Last week I traveled to New York for the national final for the Cocktail World Cup, which takes place next week in New Zealand. The bad news is I didn't make the winning team. The good news is one of my fellow Austin boys, Nate Wales, did. And I had a great time, got a free trip to New York, and all I had to do was make a cocktail.

Here are the highlights of my brief bid for the national team:

In January, Austin hosted the regional quarterfinal for the Cocktail World Cup on the back patio of Lustre Pearl. I made a sensual drink called the Showgirl, and mine won along with the crazy ass bubble tea-inspired cocktail of Nate Wales (La Condesa/Malverde).

The Showgirl
1.5 oz 42 Below Passion
1 oz Fresh-squeezed Grapefruit Juice
.75 oz Housemade Orgeat Syrup
.25 oz Fresh-squeezed Lime Juice
Barspoon St. Elizabeth's Allspice Dram
2 Dashes Bitter Truth Jerry Thomas's Own Decanter Bitters
Nutmeg, garnish
Combine liquid ingredients in a mixing glass and shake vigorously with ice to chill. Strain onto crushed ice and garnish with fresh grated nutmeg, straws, and citrus/herb "headdress". Luscious, ripe, and festive!

Last week we flew to NYC for the big shindig. 42 Below put us up at the Ace Hotel, a groovy SOHO boutiquey hotel that seems to have wedded the aesthetic of a faded glory eastern bloc palatial hotel with that of a very well appointed dorm room.

Bathroom view from the Ace

42 Below is a class act when it comes to putting on events. The food at the Ace is some of the best event food ever--artisan meat & cheese boards and a never ending parade of treats including handmade corn dogs, poppycock, doughnuts, etc. Open bar goes without saying. But the real highlight, besides the bartenders, was the entertainment. Contortionists and burlesque girls have become somewhat commonplace if you go to as many cocktail events as I do. I was particularly taken with the performer who brought an oversized Champagne flute on the stage and proceeded to bathe herself with its contents (and bathe anyone on the first few rows).

Without question, the showstopper for this event was the LP Michael Jackson. After being lifted on to the bar, he rocked out a perfect miniature impersonation of the King of Pop that brought down the house. I apologize for the shitty iphone pics that scarcely do this artist justice.

After the contest I went up to my room with some friends and made cocktails while they watched the end of the Oscars. Thanks to my friend Michael's ingenuity, he squirreled away a buffet's worth of snacks from the event downstairs, and we were able to avoid the cost of dining out or partaking of the minibar. Eventually the show was over and I was snoring in my seat, so my guests left and I missed the obligatory post-contest celebration with the group downstairs, which usually lasts until the wee hours or dawn, and on some occasions (such as the Bacardi Legacy event in Dallas) results in contestants missing their flights home the next morning.

Cups 3 and 4 of 5 cups I would have at the Stumptown location at the Ace

This time I woke up the morning after the contest with a clear head. I made my way downstairs for the coffee drinker's Valhalla experience, partaking of a cup at Stumptown Coffee. Or in my case, many cups. I went through the line once and got an espresso and a 12 oz cup of french press. After I finished those, I saw that there was no line, so I went back and got a latte and a 12 oz to-go. I know that drinking Stumptown out of paper is like drinking a Martini from a water bottle, but I have done both and am none less for wear.

I ate lunch twice on Monday, once at Yonah Schimmel's Knishes, and once at Cafe Sabarsky.

Cafe Sabarsky is an elegant Viennese cafe in the Neue Gallery. I had the Käsekrainer mit Sauerkraut & Röstkartoffeln (Smoked Bratwurst w/ Cheddar Cheese). It was awesome and I have fantasized about it since

After lunch I went back to the coffee bar and got another roadie for my ride to JFK. It was really stupid and I don't recommend it. I love extreme caffeination, but felt like a real freak when I was sitting on the plane, still high as a kite from all the Stumptown, but simultaneously drunk from all the beers I drank w/ Nate Wales in the airport lounge. This sequence of events is not recommended. Best of luck to Nate as he travels to New Zealand next week to defend the American title at 42 Below Cocktail World Cup!