Memorial Day: Kicking Off The Summer

Grab the hot dogs, hamburgers, shades, and flip-flops - Memorial Day Weekend is three weeks away! It’s the unofficial start to the always-too-short season of barbecue, biking, boating, and beaching. Celebrated across the United States to honor the men and women who lost their lives serving in the Armed Forces, Memorial Day is both a holiday of remembrance and a celebration of the sacrifices made for this country. 

Over this three-day weekend, families and friends across the nation will fire up their grills, break out the SPF, and undoubtedly spend hours trying to navigate the ladder golf setup instructions. Whether you’re bouncing from sandbar to sandbar or kicking back in the shade, you’re going to want to include your favorite refreshing beverage. Summer calls for lighter options that help beat the heat and elicit that satisfying “ahhhhh” after every sip. 

Here are some of GAP’s summertime favorites: 

Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy – An exceptional lemonade-infused wheat beer perfect for those late afternoon barbecues. Light, citrusy, and refreshing – everything you want from a beer in the summer. 

Mike’s Hard Lemonade – This tasty beverage swirls lemon flavor in just the right amount of carbonation for that ultra-refreshing taste. Stake your claim near the cooler. 

Jamaican Sunrise w/Smirnoff No. 21 – Even if you live in the ‘burbs and lounge on a 10 ft. square patch of lawn, you can still feel as though you’re on a tropical island. Fill a highball with ice. Add 1.5 oz. Smirnoff No. 21 and 4 oz. pineapple juice. Float 0.75 oz. of grenadine on top. If you own a steel drum, now would be the appropriate time to play it.*

Parrot Bay Mango Daiquiri, Frozen – It’s the perfect drink to cool you down when the mercury gets too high. No blender required – just freeze and squeeze. Tiki Bar not included. 

Let GAP complement your drink choice with stylish and functional products that will keep you cool, refreshed, and ready to take on the summer months. 

Customizable Portable Lounging Hammock

Custom Four Loko Can Shaped Toss Game

Custom Jose Cuervo Surfboard

*Recipe found on drinkmixer.com

SEE YOU IN VEGAS!

In four days Las Vegas will play host to the 69th WSWA Annual Convention and Exposition. Some of the largest wine and spirits brands in the world will gather at Caesar’s Palace to mix, mingle, and exhibit their products to increase their brand recognition. Expect lots of sampling!

GAP Promotions (Booth #313) will exhibit game changing displays and products specifically created for the WSWA audience. Our booth is designed to showcase both On-Premise and Off-Premise creative solutions that can be tailored to enhance any brand or company with the ultimate goal of increasing awareness and boosting sales. Whether you represent one of the largest spirits companies in the world or an up-and-coming distillery, we will have some creative solutions for you to showcase your brand and stay within your budget.

Be sure to stop by and check out all the cool ideas we have on display. From racks and displays to glorifiers and bar service, you will see some eye-catching ideas that will ignite your creative juices. Speak with our friendly staff and discuss on-the-spot ideas to help your business succeed.

Come and try your luck playing our March Madness Basketball Pop-A-Shot Challenge as you cheer for your favorite team.

We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas!

-The GAP Team

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

St. Patrick’s Day gives us that much-needed boost as we await escape from the winter doldrums and look toward spring. The patron saint and national apostle of Ireland, credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, likely never imagined that he would be the impetus for the creation of, ‘hold your shillelaghs’ and green beer! 

The wearing of the green has been celebrated since the 17th century, and so has the wearing of shamrocks. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in America took place in New York on March 17th, 1762 to honor Irish soldiers from the British army that were stationed in the United States at that time. Today, the United States celebrates St. Patrick’s Day more prolifically than any other country in the world – go USA!!! And, it is one of the highest-ranking days for alcohol consumption of the year as the Irish and wannabee-Irish clink pints at pubs all over the country.

Saint Patrick’s Day is mired in traditions, both new and old. It is a day for celebration, a day to honor the Patron Saint of Ireland, a day to eat some great Irish food and drink Irish beer and whiskey, and perhaps even watch a parade.

The annual event kicks off with Countdown to St. Pat’s events and promotions to get us geared up for the one-day celebration on March 17th. Promotional products abound including green wearables, blinky buttons, openers, hats, beads, coasters, banners, and signage. GAP has everything one might need for a successful St. Patrick’s day O’Celebration with an array of promotional items, displays, and fixtures. 

St. Patrick's Day Event T-Shirt

Foam Leprechaun Ears

Glossy Event Poster

Of course, no St. Pat’s event is complete without choice beverages and traditional foods. Here are a few of our favorite drink recipes, as well as one for Guinness and Bailey’s infused chocolate cupcakes that’ll knock the paddy cap off your head! 

1. Green Beer. Beer is a favored drink among the Irish and the Irish of the Day. Favorite Irish beers are Guinness and Kilkenny but any Irish stout works. Just add a bit of green food coloring to the glass.

2. Irish cider. Magners Original Irish Cider is found in many bars this time of year.

3. Irish Coffee. Originally created in Limerick, Ireland, if you drink enough you’ll be reciting bad limericks with everyone at the bar. Mix a half shot of Irish whiskey into a cup of hot coffee. Stir in some sugar to taste. Top off with a splash of Irish cream.

4. Frozen Leprechaun. Mix equal parts Bailey’s, Kahlua, peppermint schnapps and milk; blend it all with ice and then top it off with a sprig of mint.

All of these drinks can be enjoyed in moderation. Whatever you end up doing and drinking on St. Patrick’s Day, please celebrate responsibly! If you are partaking, arrange for designated drivers or taxi cabs to get you home at the end of the night.

And don’t forget to wear your green to avoid being pinched!

Guinness Cupcakes with Bailey’s Irish Cream Frosting

Cupcakes:
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup Guinness stout
2/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder, sifted
1 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs
½ cup sour cream

Frosting:
½ cup unsalted butter
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
1 pinch salt
3 tablespoons Bailey’s Irish Cream (or Carolan’s)
1 tablespoon milk
Green sprinkles, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 24-30 cupcake cups, or fill with paper liners.

2. In a saucepan, heat the butter, Guinness, cocoa powder and brown sugar, whisking often until butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool at room temperature.

3. In work bowl of a stand mixer, sift together salt, flour, white sugar and baking soda. Add the cooled Guinness mixture and beat on medium for 1 minute. Add eggs and sour cream and beat on medium for 2 minutes or until smooth.

4. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake cups. Bake in preheated oven 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean. Cool in pan 20 minutes, then remove and transfer to a cooling rack until completely cooled.

5. Meanwhile, in (cleaned) work bowl of stand mixer, cream butter until very light and fluffy. Add salt, and slowly add confectioners sugar. Do not run the mixer above low, or the sugar will spray all over your kitchen. Add a couple of spoonfuls at a time until all is absorbed into the butter. Add Bailey's and milk (and optional green food coloring) until spreadable consistency is achieved.

6. Frost cupcakes with Bailey's frosting. Top with green sprinkles, if desired.

food.com

WINTER IS "FINALLY" HERE

We’ve experienced the eerie feeling of 60-degree weather in December, and the presence of green grass, even after the first of the year. We’ve had a couple of bursts of snow but, I think we can all agree it doesn’t really look like winter around here - yet.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac (n.d.), predicted that, this winter, the Boston area would be drier than normal, “with near-normal temperatures but above-normal snowfall” (para 1). The coldest periods were predicted to be in mid-December and early and mid-February. Mid-December wasn’t half bad, in my opinion, and we can handle a couple of cold weeks in what is already the shortest month of the year anyway. Right?

The snowiest periods were predicted to be in mid-December, mid- and late January, and late February. Knowing this, we can’t help but lose a little faith in these predictions and and/or get really concerned about February.  

For some, winter is a joyous time filled with skiing, snowboarding, and even ice fishing (I just don’t get the attraction of this one). For others, winter is all about escaping the outdoors entirely, under a blanket, on the couch with a good book (more likely a Kindle or an iPad but book sounded better) and a beverage of some sort. Brown spirits appear to be making a big comeback this year, so whether you spent the day on the slopes or under an afghan, you might enjoy a lovely Hennessy cognac or a smooth Crown Royal.

Regardless of the winter activity, GAP has targeted ideas to help promote your brand in the most extreme (or not so) extreme winter climates.

This completely custom Captain Morgan and Smirnoff snowboard looks great mounted on the wall or used to carve up the slopes.

  
This custom designed Smirnoff winter scarf makes for a great prize or giveaway at any bar or slope side event.

This custom Yuengling die-cut metal fireplace can be used all year long, but will heat up any outdoor winter event. It also works great as a dealer loader.  

Here are a few more of GAP’s favorite winter warmers to hold you over until barbeque season.   

The Gin Toddy 

Ingredients:
1 1/4 oz Tanqueray London Dry Gin
3/4 oz lemon juice
2 oz boiling water
1 tsp sugar
cinnamon stick for garnish 

Build the ingredients into a wine goblet.
Stir well.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick. 

Baileys Irish Coffee 

1 part Bailey's® Irish cream
1 partblack coffee 

Mix the hot coffee with Bailey's. Enjoy!

After Dinner Mint 

1/2 oz white creme de menthe
3/4 oz Southern Comfort® peach liqueur
1/2 oz Stolichnaya® vodka
Fill with hot chocolate 

Shake vigorously and serve.

Please enjoy winter responsibly.
 
Sources:
Almanac.com
Drink Recipes from:
Drinkmixer.com
 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

We may not have snow along the coast here in New England, but the holiday season is well underway (with cold weather arriving just in time…cue, “the office is freezing!”). The GAP elves are just returning from a two-day holiday retreat at the beautiful Wentworth by the Sea in Newcastle, NH. Amidst the amazing holiday decor, the team enjoyed spectacular meals, fantastic scenery and, of course, wonderful holiday cocktails. We had an opportunity to reflect on our extraordinary year, present our individual highlights with our clients and our projects. And, we planned for our future.

Reflecting on our last few months of 2011, we discussed the truly unique displays that we designed to capture the holiday spirit (pun intended). Anticipation of cold weather and the powerful Nor’easters we’ve all grown accustomed to had us thinking ‘warm and cozy.’, And, what better way to display a brand than in the glow of a fireplace. A few examples of our festive holiday items are shown below.

Ketel One Fireplace – Wood construction with digital print graphics which can be customized to your channel size. Stocking stuffers not included! 

Leinenkugel Fireplace Screen/Log Carrier – A fireplace needs a screen, and this handcrafted, spot-welded screen is the perfect solution. Couple with a custom log carrier & holder and you have a winning display. Rumor has it, that Santa has one at his place in the North Pole! 

Crown Royal Ornament – When the fire gets too hot make your way to the tree. Our custom ornaments outshine the lights!

And no GAP blog would be complete without a few of our favorite drink recipes to keep you warm during the long, cold New England winter nights! Please celebrate responsibly! Happy Holidays!

Captain Butter Cream

2 - 3 oz Captain Morgan® Original spiced rum

1 oz DeKuyper® Buttershots liqueur

12 oz cream soda

Pour Captain Morgan into a pint glass with ice, and add buttershots. Top off with the cream soda of your choice. Shake, do not stir, and serve.
 

Buddy Rich 

3/4 oz Stolichnaya® raspberry vodka

3/4 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur

1/2 oz Chambord® raspberry liqueur

1/4 oz Frangelico® hazelnut liqueur

1/2 oz half-and-half

Build the Stoli raspberry vodka, Kahlua coffee liqueur, Chambord raspberry liqueur and Frangelico hazelnut liqueur into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Top with half-and-half, and serve.

(Recipes found on drinksmixer.com)

KNOW YOUR BEER

The GAP team is undeniably passionate about beer. With so many varieties and styles from which to choose, we’ve found that just a little bit of knowledge can help ensure that you select something you will enjoy.

All beer is categorized as either lager or ale.  Within these two categories, there are different varieties of beer with their own characteristic flavors. Lager varieties include pilsner, bock, and Oktoberfest. Examples of ales include pale ale, porter, stout, and wheat beer. The difference between lagers and ales are mainly due to the yeast used, but brewing technique also plays a role. 

Lager is made from malted barley and is produced by yeast fermenting at low temperatures at the bottom of the fermentation tank. It is aged longer than ale (30 days or longer versus less than 3 weeks), which causes the beer to become clearer and cleaner than ale. Lager is almost always served cold and tends to have a more refreshing, lighter flavor than ale.

On the other hand, ales are produced by yeast that ferments at the top of the tank at typically warmer temperatures. The yeast ferments the beer quickly, which allows for a sweeter, more full-bodied and robust flavor as compared to lager. Ales can be served at warmer temperatures.

Here are some characteristics of varieties of ale:

Pale Ale: Usually bronze or amber in color with a balance of hops and malt. Varied hop levels used in the brewing process allow for a wide range of pale ale styles, such as India Pale Ale and Irish Red ale. Examples: New Belgium Fat Tire, Smithwick’s

Porter: Generally hoppy, dry, and dark in color, due to being brewed with dark malts. Many porters are characterized by roasted, chocolate, and creamy flavors. Example: Yuengling Porter

Stout: Slightly stronger than its porter predecessor, while retaining its dark color and big flavor. Made using roasted malt or barley, stouts are often coffee-flavored. Example: Guinness

Wheat Beer: Brewed with a large amount of wheat and subtle hops. There are many variations in flavor and ingredients, which means it varies in appearance, as well, though it is usually cloudy. Examples: Blue Moon Belgian White, Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat

Here are some characteristics of varieties of lager:

Pilsner: The most popular and widely available beer style in the world. It is pale and golden in color, and has varying degrees of noble hop bitterness. Examples: Yuengling Lager, Pilsner Urquell

Bock: A strong lager that is rich and malty and typically low in hops. Colors range from light copper to brown. Example: Leinenkugel’s 1888 Bock

Oktoberfest: Lager named after the German festival of the same name. It is also known as Marzen, as it is brewed in March and ferments through the summer. It has a medium to full body and is typically pale yellow to deep amber in color. Example: Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest

Now that you know a little bit more about beer, get out there with confidence and enjoy responsibly!

http://beer.about.com/

http://www.wikipedia.org/

THANKSGIVING AND GAP PROMOTIONS

Take out the fine china, the gravy boat, and turkey platter. That’s right, Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Many families across the country are readying their kitchens and appetites for the upcoming holiday. People are making final decisions as to whether Aunt Edna gets the invite, and whether or not to candy the yams.

Times have definitely changed since 1621, when the first Thanksgiving took place between Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians. This original meeting was a celebration of the Pilgrim’s first corn harvest. Today, family and friends gather together to enjoy great food, libations, parades, and of course, football.

Thanksgiving also happens to be one of the largest “beer-buying holidays” in the United States; responsible for over 51.8 million cases (in 2009). Beer and liquor companies try to position themselves to “WIN” the holiday… and the best way to do so is to get the product out on the floor and ensure that it is highly visible. Holiday displays are one of the tried and true ways to get a product noticed.

Check out a few of the ways that GAP has helped get our clients brands noticed this season:

Guinness Black Lager a new dark lager cold-brewed with roasted barley, by the legendary brewers of Guinness Draught, is commanding space at retail with a 4-case display rack, as GAP helped with the Black Lager. 

In the true spirit of Thanksgiving, GAP helped Stoli brand vodkas give back to the local community in Washington, putting together an eye-catching 25+ case display to help promote their “Buy a Bottle, Give a Meal” Program.

 
And, if your pumpkin pie just isn’t cutting it… Try the Whipped Sunset, a new cocktail including one of Smirnoff’s newest flavors, Whipped.

Prep Time: 3 minutes  
Total Time: 3 minutes  
Yield: 1 Cocktail  

Ingredients:  
1 1/2 oz. Smirnoff® Whipped Cream Flavored Vodka  
3 oz. sour mix  
2 oz. pineapple juice  
1/2 oz. grenadine  
Whipped cream (garnish)