My friends and I had a lot of fun with the martinis! It was great to try fun cocktails that we would normally pass up because they didn’t fit into our normal repertoire of beverage. This got us out of our comfort zone and we found a few cocktails by which we were amazed.
The following is my beverage winners for the event. My friends are not in complete concurrence but for the most part, we were very close.
Classic
1. Vesper Reconsidered- Chandlers
2. No one came close enough
3. Blue-by-you- Pair
Original
1. French Connection- Pair
2. The Bandit- Bonefish
3. Tolerance Juice- Red Feather
Cocktail
1. Barack O’PAMA- Chandlers
2. El Pepino- Bonefish
3. Ty Webb- Tablerock
I was very disappointed not to see Bonefish in the finalists of the Boise Weekly’s write up or the final judging. I was also appalled to see Bardenay make it into the finals. Their classic was weak, and the same exact drink they made in 2006. They didn’t even bother changing the name. Their Masala Martini in the original category was nearly the same as their 2006 Chaitini. They could use some originality!
Another disappointment of the mix-off was the Bouquet. They only got the special ingredients used to make their drinks in for the one night the judges were there. We felt as though they didn’t care what the other customers thought and they did not even come up with an appropriate solution. We sampled the drinks they could make for us and were so unimpressed by the experience, we did not even finish our drinks.
A huge high point in the mix-off was finding Bonefish. Our bartender Shannon is amazing! She takes such great care of us whenever we return now. The drinks are great, the food fantastic, and our service fabulous.
Overall we enjoyed the martini drinking and socializing!
Cheers!
Showing posts with label Martini Mix-off. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martini Mix-off. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
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.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Piper Pub
150 N 8th Street
Thepiperpub.com
The Piper Pub, referred to as just The Piper by locals, had good variety in their drinks.
Channel 7 was the Classic mixing Broker’s Gin, Absolut Vodka, 3 pumps of dry vermouth shaken and served up with olives. This was a great classic. I hadn’t tried Broker’s gin before and honestly I forgot I was drinking gin. It has a very delicate flavor, or at least combined with the vodka and vermouth, it does.
The Berry Picker was the Original martini. This panty dropper contained Absolut Citron, pomegranate Liquor, squeeze of berry puree, splash of 7-up, and muddled and strained basil in simple syrup, garnished with a pom sugar rim. It was sweet and frou frou. If you like girly drinks, this one is for you!
The Blue Collar was the cocktail and served in a hurricane glass. This one certainly gets honorable mention for glassware. This was brought to the table with colors layered from pale yellow on the bottom to sea blue on the top. Very attractive presentation. This beverage contained mint, coconut syrup, Absolut vodka, Curacao, and Meyer’s Rum. The initial sip was good but the finish of minty coconut was a bit too much. This drink required a good stirring. This is the drink I would like to enjoy while laying on the beach listening to the surf....but one is all I could handle.
And something else worth mentioning, The Piper does not serve PBR :-(
Bouquet
1010 W Main Street
Thebouquet.net
The first time we attempted martinis at the Bouquet was the Sunday after the judges stopped there. We were told they didn’t have two of the key ingredients for two of the martinis. I was told they might have them in in about five days. So we returned five days later and they were still out of one of the ingredients- dry ice. The bartender working that day informed us that they only got in the ingredients for the martinis they made for the judges- wtf?? Part of what we were asked to do is judge the martinis. There was even a slip in our booklet to fill out for the judging. So we were treated to half-ass martinis and were unimpressed by the experience, as well as the poor service. As a matter of fact, we didn’t even finish our martinis. Other friends who tried to use their coupons there were treated with the same lousy experience. I won’t even bore you with the details here.
Thebouquet.net
The first time we attempted martinis at the Bouquet was the Sunday after the judges stopped there. We were told they didn’t have two of the key ingredients for two of the martinis. I was told they might have them in in about five days. So we returned five days later and they were still out of one of the ingredients- dry ice. The bartender working that day informed us that they only got in the ingredients for the martinis they made for the judges- wtf?? Part of what we were asked to do is judge the martinis. There was even a slip in our booklet to fill out for the judging. So we were treated to half-ass martinis and were unimpressed by the experience, as well as the poor service. As a matter of fact, we didn’t even finish our martinis. Other friends who tried to use their coupons there were treated with the same lousy experience. I won’t even bore you with the details here.
Angell's
999 W Main Street
Angellsbarandgrill.com
After two prior attempts at enjoying martinis at Angell’s, we were finally successful. The first time was a Sunday afternoon but their sign said they didn’t open until 5. The second time was a Sunday after 5; they were not open and their hours were no longer posted. Finally on a Thursday we were successful!
We went directly to the bar for our martini enjoyment. The lineup was as follows:
Classic- The Blissful Angell
Crystalhead Vodka garnished with 3 bleu cheese olives
Original- Hot Mamacita
Cilantro, pineapple juice, jalepeno, Silver Petron, rim salted.
Cocktail- Fallen Angell
Muddled basil, fresh grapefruit, yellow bell pepper, Absolut Vanilla vodka, bar sour, garnished with bell pepper
The Classic was crisp and pleasant and the olives were tasty, but it didn’t have any elements that set it apart from any other classic martini. While it was very good, it didn’t WOW.
The Hot MaMaCita was very interesting. A unique twist to the traditional margarita. The salt rim was a bit overpowering for this drink and its delicate flavors. The sips without the salt were perfectly balanced with sweet and spicy.
The Fallen Angel had a lot going on. The flavors were an odd combination that just didn’t seem to work together. It really needed something that would marry the combination better.
All the drinks were very enjoyable at Angell’s and the bartender was helpful with descriptions and the like. We didn’t find any of the libations to be winners, however.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Red Feather
246 N 8th Street
www.justeatlocal.com
Needing a break from riding our bikes around in the heat, we decided to pop into Red Feather to sample their martini offerings. They actually are only serving one martini and have two cocktails.
The line up:
Quintesence
Plymouth Gin, Vya Dry Vermouth, Olive
Tolerance Juice
Absolut Vodka, Fresh Ginger, Fresh Lemon, Pineapple, Housemade Ginger Ale
Dejabrew
Tequila, Cointreau, Fresh Lime, Fresh Grapefruit, Farm Fresh Egg White, Rhubarb Bitters
Since Plymouth Gin is one of my faves, I was delighted to see it for the martini selection. The Quintesence was tasty but it was not an award winner. It is certainly a drink I would order again but it didn’t have any distinguishing qualities. It was just another martini in my book- a good, solid martini.
The Tolerance Juice was fantastic. The ginger was a great highlight of the drink and really came through in the finish. There was certainly a lot going on in this drink and took a few sips to really break it down but tasty anyway! I saw them make this drink and the Ginger Ale was not homemade but Seagram’s brand.
The Dejabrew was too weird for me. I am not a big fan of the frothy egg white. It creeps me out a little. The other problem with this drink is the over powering tequila. The tequila really over shadowed the delicate flavors in the drink.
We can’t say too much about the service as we only ordered up one round of drinks and no food, so our order was pretty simple and we didn’t stay long.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Bonefish
855 W Broad Street
www.bonefishgrill.com
We were kind of surprised to see Bonefish on the list of locations as it is not a locally owned restaurant but we were ready to try it out none-the-less. We immediately requested a seat on the patio since it was a perfect day. Our server made us laugh from the very beginning with her quick wit. She let us have it at every opportunity. We loved her!
But let’s get to the drinks:
The Smokey
Titos unfiltered Vodka and Chivas Scotch shaken to create a smoky clean finish. Garnished with a chipotle stuffed olive.
The Bandit
American Honey Manhattan accompanied with a splash of Butterscotch liquor, garnished with a sweet honeyed rim.
El Pepino
Absolut Vodka infused with cucumbers, lime juice, and crushed mint.
We immediately ordered up all three (luckily they still had one El Pepino left). While we waited for our drinks we perused the menu and reviewed our coupons. Two of us had coupons for some appetizers…plus it was happy hour (even on Sunday!). Huge bonus points already!
Back to the drinks. The Smokey….well I’m not sure I got that much “smoke” out of it but it did make me gasp a little from the scotch. I’m not a huge scotch fan though so that was my problem. After a few sips though, I didn’t seem to mind it so much. I guess it is an acquired taste. The chipotle stuffed olives were very spicy.
The Bandit was sneaky good. Who doesn’t like a rim of honey?? And the addition of the butterscotch, definitely yummy. I expected it to be sweeter but it was surprisingly balanced in sweetness and martini-ness.
The El Pepino was served on ice with a cucumber and mint sprig garnish. It was refreshing with the cucumber up front and a mint finish. It may have had a little too much cucumber though; a bit more subtleness would have been better.
Back to food. We ordered up all kinds of goodies from their happy hour menu (3-6pm and 9-close). They seriously had some great deals. 2 Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos for $4 (huge), ½ off coconut shrimp, calamari, and more! And it was all really good.
To sum up the martini mix off….their martinis were fine. To sum up their happy hour….we will definitely be back! And while they are a chain restaurant, we have decided that since they hire locals to staff it, it is still a place we can patron!
Bardenay
610 Grove Street
www.bardenay.com
Stop 3 of Martini Mix-off 2009
I’d like to provide full disclosure from the beginning here. I’m not a huge fan of Bardenay. There vodka sucks…tastes like tequila which would be fine if I was ordering tequila but not when I’m ordering vodka. Plus the place is noisy and doesn’t have great energy flow. Ok, there I said it all, now moving on to Martinis!
This year they are mixing up:
Bardenay Bond
Bardenay Gin, Bardenay Vodka, and Lillet Blanc “shaken not stirred”
The Sixth Sense
Absolut Citron, Six traditional spices, and a house prepared juice blend of watermelon, honeydew, and lemon
Masala Martini
Absolut Peppar, Yellow Chartreuse, Yazi Ginger Vodka, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, Starbuck’s Coffee Liqueur, Oregon Chai, a float of cream, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
The Bardenay Bond was served with one of our favorite garnishes- the bleu cheese stuffed olive. Yum! This martini had an in-your-face alcohol taste. There wasn’t much subtleness to it at all, much like the recent Bond films, so appropriately named. It might be better just made with the gin since the vodka sucks.
The Sixth Sense was a favorite of a few at the table. I found it to be a bit too fruity, or at least watermelon-y but I’m not a fan of watermelon. If you like sweet and you like fruity, you will like this one!
The Masala Martini was definitely unique. Upon the first sip, the chai flavor of the spices really comes out. Then suddenly the finish is this big spicy kick from the Absolut Peppar. Beautiful presentation of an Asian symbol made with a dusting of cinnamon on top. This is dessert in a glass.
Overall, we didn’t come to a unanimous choice at this location. Service was adequate. We did not order food. Not sure any of us would return specifically for any of the martini options.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Pair
601 Main Street
http://eatdrinkshare.com
Stop 2 of Martini mix-off 2009
My friends and I met for brunch, martinis, and bottomless mimosas on a fine Sunday morning. There is some nice seating outside but all the seats out of the sun were already taken so we opted for inside dining. The restaurant seemed short on staff initially when it took some time before seeing any staff but once they came out of hiding we received excellent service.
We were quite impressed with the brunch menu. While it was not a huge selection, it had just the right amount of options to please all. The prices were great as well, ranging from $5-$9 with excellent sized portions. Each of us raved about our dishes with not one negative remark to be had. Brunch, along with $6 bottomless mimosas is enough to make anyone happy….of course we didn’t stop there….we were there for martinis!
We ordered up one of each of the options:
Blue-By-You- (Classic Martini)
Magellan Gin served with a Kumquat garnish
Limonare (Cocktail category)
Seagrams Gin, Campari, Lemoncello, lemon sour, flamed lemon peel garnish
French Connection (Original martini)
Martell VS Cognac, Charteuse and Barenjager, Liquers, lime sour, honeycomb garnish
We thought we would like the French Connection the least but it turned out to be, hands down, the best! The combination was very odd but it worked so incredibly well together and had the perfect balance of the flavors. With just a little taste of the honeycomb and a sip of the cocktail, heaven emerges. So fantastic!
The idea behind the Blue-By-You is to take a sip, then a small bite of the kumquat, then another sip. The gin is actually made from Iris (and several other spices and botanicals) and the kumquat brings out its essence. The blue tint of the gin naturally occurs from the botanicals. The blue and orange contrast adds to its beautiful presentation. While it is a very good martini, it didn’t create a buzz at the table. I liked it but it hasn’t been my favorite.
The Limonare was different. Campari definitely is the predominant flavor in this beverage and unique for sure. This drink looked like it would be fruity but it was rather tart, almost bitter. Not to say this is a negative, just that it appeals to a select few…..I am not one of them.
This turned out to be a great stop on the list! Brunch at Pair will definitely happen again!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tablerock Brew Pub
705 Fulton Street
www.tablerockbrewpub.com
Stop 1 of the Martini Mix-Off 2009
This year’s mix-off maintains the Classic and Original categories while throwing in a cocktail category. This worked well when 3 of us participated at Tablerock Brew Pub. We each ordered a different drink and were able to sample all.
I ordered the Classic titled JudgSmails. It was made with British Dry Gin and Lillet. It had a sweetness to it not what I usually find in a classic martini. No garnish but I suggested a lemon or orange twist would be appropriate. This was a nice, smooth martini. The gin had a subtleness that I enjoyed as I do not care for the often over-powering juniper flavor of many gins.
Monica ordered the Original titled Lacey Vinderale. It was a combination of Tarragon infused Absolut (the event’s sponsor), Absolut Citron, and pink grapefruit juice. While I found the tarragon infusion to add great interest to this drink, the tartness was a bit overwhelming. It also appeared to only be regular grapefruit juice instead of pink which would probably help to greatly improve the cocktail. Again, this was not served with a garnish.
Fran is not a big fan of the martini, so she selected the Cocktail: Ty Webb. This lovely cocktail included Absolut, Chambord, Fume Blanc, and (supposedly) fresh grapes. Said grapes never did appear.....again, no garnish?!?! The glass did arrive sugar rimmed with cocktail on the rocks. The cocktail had a nice amount of sweetness to it and all the flavors were well balanced.
All-in-all we enjoyed our brief time at Tablerock Brew Pub. The service was decent, a bit confused at times, but fine just the same. It was nice having a patio to enjoy our cocktails and a bike rack for our rides. While the cocktails were all pleasant, I’m not sure they have what it takes to compete against some of the competition. And please, add some garnish!!
Friday, May 5, 2006
Martini Mix-off ~ Day 5
Last Friday was the big mix off event! We still had a few tickets so we decided to get an early start. We met at the Reef for our first round.
We were greeted by Peter; turns out we met Peter at an earlier stop at Red Feather and he more than remembered us!
Eric and I went with the Exoverboard. A blend of Martin Miller Gin and Cointreau garnished with an orange twist.
Christi went with the Tangerine Rangoon- Plymouth gin, honey, tangerine, lime, and cinnamon with a splash of pomegranate grenadine.
Both of these ‘tinis were very tasty. The orange in the ex balances the gin and provides it with a tasty citrus flavor. It was smooth and crisp and too drinkable. The Rangoon was slushy and had a distinct cinnamon essence to it. We could have had another of each but we had a long night of drinking ahead of us. so off to Koi we went.
Peyton greeted us at the bar of Koi. The bar was small and felt a bit cramped, but close to the windows allowed us some people watching.
Eric and I went with the Koi Classic~ Absolut Vodka and Sake. It was tasty but not like a classic martini. We definitely could taste the Sake and it took Eric a long time to drink his (that rarely happens!).
Christi enjoyed the Lemonchello martini. I only was able to discern that Lemonchello and Razzmatazz were ingredients but was unable to get the rest. This ‘tini was really yummy but it reminded me of a cosmo or something similar. It didn’t stand out from the rest but I definitely would order it again.
Our bartender was swamped the whole time and we never were able to receive the one-on-one we love so much (no fault of hers).
Off we were to the Art Museum for the big event. I called in the morning to confirm the time 7- at least 11. We arrived at 8. They were out of goody bags, food, and almost out of martini glasses. It didn’t appear that many people were there either. We tried to get our favorite martini but that wasn’t an option either. They had a couple of bars set up with bartenders making the normal fare. The event didn’t seem well organized and we were pretty disappointed. So we had our drink, we said hello to our favorite bartenders, and off we went. I suppose this goes back to Eric’s earlier quote I’ve decided I don’t like martinis south of Front Street.
After a brief viewing of WWE folks leaving the Grove Hotel, we popped into one of our favorite hangouts- Gernika- where Triton and Michael took great care of us. Perfect way to end the evening.
Quotes:
Peter: I guess I don’t know last names
Eric: maybe I’m thinking of the cucumber
Eric: that’s big
Eric: mines loose
Kristi: He did say something about squeeze it a little harder.
Kristi: touch it there. Right there.
Triton: I’m easy
Kristi: I must have spread right
Eric: He had the cutest little ass
Kristi: He wouldn’t do it
Kristi: they got me in and out
Kristi: It’s hard for me to do it myself
Eric: I’m drunk
Eric: you pounced upon my leg
Christi: I’m going to sit on my arm tonight
Kristi: Remember, I’m kind of a guy
Eric: I’m dripping. but I am
We were greeted by Peter; turns out we met Peter at an earlier stop at Red Feather and he more than remembered us!
Eric and I went with the Exoverboard. A blend of Martin Miller Gin and Cointreau garnished with an orange twist.
Christi went with the Tangerine Rangoon- Plymouth gin, honey, tangerine, lime, and cinnamon with a splash of pomegranate grenadine.
Both of these ‘tinis were very tasty. The orange in the ex balances the gin and provides it with a tasty citrus flavor. It was smooth and crisp and too drinkable. The Rangoon was slushy and had a distinct cinnamon essence to it. We could have had another of each but we had a long night of drinking ahead of us. so off to Koi we went.
Peyton greeted us at the bar of Koi. The bar was small and felt a bit cramped, but close to the windows allowed us some people watching.
Eric and I went with the Koi Classic~ Absolut Vodka and Sake. It was tasty but not like a classic martini. We definitely could taste the Sake and it took Eric a long time to drink his (that rarely happens!).
Christi enjoyed the Lemonchello martini. I only was able to discern that Lemonchello and Razzmatazz were ingredients but was unable to get the rest. This ‘tini was really yummy but it reminded me of a cosmo or something similar. It didn’t stand out from the rest but I definitely would order it again.
Our bartender was swamped the whole time and we never were able to receive the one-on-one we love so much (no fault of hers).
Off we were to the Art Museum for the big event. I called in the morning to confirm the time 7- at least 11. We arrived at 8. They were out of goody bags, food, and almost out of martini glasses. It didn’t appear that many people were there either. We tried to get our favorite martini but that wasn’t an option either. They had a couple of bars set up with bartenders making the normal fare. The event didn’t seem well organized and we were pretty disappointed. So we had our drink, we said hello to our favorite bartenders, and off we went. I suppose this goes back to Eric’s earlier quote I’ve decided I don’t like martinis south of Front Street.
After a brief viewing of WWE folks leaving the Grove Hotel, we popped into one of our favorite hangouts- Gernika- where Triton and Michael took great care of us. Perfect way to end the evening.
Quotes:
Peter: I guess I don’t know last names
Eric: maybe I’m thinking of the cucumber
Eric: that’s big
Eric: mines loose
Kristi: He did say something about squeeze it a little harder.
Kristi: touch it there. Right there.
Triton: I’m easy
Kristi: I must have spread right
Eric: He had the cutest little ass
Kristi: He wouldn’t do it
Kristi: they got me in and out
Kristi: It’s hard for me to do it myself
Eric: I’m drunk
Eric: you pounced upon my leg
Christi: I’m going to sit on my arm tonight
Kristi: Remember, I’m kind of a guy
Eric: I’m dripping. but I am
Thursday, May 4, 2006
Martini Mix-off ~ Day 4
Last Thursday marked round 4 of the Martini tour. We are beginning to feel the effects and are slowing down the pace.
We began at Happy Fish. Margie joined us at this stop! Cory was our bartender and mixed us up an Effen Martini and an Asian Persuasion. Eric and I went with the Effen, while Margie tried the Persuasion. Christi tried the unnamed martini that will make it to the finals.
I liked the Effen as it was made with Vodka. Finally a martini made with vodka!!! It was a simple take on the classic with vodka and Lillet Blanc, Kalamata olives for garnish. I found it to be crisp and light, easy to drink. Eric wasnt a big fan but then he likes that piney gin taste.
The Asian Persuasion was made with Ruby Red Absolut, Ruby Red Grapefruit juice, and Lychee syrup, with a Lychee garnish. It was refreshing and reminded Margie of summer. It actually only had a mild grapefruit flavor. It was very tasty.
The unnamed was made of Sake and Midori. It was smooth and melony with the look of antifreeze.
Stop 2 Thursday was at Ha' Penny. We didn’t have to stumble too far for this one.
Here, Dustin was creating the Dirty Plymouth and Orange Cream Dream. Eric and I went dirty; Christi went dreamy; Margie went home!
The classic was quite tasty with the Plymouth and the olive juice. I am a big fan of the dirty martini and finished off with the garlic stuffed olive encouraged me to sip away.
The Orange Cream Dream was nice but not Christi’s favorite. It had Vanilla Absolut, Cointreau, orange peel, and sweet and sour.
We ventured off to Bittercreek after that and chatted with bartender Michael while the storm passed. It was pouring rain outside so we had to have a beer!
Eric: I’ve decided, I’m not a fan of martinis south of Front Street
Eric: Ill get it down, but its rough
Christi: It was better than I expected
Table close by: Were just really cheap like that
Eric: I have a stud finder
Eric: I’m here to be the butt
Eric: I don’t think he is that hot
Eric: I think that is the only dirty tool I own
Christi: you might want to try it on your sore muscle
We began at Happy Fish. Margie joined us at this stop! Cory was our bartender and mixed us up an Effen Martini and an Asian Persuasion. Eric and I went with the Effen, while Margie tried the Persuasion. Christi tried the unnamed martini that will make it to the finals.
I liked the Effen as it was made with Vodka. Finally a martini made with vodka!!! It was a simple take on the classic with vodka and Lillet Blanc, Kalamata olives for garnish. I found it to be crisp and light, easy to drink. Eric wasnt a big fan but then he likes that piney gin taste.
The Asian Persuasion was made with Ruby Red Absolut, Ruby Red Grapefruit juice, and Lychee syrup, with a Lychee garnish. It was refreshing and reminded Margie of summer. It actually only had a mild grapefruit flavor. It was very tasty.
The unnamed was made of Sake and Midori. It was smooth and melony with the look of antifreeze.
Stop 2 Thursday was at Ha' Penny. We didn’t have to stumble too far for this one.
Here, Dustin was creating the Dirty Plymouth and Orange Cream Dream. Eric and I went dirty; Christi went dreamy; Margie went home!
The classic was quite tasty with the Plymouth and the olive juice. I am a big fan of the dirty martini and finished off with the garlic stuffed olive encouraged me to sip away.
The Orange Cream Dream was nice but not Christi’s favorite. It had Vanilla Absolut, Cointreau, orange peel, and sweet and sour.
We ventured off to Bittercreek after that and chatted with bartender Michael while the storm passed. It was pouring rain outside so we had to have a beer!
Eric: I’ve decided, I’m not a fan of martinis south of Front Street
Eric: Ill get it down, but its rough
Christi: It was better than I expected
Table close by: Were just really cheap like that
Eric: I have a stud finder
Eric: I’m here to be the butt
Eric: I don’t think he is that hot
Eric: I think that is the only dirty tool I own
Christi: you might want to try it on your sore muscle
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Martini Mix-off ~ Day 3
Saturday marked our 3rd martini adventure! We got off to a late start as we all had busy days and I had just gotten in from the east coast. But nevertheless we persevered and tackled our duties with great thirst.
We met up at Piper Pub and found stools at the bar. Erik was our bartender at this stop and rattled off our choices but not with the same enthusiasm as our other stops but he was cute so I let that slide a bit.
Eric and I went with the classic like always; Christi ordered up the Summer Breeze.
This classic was made with a new gin- Quintessential and King Eider Vermouth, shaken, and garnished with Blue Cheese stuffed olives. This gin had similar qualities to the Plymouth gin and was easy to drink, not overly powered by pine. This one ranks number 3 on my list so far but number 2 on Eric’s list (close to number 1).
The Summer Breeze was made of cucumber and honeydew infused Level Vodka, served with a cucumber slice garnish. This was crisp, light, refreshing, and very easy to drink. It had only a slight taste of fruit and not much else. I thought it was good but we all agreed that it was rather boring. Perhaps adding some herb, like lemon thyme or lemongrass, would make it a little better?
As we were picking apart the martinis, Erik the bartender tried to redeem his earlier inactions by offering me more blue cheese stuffed olives. I think it worked.
Mai Thai was our next stop. Sasha was our bartender but we quickly started calling her Shasha (not sure if she liked that much, but we were having fun).
The classic, 10 Below, was a mixture of Tanqueray 10 and Noilly Prat Vermouth, shaken and poured over dry ice to sit for a moment, garnished with jalapeño stuffed olives. This one reminded me that I still don’t like gin. It had a very piney taste that overpowered the drink for me. The olives were quite tasty.
The Crimson Café was Christi’s choice. This concoction was made with Starbucks Liquor, cognac, and Razzmataz. It had a scent of raspberries and a coffee flavor. It was fair.
At this point we were ready to move on to Koi but they had closed so we headed to Red Feather. Here we just ordered up miscellaneous drinks and joked with Bartender Kevin. It also appears that we gathered more quotes than notes on this fine evening. Some are good!
Kristi~ it needs to be organic!
Larry~ Can I lip it?
Casey~Ew, that comes out frothy
Eric~ you need a 1-900 #
Eric~ oh, I would call !
Eric for your entertainment
Eric~ I was outstanding in the field
Christi~ there was a Kevin, right?
Christi (with eyebrows raised)~ Do you want me to take the bottom or top?
Eric~ Swiss guys are HOT
Kristi~ I got poked
Eric~ I like that a lot
Kristi~ You just sprayed me
Christi~ Licked it and winked at me
Kevin~ What I have decided about you, is you are difficult to please.
Kevin~ He works it
Christi~ Is he always like this?
Kristi~ Hes been around
Eric~ *He* was definitely not my type.but he wasn't
Christi~ Ill just sleep
Eric~ She seemed to breath; that is my type
Eric~ He sounds too huge for me
We met up at Piper Pub and found stools at the bar. Erik was our bartender at this stop and rattled off our choices but not with the same enthusiasm as our other stops but he was cute so I let that slide a bit.
Eric and I went with the classic like always; Christi ordered up the Summer Breeze.
This classic was made with a new gin- Quintessential and King Eider Vermouth, shaken, and garnished with Blue Cheese stuffed olives. This gin had similar qualities to the Plymouth gin and was easy to drink, not overly powered by pine. This one ranks number 3 on my list so far but number 2 on Eric’s list (close to number 1).
The Summer Breeze was made of cucumber and honeydew infused Level Vodka, served with a cucumber slice garnish. This was crisp, light, refreshing, and very easy to drink. It had only a slight taste of fruit and not much else. I thought it was good but we all agreed that it was rather boring. Perhaps adding some herb, like lemon thyme or lemongrass, would make it a little better?
As we were picking apart the martinis, Erik the bartender tried to redeem his earlier inactions by offering me more blue cheese stuffed olives. I think it worked.
Mai Thai was our next stop. Sasha was our bartender but we quickly started calling her Shasha (not sure if she liked that much, but we were having fun).
The classic, 10 Below, was a mixture of Tanqueray 10 and Noilly Prat Vermouth, shaken and poured over dry ice to sit for a moment, garnished with jalapeño stuffed olives. This one reminded me that I still don’t like gin. It had a very piney taste that overpowered the drink for me. The olives were quite tasty.
The Crimson Café was Christi’s choice. This concoction was made with Starbucks Liquor, cognac, and Razzmataz. It had a scent of raspberries and a coffee flavor. It was fair.
At this point we were ready to move on to Koi but they had closed so we headed to Red Feather. Here we just ordered up miscellaneous drinks and joked with Bartender Kevin. It also appears that we gathered more quotes than notes on this fine evening. Some are good!
Kristi~ it needs to be organic!
Larry~ Can I lip it?
Casey~Ew, that comes out frothy
Eric~ you need a 1-900 #
Eric~ oh, I would call !
Eric for your entertainment
Eric~ I was outstanding in the field
Christi~ there was a Kevin, right?
Christi (with eyebrows raised)~ Do you want me to take the bottom or top?
Eric~ Swiss guys are HOT
Kristi~ I got poked
Eric~ I like that a lot
Kristi~ You just sprayed me
Christi~ Licked it and winked at me
Kevin~ What I have decided about you, is you are difficult to please.
Kevin~ He works it
Christi~ Is he always like this?
Kristi~ Hes been around
Eric~ *He* was definitely not my type.but he wasn't
Christi~ Ill just sleep
Eric~ She seemed to breath; that is my type
Eric~ He sounds too huge for me
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Martini Mix-off ~ Day 2
Saturday was great fun. Although we didn't have the anecdotes and quips that Kevin provided on day one, we were still tantalized by great humor and plenty of eye candy.
Eric and I started at Bardenay and convinced Christi H. to join in on the fun. Who will be our next recruit??? (We thought we had a chance with Tom F. when he entered the restaurant but no luck this time!)
Bardenay's entries this year are the Chaitini and the Bardenay Bond. We are allowed to order any martini on the menu but we have decided we want to stick with the entries. All three of us decided to go with the Bond. Christi was quite brave to begin with this selection since she has never had a martini before!
The BB is made with Bardenay Gin, Bardenay Vodka, and Lillet Blanc. Our bartenders Sean and Andrew shook these up for us while we made jokes with them. We had a choice of garnish- Eric went with the Basque Olives, Christi chose the basic olive, and I went with the blue cheese stuffed olive. All were quite tasty and we all decided better than the martini itself. I personally am not a huge fan of Bardenay’s vodka. It has a weird taste to it when vodka shouldn’t really have any flavor. This martini had several overwhelming flavors and scents to it that were just not very enjoyable.
Off we went to stop number 2 of the night- Pair. Pair was serving up The Sally Tomato and The Tiffany. Eric and I, sticking with tradition, went for the Sally and Christi opted for the Tiffany. We sat at one of their swanky tables and Eric thought our server was "hot" (Christi and I didn't think so as much).
At first glance of the name, we thought the Sally Tomato would be more like a bloody mary but instead it gets its name from the garnish- roma tomato stuffed olives. It was very basic consisting of Plymouth Gin and vermouth- shaken. Now don't forget that I don't like gin but I have decided that if all gin was like Plymouth Gin, I would be a huge fan. This gin is so smooth and easy to drink (way too easy to drink), that I think I have become a convert. Eric preferred this tasty number over the 10-minute martini from Milky Way- I am not yet convinced. I believe I will need to resample that one before making any conclusions!
The Tiffany was a beautiful concoction of Pear Nutmeg, Vanilla-bean Absolut Vodka, and Pear nectar, served with a pear slice. Served with a sugared rim, this lovely concoction was fun, appealing, and looks pretty. It has a pleasant nutmeg hint to it and a slushy feel against your lips. Christi would order this beauty again.
Other thoughts of our service- the server wasn't as friendly as our other experiences and she had a bit of attitude. We ordered water at one point and she brought us a wine bottle with 3 empty glasses. She made no attempt to pour the water for us, and when I asked if that was water she responded with "uh, yeah" as though water is always served in a wine bottle.
We all headed over to Red Feather for our 3rd martini of the evening. We decided to grab a slice from Pie Hole first to cleanse the palate and provide a little sustenance before completely dousing our livers. Conveniently, there were 3 available seats at the bar by the time we made it to RF and there we remained for the next couple of hours.
Our options at RF were the Slacktrist and The Apricot Sour. (Please keep in mind that my notes at this point are becoming very difficult to read but I will do my best to interpret what I wrote). Kevin and Mark were our bartenders for this round.
Christi ordered the Apricot Sour. This frothy 'tini was tart and "dangerous". It combined Brandy, Calvados, lime juice, bitters, egg white, and a couple of things I can no longer read.
Eric and I went with the Slacktrist- Plymouth Gin, vermouth, stirred, and served naked. This martini was not as smooth as some previous martinis. I prefer my martini shaken- unless it is the 10-minute version.
I nursed this martini for the entire stop, while Eric and Christi put me to shame. They ended the RF visit with Cucumber-Ginger Mojito vs. the regular mojito- I sampled their treats. Eric and I thought the Cucumber-Ginger was quite tasty but Christi preferred the regular version.
After finishing up there, we decided our night was not over. We wandered over to Grape Escape just as Josh was closing up. Josh set us up with some tastes of 3 different wines (these tastes were basically full glasses). We downed those while he finished up then the 4 of us meandered over to Gernika for beers and pretzels. After several hours of drinking we decided at 1 that we were probably finished for the night.
Amazingly, I awakened around 7 the next morning feeling very fabulous! No hangover at all.
Hope you can make it out with the next go round- probably next Saturday. We still have the following stops to make- Piper Pub, Koi, Happy Fish, Mai Thai, Melting Pot, Ha Penny, Reef
Here are some quotes I compiled through the evening.
Christi "Eric is our token male"
Kevin "playin with my juicer"
Eric "This reminds me of Pretty in Pink"
Josh "I fuck things up and I get confused"
Eric "I do that anyway"
Christi "Lets do it while we’re drunk"
Eric "I'm fast and easy"
Eric "there is an adaptor for everything"
Eric and I started at Bardenay and convinced Christi H. to join in on the fun. Who will be our next recruit??? (We thought we had a chance with Tom F. when he entered the restaurant but no luck this time!)
Bardenay's entries this year are the Chaitini and the Bardenay Bond. We are allowed to order any martini on the menu but we have decided we want to stick with the entries. All three of us decided to go with the Bond. Christi was quite brave to begin with this selection since she has never had a martini before!
The BB is made with Bardenay Gin, Bardenay Vodka, and Lillet Blanc. Our bartenders Sean and Andrew shook these up for us while we made jokes with them. We had a choice of garnish- Eric went with the Basque Olives, Christi chose the basic olive, and I went with the blue cheese stuffed olive. All were quite tasty and we all decided better than the martini itself. I personally am not a huge fan of Bardenay’s vodka. It has a weird taste to it when vodka shouldn’t really have any flavor. This martini had several overwhelming flavors and scents to it that were just not very enjoyable.
Off we went to stop number 2 of the night- Pair. Pair was serving up The Sally Tomato and The Tiffany. Eric and I, sticking with tradition, went for the Sally and Christi opted for the Tiffany. We sat at one of their swanky tables and Eric thought our server was "hot" (Christi and I didn't think so as much).
At first glance of the name, we thought the Sally Tomato would be more like a bloody mary but instead it gets its name from the garnish- roma tomato stuffed olives. It was very basic consisting of Plymouth Gin and vermouth- shaken. Now don't forget that I don't like gin but I have decided that if all gin was like Plymouth Gin, I would be a huge fan. This gin is so smooth and easy to drink (way too easy to drink), that I think I have become a convert. Eric preferred this tasty number over the 10-minute martini from Milky Way- I am not yet convinced. I believe I will need to resample that one before making any conclusions!
The Tiffany was a beautiful concoction of Pear Nutmeg, Vanilla-bean Absolut Vodka, and Pear nectar, served with a pear slice. Served with a sugared rim, this lovely concoction was fun, appealing, and looks pretty. It has a pleasant nutmeg hint to it and a slushy feel against your lips. Christi would order this beauty again.
Other thoughts of our service- the server wasn't as friendly as our other experiences and she had a bit of attitude. We ordered water at one point and she brought us a wine bottle with 3 empty glasses. She made no attempt to pour the water for us, and when I asked if that was water she responded with "uh, yeah" as though water is always served in a wine bottle.
We all headed over to Red Feather for our 3rd martini of the evening. We decided to grab a slice from Pie Hole first to cleanse the palate and provide a little sustenance before completely dousing our livers. Conveniently, there were 3 available seats at the bar by the time we made it to RF and there we remained for the next couple of hours.
Our options at RF were the Slacktrist and The Apricot Sour. (Please keep in mind that my notes at this point are becoming very difficult to read but I will do my best to interpret what I wrote). Kevin and Mark were our bartenders for this round.
Christi ordered the Apricot Sour. This frothy 'tini was tart and "dangerous". It combined Brandy, Calvados, lime juice, bitters, egg white, and a couple of things I can no longer read.
Eric and I went with the Slacktrist- Plymouth Gin, vermouth, stirred, and served naked. This martini was not as smooth as some previous martinis. I prefer my martini shaken- unless it is the 10-minute version.
I nursed this martini for the entire stop, while Eric and Christi put me to shame. They ended the RF visit with Cucumber-Ginger Mojito vs. the regular mojito- I sampled their treats. Eric and I thought the Cucumber-Ginger was quite tasty but Christi preferred the regular version.
After finishing up there, we decided our night was not over. We wandered over to Grape Escape just as Josh was closing up. Josh set us up with some tastes of 3 different wines (these tastes were basically full glasses). We downed those while he finished up then the 4 of us meandered over to Gernika for beers and pretzels. After several hours of drinking we decided at 1 that we were probably finished for the night.
Amazingly, I awakened around 7 the next morning feeling very fabulous! No hangover at all.
Hope you can make it out with the next go round- probably next Saturday. We still have the following stops to make- Piper Pub, Koi, Happy Fish, Mai Thai, Melting Pot, Ha Penny, Reef
Here are some quotes I compiled through the evening.
Christi "Eric is our token male"
Kevin "playin with my juicer"
Eric "This reminds me of Pretty in Pink"
Josh "I fuck things up and I get confused"
Eric "I do that anyway"
Christi "Lets do it while we’re drunk"
Eric "I'm fast and easy"
Eric "there is an adaptor for everything"
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