Ninkasi Brewing x Jeffrey Morgenthaler Cocktail Preview

Jeffrey Morgenthaler, known well as he has been a seven-time James Beard nominee, has teamed up with and made a partnership with Oregon’s Ninkasi Brewing Company.

Jeffrey and Ninkasi are brewing up a new canned cocktail line, which will be distributed throughout Nevada along with their beers. Jeffrey and Jamie Floyd, co-founder of Ninkasi, have been friends for years and this was the perfect partnership. They met at Jeffrey’s first bartending job in Oregon, a couple decades ago. When Ninkasi wanted to enter the canned cocktail market, they reached out to Jeffrey to see if they could collaborate on how to do something special and unique.

 

Food & Wine and other national media have recognized and featured Jeffrey as Top 10 Mixologists of the Last 10 Years, Watch Jeffrey Morgenthaler Mix Portland’s ‘Official Drink’ With Seth Meyers, and the Amaretto Sour Recipe from Pepe Le Moko for his former beloved bars Clyde Common and Pepe Le Moko.

I went to their launch party in Las Vegas at a cute venue downtown called The Velveteen Rabbit, which has a great party atmosphere, and a back space with plenty of heaters to keep us warm in this chilly air. It is located in the Brewery District. 

Their first canned cocktails launched this month:

  • Gin Rickey, a gin cocktail with cooling mint and a splash of lime
  • Bourbon Renewal, a bold spin on a bourbon classic with zesty lemon and sweet black currant
  • Agave Paloma, a mezcal paloma with tangy grapefruit and crushed jalapeno

The cans are great as is or with mixes and certainly bring the party atmosphere out. All the local press attended and we got to have great cocktails along with a fantastic food truck experience. Be sure to look for this brand.