Utah Opera presents Final 'Don Giovanni'-Inspired Craft Cocktail

Utah Opera and Salt Lake magazine partner for the 3rd annual Libretti & Libations, where art influences life - for at least a drink (or two). Talented mixologists from choice Salt Lake City and Park City restaurants curate artisanal cocktails inspired by the season's opera productions. Until May 21, 2017, eight participating restaurants will offer expertly-crafted libations inspired by Utah Opera's production of "Don Giovanni" as a way of infusing food and beverage with the experience of opera. Visit www.utahopera.org/libations for more information.

Utah Opera presents Mozart's "Don Giovanni," a tale of love, seduction, and murder, through the stylized lens of a 1950s "film noir" cinematic approach. The story is a parable of the consequence of immorality. Though at first glance Don Giovanni is appealing with his advances and promises, he represents a long dead aristocratic way of life. As a serial philanderer and an unapologetic killer with unconstrained impulses, he leaves a long trail of women in his wake. Going where he wants, doing what he wants, and being what he pleases can only go on for so long.

Salt Lake magazine returns as the media sponsor for the Libretti & Libations season-long event. A social media contest sponsored by Salt Lake magazine will also be held to win a pair of tickets to see "Don Giovanni" at Capitol Theater, running May 13, 15 17, and 19 at 7:30 PM and May 21 at 2 PM. Participants can enter by sharing cocktail photos from participating restaurants, utilizing #UtahOperaSips, on Instagram. The winner will be chosen by Salt Lake magazine on May 17. Patrons attending the participating restaurants enjoy the specially crafted spirits will have a chance to read the libretto from the current opera. Libretto refers to the spoken word portion of the opera.

Returning to "Libretti & Libations" are Salt Lake City establishments Bambara, BTG Wine Bar / Caffé Molise, Finca, Handle, HSL, Takashi, and Tupelo.

Mixologist Andrew Abeyta brings "The Don" to Bambara saying "If you are going to attempt to woo a potential love in the wee hours of the night, one might want a minty fresh breath with a bit of energy on the side. "The Don" is a silky smooth cocktail, with hints of nuttiness and chocolate, the fernet creates a unique finish and a touch of complexity."

BTG Wine Bar / Caffé Molise's "Red Rogue" features ingredients from Spain, Italy, and France - all of which had women who gave way to Don Giovanni's pursuits. "Though full of sweet sensuality, which can be had by all, this cocktail regrets nothing unlike Don Giovanni after his reckless pursuit of pleasure," said manager Jesse Garrett.

Finca mixologist Natalie Hamilton created the Reposado Tequila based "Why Have Just One" to show how "Don Giovanni is ruthless, and goes beyond moral and virtue in his attempts of seduction. I used honey and rose to represent his lavish attempts and his seductive ways- even as far as trying to seduce a bride on her wedding day! But underneath the sweet is bitter aperol, as it is with the villain Giovanni. It doesn't end well for Don Giovanni, but this cocktail definitely ends well with lime and tequila to balance both the bitter and the sweet."

Park City favorite, Handle, and sister restaurant, HSL (Handle Salt Lake), present two cocktails in tandem for "Don Giovanni." Handle's Sean Palmer created the "Donna Fleur," based on Donna Anna, who falls victim to Don. "With Don Giovanni being such a seducer and womanizer, I wanted to create a drink that spoke for the ladies. Soft, floral, and botanical. This is what I would hope Don would give them in the seduction process."

HSL's Clifton Reagle created "The Invitation," "named in reference to Don Giovanni's brash offering of dinner to the Commendatore's statue. The Invitation is a nod to both the film noir inspiration for the USUO production, and to the smokey depths of hell to which Giovanni is dragged."

Rich Romney of Takashi created "Spring Fever," which "is inspired by don Giovanni's promiscuity, the sherry inspired by the Spanish setting of the opera, and the rest of the ingredients are our Japanese spin. The Kiuchi No Shizuku is a product I just got in that is very exciting. It is liquor distilled from a very popular and highly regarded Japanese made Belgian style beer. The liquor is steeped with orange peel, hops, and coriander which is where the cilantro ties in."

Closing the participants out is Park City's Tupelo and its cocktail "The Sum of All Sin" by mixologists Tony Goodkid, Eric Dee, and Memo. Meant to seduce with its silky and seductive flavors, "it is a fitting end cocktail for someone who has a devilish side."

Upcoming Utah Opera's productions will feature Libretti & Libations craft cocktail partnerships in the month leading up to each performances. Look for the thirst-quenching return of Libretti & Libations at the start of the 2017-18 season.

For more information, visit www.utahopera.org/libations.

LIBRETTI & LIBATIONS PARTNERS

BAMBARA
202 S Main Street, Salt Lake City
801.363.5454

Craft Cocktail: The Don
Mixologist: Andrew Abeyta

"If you are going to attempt to woo a potential love in the wee hours of the night, one might want a minty fresh breath with a bit of energy on the side. "The Don" is a silky smooth cocktail, with hints of nuttiness and chocolate, the fernet creates a unique finish and a touch of complexity."

1 oz Makers Mark bourbon
0.5 oz Fernet Branca
0.25 oz hazelnut demerara syrup
0.5 oz Publik custom cold brew coffee concentrate
2 drops coffee cocoa bitters from Beehive Bitters
0.25 oz sweet vermouth

BTG WINE BAR / CAFFE MOLISE
63 W 100 S. Salt Lake City
801.359.2814

Craft Cocktail: Red Rogue
Mixologist: Jesse Garrett

"Don Giovanni's outrageous passions got the better of him- and he paid the price. The "Red Rogue", though full of sweet sensuality, can be had by all, but unlike Don Giovanni after his reckless pursuit of pleasure, this cocktail regrets nothing. The "Red Rogue" features ingredients from Spain, Italy, and France- all of which had women who gave way to Don Giovanni's pursuits."

1 oz Disaronno Amaretto
3/4 oz Courvoisier VSOP Cognac
1/4 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqeuer
1 oz Garnacha de Fuego
3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon peel and a fresh berry

FINCA
327 W 200 S, Salt Lake City
801.487.0699

Craft Cocktail: Why Have Just One
Mixologist: Natalie Hamilton

Don Giovanni is ruthless, and goes beyond moral and virtue in his attempts of seduction. I used honey and rose to represent his lavish attempts and his seductive ways- even as far as trying to seduce a bride on her wedding day! But underneath the sweet is bitter aperol, as it is with the villain Giovanni. It doesn't end well for Don Giovanni, but this cocktail definitely ends well with lime and tequila to balance both the bitter and the sweet. It's perfect for a May opera!

1 1/2 Reposado Tequila
1 oz Lime Juice
1 oz Aperol
1/2 oz Honey Syrup

Garnish with orange twist and rose petals

HANDLE
136 Heber Ave., Park City
435.602.1155

Craft Cocktail: Donna Fleur
Mixologist: Sean Palmer

With Don Giovanni being such a seducer and womanizer I wanted to create a drink that spoke for the ladies. Soft, floral, and botanical. This is what I would hope Don would give them in the seduction process. The drink is named after Donna Anna, a key character.

Bombay Sapphire
St. Germaine
Hibiscus
Lemon
Passion Fruit Bitters

HSL
418 E 200 S, Salt Lake City
801.539.999

Craft Cocktail: The Invitation
Mixologist: Clifton Reagle

Plantation OFTD Rum
Cardamaro
Sfumato Amaro
Orange Bitters
Date Molasses
Washed Dehydrated Orange Wheel

Named in reference to Don Giovanni's brash offering of dinner to the Commendatore's statue. The Invitation is a nod to both the film noir inspiration for the USUO production, and to the smokey depths of hell to which Giovanni is dragged.

TAKASHI
18 W Market St., Salt Lake City
801.519.9595

Mixologist: Rich Romney
Craft Cocktail: Spring Fever

The name "spring fever" is inspired by don Giovanni's promiscuity, the sherry inspired by the Spanish setting of the opera, and the rest of the ingredients are our Japanese spin. The Kiuchi No Shizuku is a product I just got in that is very exciting. It is a liquor distilled from a very popular and highly regarded Japanese made Belgian style beer. The liquor is steeped with orange peel, hops, and coriander which is where the cilantro ties in.

La Guita Manzanilla Sherry
Kiuchino Shizuku
Calpico
Yuzu
Cilantro

TUPELO
508 Main Street, Park City
435.615.7700

Craft Cocktail: The Sum of All Sin
Mixologist: Eric Dee, Tony Goodkid, and Memo

It's a digestif cocktail that is amaro based; It's a silky, sexy and seductive cocktail as it leads you in with an appealing bouquet, but has an asutute spicy, bitter side. It is a fitting end cocktail for someone who has a devilish side

1.5 oz Amaro Santa Maria al Monte
.05 oz Averna
.05 oz Scrappy's Orleans Bitters

Utah Opera Presents
Mozart's "Don Giovanni"

Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre,
50 West 200 South, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101

May 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 (7:30 PM)
May 21, 2017 (2 PM)

"Don Giovanni"
Christopher Larkin, Conductor
Kristine McIntyre, Director
Matthew Burns, Leporello
Melinda Whittington, Donna Anna
Joshua Hopkins, Don Giovanni
Richard Wiegold, Commendatore
AaRon Blake, Don Ottavio
Caitlin Lynch, Donna Elvira
Sarah Coit, Zerlina*
Markel Reed, Masetto*
Utah Symphony Orchestra

*Utah Opera Resident Artist

About Utah Opera

Established by Glade Peterson in 1978, Utah Opera has been part of the community for nearly 40 years and provides Utah's citizens with distinguished quality productions that showcase emerging and established artists, celebrate traditional works, and champion the American operatic tradition. The opera company presents four annual productions at the historic Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol. Utah Opera operates a full production studio where productions are rehearsed and costumes, props and sets are designed, made, rented out and stored. The opera currently has 17 full sets and costumes for 45 full productions in its inventory. Utah Opera also offers a Resident Artist Program, a nationally recognized young artist training program for professional singers and pianists who perform for more than 70,000 students each year through the organization's education department. For more information, visit www.utahopera.org.

Season Sponsor for Utah Symphony | Utah Opera is the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation.

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