THE RUBY RED COCKTAIL

Time to take another peek [Lifestyle Theme] into the "Lifestyles of the Rich ... and Cranky."
Archive You're reading an older Hightower Lowdown article. Jim's still writing — twice a week on Substack.
Jim Hightower's Radio Lowdown
Jim Hightower's Radio Lowdown
THE RUBY RED COCKTAIL
Loading
/

Time to take another peek [Lifestyle Theme] into the “Lifestyles of the Rich … and Cranky.”

Most of us rubes and common riff-raff simply have no idea how difficult it is to be rich. The demands are crushing, because one is always expected to live up to… well, expectations. Take the simple act of ordering a drink in a bar. You and I would take a stool and say, “gimme a beer,” or on special occasions, “I feel like a nice Chardonnay tonight.” If you are Mr. Rich E. Rich, however, you must show more discernment, refinement, savoir faire, and – how shall I put it? – wealth. Yeah, that’s it: wealth.

Enjoying Hightower's work? Join us over at our new home on Substack:

Luckily, the Reserve Club, a trendy spot in downtown Chicago, has come up with just the libation for the hoity-toity set to order: the Ruby Red. This is not a concoction made with Ruby Red grapefruit, as you and I might assume, but a delightful blend of Grey Goose vodka, Hynotiq cognac, Pama pomegranate liqueur, a splash of Dom Perignon champagne – and, to top it off, a one-carot, grade A ruby. Yes, a real gem of a cocktail.

You can enjoy a Ruby Red martini for only $950. Per glass.

The club manager, who invented the Ruby Red, says he was trying to come up with something for the elite clientele that would be more memorable than merely opening yet another bottle of expensive champagne. “We wanted to use pomegranate because it’s hitting a popular trend with the antioxidants,” he explained. “Dom Perignon champagne added a certain ‘je ne sais quoi,’ while using the Grey Goose vodka brought a smooth and silky kick,” he twittered. And, of course, the ruby brought the “wow” factor into play – as well as bringing the price up.

So far, he’s sold three Ruby Reds, including one to a twenty-something free-spender who was out to impress a first date.

This is Jim Hightower saying… The club also offers a Ruby-less Ruby Red for only $120 – but that would be so… well, so common. He’s sold none of those.

Sources:
“Chicago bar serves up 950 dollar cocktail,” www.news.yahoo.com, December 15, 2005.

Keep reading Jim
Get the free Lowdown
Jim's twice-weekly commentaries delivered free to your inbox. No credit card, no catch.
No credit card. Unsubscribe anytime.
Go deeper
Get everything Jim's got
Live Q&As, the Chat & Chew series, radio archives, and more. Less than a cup of coffee a month.
Subscribe for $40/year
Special rate for original Lowdown readers
Regular price: $50/year
Jim Hightower's Lowdown
The Lowdown moved —
Jim didn't stop writing.

Get Jim's commentaries delivered every Tuesday and Thursday — free, to your inbox. Join 50,000+ readers.

Get the free Lowdown →
or go paid
Subscribe for $40/year
Special rate for original Lowdown readers — regular price $50/yr