Kiddie cocktails a Japanese trend

Sangaria, a Japanese beverage company, is doing what in most countries would be unthinkable: manufacturing pretend beer and other such beverage products for children.

Japan's drinking culture, which includes educating young people in the practices, is well known and the company says using such products allows children to more fully participate in family celebrations.

"Kodomo no nomimono," for example, comes in cans, bottles and six-packs. It looks like beer, tastes like apple juice and foams in a glass. The product line also includes fake champagne, wine and cocktails.

There's even a TV ad you can watch featuring kids downing these drinks.

Ridiculous stuff.

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Oil shortage stops Islay whisky making

What's happening on the water has halted the making of whisky at the Bruichladdich distillery on the Scottish island of Islay.

Other distillers on Islay also face the possibility of a stoppage -- ironically in the midst of the island's annual music and whiskey festival -- due to a shortage of oil.

A pier extension was built on Loch Indaal to allow an oil tanker to dock, but low tides and silting have prevented it from visiting regularly and the company that supplies the oil said it could not guarantee deliveries.

In addition, bad weather prevented the tanker from unloading on Sunday,

With the tanker only only holding one-tenth of its possible load to keep it from going aground, the oil will last only until Wednesday.

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Irish spirits choices lighten up

If you think of Ireland as a brown spirits and beer sort of place, think again.

Despite the worldwide reputation of some fine Irish whiskies, a new study says 56% percent of all spirits sales in the Republic of Ireland are of the white variety -- gin, vodka and white rum.

Research and Markets says in its “White Spirits in Ireland 2007” study that Smirnoff is the top-selling vodka in Ireland, Gordon's the top gin and Bacardi the top white rum.

Also, say sthe study, "alcohol consumption as a whole is declining in per capita terms with average spirits consumption just below their 1998 levels."

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A Porch Swing in Manhattan

The great majority of cocktail "competitions" I come across usually are restricted to one establishment or one brand. New York, however, came up with a much more interesting one, its Sidewalks Cafe Cocktail Competition.

The city's Department of Consumer Affairs and the New York State Restaurant Association selected one winner each in the alcoholic and non-alcoholic categories in a competition at the Institute of Culinary Education.

The contest was for bartenders representing restaurants with sidewalk cafés, as licensed by the city. Fourteen of 25 competitors made it to the finals.

The winners, both from Manhattan:

• Alcoholic Cocktail: The Porch Swing, from the Blue Smoke barbeque restaurant on East 27th Street.

1 1/2 ounces of Hendrick's gin
1 1/2 ounces of Pimm's No. 1
4 ounces of fresh lemonade

Pour into a tall Collins glass. Add a splash of 7-Up. Finish with 10 finely sliced half-moon cucumbers.

• Non-Alcoholic Cocktail: Watermelon Lemonade, from Bubby's in TriBeCa.

2 ounces of fresh-squeezed lemon juice
4 ounces of fresh watermelon puree, strained through a course strainer to remove seeds
1 1/2 ounces of simple syrup
6 ounces of water

Shake and serve over ice with a big wedge of fresh watermelon garnish.

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