Notes From The City: An Abundant Life - A Recipe For Greatness

I first met JD Recobs when he was dropping off a bottle of Misunderstood Whiskey at the lovely La Isla Restaurant Uptown in Hoboken. He had stopped by to talk about it with Andres Montoya, the General Manager, and as Andres later told me, it was so delicious and JD was such a wonderful person, that he not only wanted to put the bottle on his shelf, but he also knew exactly what drink he was going to make with it. Over the past week or so since I've been going on my Misunderstood Adventure, I've heard similar stories all over town. The minute I walk into a restaurant and tell someone that I'm writing about Misunderstood Whiskey, everyone I'm talking to smiles and we start a wonderful conversation about JD Recobs and Chris Buglisi, the wonderful Co-Founders of Misunderstood Whiskey Co, and the delicious Ginger Spiced Whiskey they make.

When I met JD that first day and heard about Misunderstood, I wanted to try it because I wanted to find out what kind of whiskey this man was making. I'm a whiskey drinker, bourbon by choice most of the time if I'm choosing a spirit, but I'm not one for flavored whiskey or gimmicks - I like my bourbon straight up or on the rocks, with an occasional Manhattan or possibly another classic like an Old Fashioned, but not very often. That day at La Isla when I tried this Ginger Spiced Whiskey, I knew I'd found something special. Misunderstood needed no explanation - it was downright excellent and no question about it. I asked JD if I could meet with him and his friend Chris Buglisi, to talk about Misunderstood, and so one day soon after that we met at Bin 14, another wonderful restaurant in Hoboken, and they told me their story over a Ginger Limeade, a signature drink that had been created there by Joel Liscio, the Sommelier Extraordinaire who along with the owner, the Amazing Chef Anthony Pino, pairs food and wine and spirits with the impeccable taste of a true aficionado. When I say they told me their story, I should also add that they kept me laughing the whole time, and were such wonderful company that I could have stayed there all afternoon just listening to them. They've known each other since they were seven, and are both such good people and such good friends to each other that the laughter and good cheer are so joyful that it's pure fun to spend time with them. I also learned in that time we spent together how dedicated they are to producing the highest quality product possible, and I have heard that echoed from every one I have spoken with since. Whiskey is like food in that it is relatively easy to make any quality taste all right with artificial flavors and high amounts of sugar. From the start JD and Chris wanted their product to be something special, and even down to the bottle and label they have always been seeking perfection. Because of their effort to create a cleanly distilled, truly fine whiskey with infusions of only the finest quality ginger, they've created a product that not only tastes delicious, but is also an inspiration to Mixologists and Chefs alike.

A few weeks later, when I was preparing to write this article, I stopped by Lutze Eats and the Lutze Biergarten to visit and take photos for an Instagram post, and as I walked through the Biergarten I thought I recognized JD and then I saw Chris, and they remembered me immediately. With the amount of people they must see every day it was another testament to their genuine good-heartedness. They were out with friends celebrating a birthday, and so for the next few hours I was laughing all over again. Lutze is making their own signature drink, a Strawberry Ginger Lemonade, and when JD told me there were other restaurants making up all sorts of specialty cocktails, I got the idea to try to visit as many as possible and add them into this article. That was the beginning of my adventure with Misunderstood, and after a week of visiting and tasting and talking and laughing, I can only say that I've never had so many wonderful concoctions and have not ever known so many wonderful Mixologists, Bartenders and Bar Managers before in my life. Misunderstood Ginger Spiced Whiskey and its creators JD Recobs and Chris Buglisi are truly the cream of the crop, and they inspire and attract the best of the best to work with them. Every cocktail I had, every person I met, and every story I heard was a memorable one. I'll be writing about as many of these talented Mixologists and the restaurants where they work in the coming weeks and months, and though I've written about one of the restaurants, Grand Vin, before in these pages, I'd never met Mike, the amazing Mixologist behind the bar, and I'll be writing about him and his work at Grand Vin as a follow up to my previous story.

Feast your eyes here for now on some of the most delicious and delightful cocktails imaginable, and visit these restaurants when you're in the area. You will find delicious food, a wonderful atmosphere, and behind the bar a masterpiece. And for those of you who live in other areas or who just want to try Misunderstood at home, it is available locally at Jersey Wine & Spirits, Village Wine & Liquor, and Cool Vines in Jersey City and at Delite Market Liquor Store, Sparrow Wine and Liquor, Giannone Wine & Liquor, and Blue Ribbon Wine & Liquor in Hoboken, and online through the website in select areas. For a complete listing of stores, restaurants and taverns where it is available, and for more information visit their website at www.misunderstoodwhiskey.com. As I neared the last of my current rounds, one of the wonderful Mixologists asked me what my favorite cocktail so far had been, and all I can say after my travels on my Misunderstood Adventure, is that if JD Recobs And Chris Buglisi and any of these Mixologists or Bartenders are around, I'll have what they're having.

JD Recobs and Chris Buglisi Co-Founders

Misunderstood Whisky Co.

Misunderstood Ginger Spiced Whiskey
Photographed Here At Bin 14
1314 Washington Street
Hoboken, New Jersey
www.bin14.com

www.misunderstoodwhiskey.com

The Ginger Limeade From Bin 14

Crafted With Expertise By The Amazing Joel Liscio

JD And Chris With Friends At Lutze Biergarten

Some Of The Most Wonderful Men You Can Ever Meet

The Beautiful Ashley At Lutze Biergarten
Creating A Delicious Lutze Lemonade
Waterfront At 15 Second Street
Jersey City, NJ
www.lutzebiergarten.com

Ashley With Chris Buglisi, Co-Founder Of Misunderstood Whiskey Co.

The Fabulous Joel Liscio, Sommelier At Bin 14
1314 Washington Street
Hoboken, NJ
www.bin14.com

Bacon Ginger Old Fashioned
Garnished With The House Specialty Natural Cherry Soaked In Cherry Brandy
Poured Over A Freshly Muddled Orange Slice

And His Latest Creation
The Godfather XIV

The Marvelous Mike At Grand Vin
500 Grand Street
Hoboken, New Jersey
www.grandvinhoboken.com

The Ginger Julep

And A Special Preview Of Mike's Newest Creation
As Yet Un-named, So For Now I'll Just Call It Ambrosia

The Amazing Carlos And The Beautiful Daniela

At Halifax

225 River Street

Hoboken, New Jersey

www.halifaxhoboken.com

The Cuban Redhead
Created By Sales Manager And Mixologist Roxann De Armas
With Inspiration From General Manager Carlos Arteaga After His First Taste Of Misunderstood

The Phenomenal Hector
At The Shepherd And The Knucklehead
1313 Willow Street
Hoboken, New Jersey
http://www.theshepnj.com/

Lost In Thyme

Egans Tea

A Special Preview Of A Ginger Old Fashioned

And On Another Day . . .

Another Special Preview So Delicious And Precious
It Brought Me Dreams Of Civilized And Gentler Years Gone By

The Lovely Danielle At The Madison Bar & Grill
1316 Washington Street
Hoboken, New Jersey
http://madisonbarandgrill.com/

Misunderstood Lemonade
Co-Created By The Bar Manager And Mixologist Zach and JD Recobs

The Amazing Chris
At The Hoboken Turtle Club
936 Park Avenue
Hoboken, New Jersey
https://www.hobokenturtleclub.com/

Hand Crushing Ice

The Elder Statesman

The Wonderful Andres At La Isla Restaurant - Uptown
25 12th Street
Hoboken, New Jersey
http://laislarestaurant.com/

A Speciality Hand Cranked Ice Crusher