menu–the main alcohol used is Don Julio Reposado tequila and the botanical flavor is provided by St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur and Yellow Chartreuse. This aromatic cocktail is completed with orange bitters and orange peel. You honestly might want to use this as perfume just as much as you want to drink it, LOL!I really enjoyed the kick of the Chipotle Paloma. The base spirit of this drink is Sauza Silver Tequila and its botanical elements are Ancho Reyes, Q Grapefruit and tajin sauce. This is a spiced variation of the classic Paloma. This drink definitely opens your eyes and I would love to down a few with a classic Mexican meal someday (there are plenty of updated Mexican classics on the Omni resto and room service menus these day).The Rock Star Martini definitely rocked my world and since it was my very favorite from my night of tasting cocktails at the Bathtub Gin speakeasy, I am going to give you the recipe. You just combine 1 1/2 ounces of Grey Goose Vodka, 1/2 ounce os Passoa Passion Fruit Liqueur, 1/2 ounce Real Passion Fruit Puree, 1/2 ounce lime juice and 1/2 ounce Monin Cinnamon in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously, then you strain into a Martini glass and garnish with a piece of Star Anise. At Omni, they serve this with a side shot of chilled Chandon Brut champagne. I think that I participated love the Rock Star Martini because it’s a fun take on a classic drink. It’s hard to imagine a martini as fruity and tropical but this is it right here! You won’t be able to have just one, I promise you! For more info on Omni’s Flavor Origin cocktails and their flavor profiles, go to https://www.omnihotels.com/culinary/flavor-origins.