Spanish beer Mahou received the key to Miami Beach at its first international beer launch, an event that took place at Casa Casuarina and welcomed Mahou's CEO Alberto Rodriguez Toquero, fashion designer and event host Esteban Cortazar, New York's Spanish-inspired Nu Jazz songstress Malena Perez, internationally-acclaimed Flamenco troupe Flamenco Puro, and a crowd of several hundred socialites.After guests walked the red carpet and made it past the media area—a separate patch of red carpet with a white Mahou-branded background—they entered the mansion's patio to find Room Service's handiwork. This included black-clothed cocktail tables with square glass centerpieces containing submerged white candles and wall-lining wooden benches topped by pink and orange florals interspersed with red candles in large, oval glass vases. Even Southern Audio Visual helped decorate by placing two white-lit Mahou logos on the tiled floor. A Spanish guitarist, also hired through Flamenco Puro, set up shop on the patio and played upbeat numbers throughout the night.
From there, the crowd that braved the unusually cold Thursday night walked through Casaruina's gray sculpture-filled archway to get to where the real party was happening. At the other end and just down the stairs, people were mingling and dancing under a clear plastic tent, where DJs Nobody and RossOne provided the entertainment. Barton G. butlers, dressed as Spanish boleros, served a tapas menu of several items, including lamb chops and gazpacho, and the company also set-up two separate bars for guests to enjoy complimentary beers. Next to the DJs sat two enormous LCD television sets that continuously played footage of abstract, oft-psychedelic images, courtesy of Forward Motion Theatre, to assist the house DJs in creating their vibe.
Event planners Mack Industries set a very club-like atmosphere—from the VIP list at the entrance, to the DJ booth taking center stage, to the celebrities in attendance—and placed Spanish references everywhere. Considering the theme, the Last Exit invitation company sent invitations in little red boxes with a golden bull imprint reading "A Night In Spain." Inside, underneath a golden ticket with the event details, three black coasters provided Mahou's history—dating to 1890, when it was first brewed under the family name of Hijos de Casimiro Mahou, fabrica de hielo y cerveza.
Before leaving, guests were given gift bags that included a bull-shaped belt buckle; a bottle opener branded with Mahou's bull logo; Spanish olives stuffed with anchovies; a fan-shaped book with recipes for tapas; and a small, square wooden dish that can be used to serve them.
—Albert del Toral
Photos: Andre Rowe
The patio contained gobo lighting, branding, and black cocktail tables topped by centerpieces of submerged candles.
Nu Jazz songstress Malena Perez performed by the DJ booth.
Complimentary Mahou beers were served with branded coasters at every bar within the mansion.
Three women from an internationally acclaimed Flamenco troupe performed dance numbers at various points throughout the event, at times using hand-held matching fans as props.
As part of the event's tapas menu, lamb chops were passed butler-style throughout the night.
Two giant LCD television screens were used to display abstract, oft-psychedelic images to help set the mood and provide more visual excitement.
