Last Friday night Marshall and I met up with Derek Brown and our friend Roy to go out and hit a few places. We started off at Bourbon, down in the Adams Morgan district of Washington DC, and one of my favorite bars.
Because I’m just that kind of guy, I was at Bourbon early and ended up starting off with a Stone IPA (because I am an idiot and cannot order correctly) and then a couple of Racer 5 IPAs. I’m also the kind of guy who just can’t recognize people right away (this comes up later, trust me) and so mistook bartender Patrick for Owen.
Once the guys showed up Owen started off in proper style with a Scofflaw. Now that’s a drink that we’ve tried making here at least a few times but his was SO MUCH BETTER than any of mine have been. I am not at all afraid to be completely honest about that.
From there he next put up a very tasty Manhattan using Carpano Antica vermouth and rye whiskey plus an “Old Old Fashioned”. It was the first time I’d really had an Old Fashioned like that and it was very good.
Next up was a strawberry basil shrubb with a balsamic and champagne, an interesting drink that has made me once again think more about using balsamic vinegar in my drinks.
Next up was a “real” martini – i.e. like the ones I make only without the olive juice, and then a Martinez made with Anchor Genevieve gin. Wow. What a neat drink that was. I’m going to have to make one of my here sometime soon.
From there we went off to Urbana, where we said hi to Kevin Rogers. He sent us an Aperol spritzer and a Leap Year, while I ordered an Old Flame (Plymouth, Cointreau, Campari, sweet vermouth, orange juice, and bitters). Next up were some Papa Dobles like Marshall had – Mount Gay rum, maraschino liqueur, and Velvet Falernum.
Derek took us to Cork next to meet his brother Tom but Tom had left for the night. We got a “Washington Apple” from the bartender, hit the little boy’s room, and it was off to Bar Pilar where Adam Bernbach made us up another drink whose name I completely missed.
At that point I realized I’d left my briefcase back at Urbana, so I trekked back there, got it, then taxi-ed back to Virginia.
Flash-forward to last night.
A friend wanted to go out and have drinks with me to help celebrate my recent raise. After throwing around some places to go we decided to go to EatBar, a place I love but don’t get to nearly enough. We sat at the bar and my friend asked me if Gina (the fantabulous Gina Chersevani, a great local mixologist) was working the bar. I said no.
I was wrong.
After a beer, I ordered a St. Pete’s Denial – Skyy vodka, Godiva, Frangelico, and a blue cheese redux. Topped with chocolate shavings it was FANTASTIC. But I wanted one of those drinks Gina was making for the girls in the corner…
As she walked by I said hi and that Marshall said hi. She came out with one drink (sorry, no details for you on that one). Then a Miller High Life on ice with lime, and a ghetto mind eraser – Redbreast Irish whisky, High Life, simple syrup, and lemon. Oof!
So now it’s time for me to decide what to do with the rest of this evening – college football or more bar-hopping? It’s a hard life!