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The Franklin Refills ‘Beta Cocktails’

Beta Cocktails
Beta Cocktails Photo: Courtesy Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co.

Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. bartender Colin Shearn took to social media Friday with a desperate plea. No, his cry for help wasn’t related to Hurricane Irene. It was the bar’s supply of Dolin Blanc Vermouth that he was worried about. He was running low, and feared that a supply chain hiccup would prevent him from getting more in. “False alarm,” he told Grub Street. “I guess there was supply issues for a minute on a national level. Which is good. More people are drinking vermouth!” Now with that crisis averted, he and the rest of the Franklin crew can start working on restocking Beta Cocktails, a new cocktail book from Rogue Cocktail creators and legendary New Orleans barkeeps, Kirk Estopinal and Maksym Pazuniak.

The limited edition book, which features contributions from bartenders representing some of the country’s best cocktail spots — Shearn and cohort Al Sostak both have drinks in it — made its debut at July’s Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Since then its been in short supply at its various contributors’ bars. But last week, as the Franklin was facing its vermouth shortage, the Beta Cocktails supply dried up. Not to worry. The book will be available again this week at Franklin’s bar for $20, cash only.

The Franklin Refills ‘Beta Cocktails’