Chandlers Steakhouse

981 W Grove Street
www.chandlersboise.com

Located in Hotel 43, Chandlers Steakhouse and Lounge are the epitome of class. High-end all the way, including the staff.

We opted for a late afternoon to enjoy the martinis so we would have the full attention of Pat, the fabulous bartender. We sidled up to the bar, all 8 of us, to enjoy the next hour. Pat provided us with some reading material for background on the drinks. It was more fun quips than real details but that extra step certainly adds to our ratings.

This year’s offerings:
44 Magnum
Wild Turkey Bourbon, Tia Maria, 44 North Rainier Cherry, cherry garnish

Barack O’PAMA
Absolut Vanilla vodka, Godiva Chocolate Liquer, Wild Turkey Bourbon, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, Pomegranate sugared rim and a chocolate coin garnish

Vesper Reconsidered (a 10-minute martini)
Plymouth Gin, Blue Ice Vodka, Lillet Blanc, a spooge of Orange Bitters, Lemon twist garnish

The 44 Magnum had some interesting qualities. Cherry flavors were present in the initial taste but the drink finished with a chocolaty-coffee taste. Some of my fellow tasters thought it more reminiscent of cough syrup but I thought it was a bit more subtle. The Wild Turkey seems to provide the continuity of this drink while the other liquor in the drink is what provides the true essence.

The Barack O’PAMA was a beautiful drink with its sugared rim and hint of red color. Pat suggested we try a sip, take a bite of chocolate, then another sip. I preferred it before chocolate, while Liz preferred it with the chocolate. Either way, we enjoyed this beverage. It wasn’t nearly as sweet as I had expected with just the right balance of flavors. The flavors stood up on their own while simultaneously working with each other. I have no idea how Pat is able to put it all together, but he does it perfectly.

The Vesper Reconsidered is worth every 10 minutes of the wait. Seriously! This is the best martini I have ever had. It is crisp, clean, and refreshing. It is dangerous! The orange bitters and lemon twist really bring out the crispness in this cocktail. As the drink slowly comes to room temperature, the flavors continue to evolve. It is a definitely stunner.

Chandlers does not have a happy hour but they do provide some tasty hors d'oeuvres. While we were there, we sampled some sliders and homemade jerky. We enjoyed our time there and the service was stellar.

Martini Mix-off day 1

Monday marked the first day of the martini mix-off! So Eric and I decided “why waste time” and got started at The Milky Way.

Kevin the Bartender talked us into the 10 Minute Martini. I was a bit dubious as I do not care for gin. He poured the ingredients into the shaker and shoved them into the ice to sit for the next 10 minutes. During that time, he offered us anecdotes and quips to fill the time. He even provided us literature on the invention of this martini as well as the Plymouth gin used.

After the 10 minutes of anticipation our drinks were ready. I could definitely smell the distinct pine aroma but the first taste dispelled any ideas I once had of gin. I found the drink to be very smooth and easy to drink.

While we sat and enjoyed our lovely concoctions, friends filtered in (Greg, Tami, Brent). We were unable to talk them into joining us for more martinis, at least not that night, but we were entertained by Greg’s sax and great company.

Alas, we were off to sample another libation. We sauntered over to Tapas Estrella for martini #2. Here we were greeted by Will the bartender. He made us a Classic Martini which contained Plymouth gin, Lillet vermouth, bitters, and a dash of Cointreau, served with a twist.

This martini was good but a bit on the sweet side for my liking. It was smooth with a slight orange flavor to it. Very drinkable.

The entertainment at Tapas Estrella was quite different as it was drag queen bingo night. We were surrounded by many lively locals with bingo cards in hand. Minerva Jayne was our hostess with the mostest. I actually won the last game! A $10 gift certificate to the new clothing shop on Main- the Projectionist. Sweet!

Eric’s winner for the evening was the Classis; My winner for Monday’s martini was the 10 minute martini.

The winner for best entertainment went to Drag Queen Bingo!

“drive safe; drive deep”- Minerva Jayne