MYPN Presents Liquid Kitchen

The Manchester Young Professionals Network (MYPN) is a Manchester, NH area networking group that been in existence since 2004. I have been an inactive member for a number of years, but we fixed that this week. MYPN hosted an event entitled Liquid Kitchen, part of their Better Living Series, on November 3rd at the restaurant XO on Elm. Kristen Vanhorn from Martignetti was on hand to show us how to make some cocktails from several new products available through the New Hampshire Liquor Stores and Martignetti. XO also whipped up two different appetizers that were definitely not the “same-old-thing”, but I couldn't tell you what they were now! A capacity crowd packed the XO conference center for some networking and drink talk!

Margot doesn’t like networking events. With her very outgoing personality many people wonder why. I on the other hand am very comfortable at these types of events, but my normal mode is much less social. I guess that is why we match, we are both weird.

We checked in, found a placed to sit and struck up a conversation with the first folks we made eye contact with. Stupidly I didn’t get names, our friends Wayne & Meredith are going to be pissed at us, and I should have because one of the ladies we were talking too is friends with them through the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). We laughed that we know Wayne & Meredith through my being a co-worker of his a few years ago but have never hiked with them, something we also do, nor met their AMC friends. Small world.

Kristen (to the left) fired up the cocktail machine and served us the following drinks. We asked permission to reprint her recipes so that you all could try them or make variations to see what happens.

Her cocktails contained two recent additions to the Martignetti product line including the Cold River Gin and Vodkas produced in Maine, and the Cabin Fever maple flavored whisky made nearby in Chester, NH.

Nor’easter

1 ¼ oz Cold River Gin
4 oz tonic water
¼ simple syrup
2 orange wedges
1 lemon wedge
6 mint leaves

Muddle the mint and orange wedges lightly with gin. Add ice, lemon wedge, tonic water and simple syrup. Mix. Garnish with a mint sprig.

This drink was made in small plastic cups which made the proportions hard to get right. If I made it again in a single serving size I am betting I would have a much better impression of it.

Blueberry Fog Martini

1 oz Cold River Blueberry Vodka
1 oz Cold River Vodka
½ oz lemon juice
½ oz lavender simple syrup

Combine ingredients in a shaker and shake with ice. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with fresh Maine blueberries.
This drink was the hit. The combination of flavors and the balance between the sour and sweet were fantastic. Getting or making some blueberry vodka is now on my list!

Maple Mint Fever

1 ½ oz Cabin Fever Maple Whisky, warmed

Dollop of fresh mint whipped cream

This one didn’t work for me. The whisky on its own is interesting, but something I would end up wanting to mix a drink with rather than drink straight. I have wanted to try it so this was a great opportunity. I think I am going to get some inexpensive bourbon and good maple syrup and make something similar to explore drink recipes with.

The rest of the evening was solid networking. Our note taking and snapping of pictures garnered us some attention, resulting lots of folks hearing about Ancient Fire Wines and me running out of cards. We talked with Kristen for a few minutes and she shared with us the name of new wine & craft beer shop in Londonderry, The Drinkery. Check back tomorrow for a post on the Drinkery and some info on their incredible selection and prices. All and all we made great new connections that will likely get us exposed to more local events that we participate in and can share with all of you.

( Out enjoying some cocktails! )

( Smiles are a good thing at a networking event. )

If you live in the Manchester area and are looking to get out and network with young professionals working nearby you should definitely check out MYPN.

We'd like to thank Taylor Fetterman for taking some of the pictures. He is a the current Chairman of the MYPN Social Committee and had a camera malfunction before the event. He was very happy that we let him roam with the camera to get some shots for the group. We ended up with excellent photos for both of us!

Cheers!

--Jason