Crisis Cocktails

Above: A bartender serves up a special cocktail known as "The Madoff Nectar", a blend of rum, fresh melon juice, triple sec, evaporated milk, syrup and crushed ice, which is part of the "Carta en Crisis" or Crisis Menu, at the Catedral bar and grill in Santiago February 3, 2009.

REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those trying to drown their sorrows in drink, a bar in Chile's capital is promoting a "Crisis Menu" of discount-priced cocktails. Drinks at the Catedral bar near Santiago's financial center include The Subprime, In Recession, Pyramid (scheme), Bailout and The Madoff Nectar. "The crisis names grab your attention straight away ... and the price is good too," said bank executive Angelica Quezada, 38, sipping a "Down Jones" -- a mix of peach and orange ice cream and vodka.


Bernard Madoff's alleged $50 billion fraud may have left a bitter taste in the mouths of thousands of wealthy investors, but in this corner of Chile's capital, the U.S. financier is the toast of the town.

At Opera Catedral, a swank bar near Santiago's financial center, customers can indulge or drown their sorrows in cleverly named cocktails such as "Madoff Nectar," "War Street" and "Down Jones."

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARTENDER JUAN REYES: "With the idea of weathering the crisis, this menu was made thinking of new drinks that are also economical. The prices are very attractive for the quality of drinks we are making."

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUSTOMER ANGELICA QUEZADA: "The names of the drinks are up to the minute-- they are what everyone is talking about and it's innovative."

Source: Reuters