Na Zdravi, a toast "to your very good health"

Billed as a Bohemian Cocktail Party, the Becherovka Tasting Room at Tales of the Cocktail Wednesday left me thinking I clearly don't have the same definition of bohemian. Their version is much more upscale than anything I could have conjured. But the definition is actually a native or inhabitant of Bohemia, the Czech dialects of Bohemia or what I have come to know it to mean, a gypsy, itinerant person or vagabond. Clearly I was thinking gypsy.

Upon arrival I was handed a small porcelain cup and encourage to fill it from the fountain. The herbal liqueur hints of clove and reminds me of Christmas. The host encourages us to participate in a traditional toast, "Na Zdravi" which means, "to your very good health!"

I made a lap around the room and tried two cocktails, the first by the "Aristocrat of the Working Class" Russell Davis, now of San Francisco and Night Club and Bar's 2012 Best Bartender of the Year called, "A Monkey in Prague During the Dead of Winter."

Made with Becherovka of course, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, strawberry, balsamic vinegar and a slapped basil leaf to garnish, Davis' style of preparation was entertaining to say the least. He donned a cowboy hat, aviator sunglasses, a henley shirt and shook his concoction in two shakers, one in each hand, like a Wild West character in a dual, drawing and rolling the "guns" before firing. After straining the mixture in tiny tasting cups, he then slapped the basil leaves before gently placing on top. The cocktail was quite good and refreshing but the performance stole the show. (He's a native Texan turns out...)

Then I tried "My Lady" by Seattle's Erik Hakkinen of Zig Zag Cafe made with Becherovka, bourbon, lime juice, grapefruit, honey and cinnamon syrup. I struck up a conversation with Hahhinen when I said, "Oh, I just got back from Seattle." We swapped stories and he tried to share some insight on my experience and told me his good friend worked at Steelhead Diner where we had a delightful meal the last night, no doubt because the chef/owners were by way of Louisiana.

Trying new product or new to me in many cases is one of the exciting things about attending Tales of the Cocktail each year. Complimentary branded items is also a really cool feature. In this room, I received a porcelain cup and a really cool flask to no doubt carry my Becherovka with me in the future.