Wednesday, January 30, 2013

When It pours, it pours....



Went downtown tonight with my favorite fellow blogger Joan Perry.

We attended a media event put on by Crown Royal  introducing its new Maple Finished whisky.

(Yes, my "fisheye" lens popped up again. I've been distorting images for several weeks now.)

Troy Sidle, the mixologist who held stage center, was brought in from New York City for the pouring of the new product.

And pour he did.

And mix and stir.

And shake.

We were upstairs at  Social Restaurant + Wine Bar on East Bay Street in the midst of Tweeters.

And Bloggers.

And other sorts of social media.

Tonight, though, we were on the other side of the camera and bright lights.

Video and photos were being taken everywhere and Troy was making an array of drinks with the newest flavor - Maple.

One opportunity of the evening was a chance to create your own special drink...using Crown Royal

Various ingredients were laid out so there would be a time to be creative.

We were encouraged to also come up an outrageous name for our concoction.

Prizes would be awarded for the most original.

Before that, though, the group crowded in close to the bar and made a rousing Crown Royal toast, led by Gerard Graham.

His card identifies him as "Master of Whisky."

I mentioned to Gerard I had seen an ad for the Maple finished product today on ESPN.

He explained it was being introduced all around the country, and they were a sponsor of Pardon The Interruption.

Getting support from social media seems to be a new way to supplement advertising.

Or enhance it.

This makes sense.

As a blogger, I have an audience as I move around Charleston, trying new places and posting my reactions and opinions.

I'm a consumer. Talking to other consumers.

Many sources gives diners a chance to post comments about their experience.

It used to be "if you're happy - tell others. If you're unhappy - tell me."

The intent would be to correct problems.

Keep customers happy and coming back.

Or try our newest product.

(Click on the pictures for more details.)

It was a nice mixture this evening.

An entertaining and talented bartender. A company that wants to get the word out on Facebook and Tweets and blogs.

And meeting with fellow members of this new - and exciting - media.

Hey, give it a shot.


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posted by chuckography @ 11:29 PM 0 Comments

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Bloggers & Tweeters at historic site....

We bloggers met last night in a West Ashley bar that opened 56 years ago - back when I first became a teenager.

I turned 13 in 1952 and Gene's Haufbrau opened its doors. Sort of.

In South Carolina at that time you could quality for a full driver's license at age 14 so we mobile youngsters concentrated on going to drive-in theaters and restaurants where carhops brought burgers - and sometimes beer - to your car window on a tray.

Years ago, before Gene's was bought by the people who own Vickery's, the place on Highway 17 functioned as a "key club" where preferred patrons were issued a key to the locked front door. This effectively barred anyone else from coming in.

Yes, that is discrimination and that particular practice ended years ago. I know of at least one other bar in town that screened its customers with The Key.

Last night Eugene posted some pictures of our get together. As usual, the photographer was not shown, so here he is. I was toasting two Twitter-users who had come as guests of Heather, our blogmeister.

Yes, it's legal now for me to have a beer in Charleston's oldest bar.(Big John's is 2 years younger.)

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posted by chucker @ 2:43 PM 0 Comments