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Old Potrero Rye in Older SanFrancisco

27 Jun

I travel frequently to San Francisco and many times I grab a drink and a meal at Pompei’s Grotto. I have been coming to this restaurant since 1995 and it has always be a friendly and comfortable spot in Fisherman’s Wharf.

What made this journey made even better is that I got to try a Rye Whiskey that I have never had before. This drink, Old Potrero, which surprises me in its pleasantly soapy front end and nose followed by an well balanced and not too spicy tail. Made by Anchor Steam Breweries, it actually had some characteristics of a fine Scotch ( I confirmed this by trying the “Kentucky Hug” method of taste tasting.)

Give yourself a treat and try it.

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Posted by on June 27, 2018 in Happy Hour

 

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Lil’ Gem in Mahattan

23 Feb

It’s been way too long since I wrote anything. Hopefully this will be the fix to that. This is an interesting pour of Elijah Craig with Del Professore vermouth and a healthy slice of orange rind. Wow was it a great drink. I am so happy to be writing again.

 
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Posted by on February 23, 2018 in Uncategorized

 

Kin Lhao – Kem Kon Cocktail

11 Nov

Ka Pow! – “What is that?”, Was my first reaction. That is the most unique and crazy Manhattan-like drink I have ever had.

Made of some normal and some unexpected ingredients that I think we worked well together. Coincidentally, I think this was also very seasonal for Fall, but I think that was unintentional by its creator and more in my head (being in cool and damp San Francisco in November). No matter how it was intended, I really liked this cocktail as it paired well with the amazing Thai food served.

The Kem Kon was made by mixing the following ingredients into a 2/3rd sized steeped cut martini glass:

 
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Posted by on November 11, 2017 in Uncategorized

 

London Old Fashions – Woodford Reserve

19 Jan


For some peculiar reason Old Fashions made with Canadien Maple Syrup and Woodford Reserve are in vogue in London. This is the second time in a week that a restaurant had them featured on the menu.  I wonder if Woodford representatives are on patrol here?  I am not complaining as both times I have had the drink it has been perfect.  Even though it is obviously a sweet drink, and definitely out of my normal barel-comfort-zone, I enjoyed them.  A boozy desert. 

Tonight I had my drink in the Copa restaurant across the street from the beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral. I nice eerie sky over the magnificent dome. 

 
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Posted by on January 19, 2017 in London

 

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Renoir – Moulin Huet Bay, Guernsey (1883)

18 Jan


Last week I was able to visit the National Gallery in London.  I do this as often as possible after a day in the office.  Frequently I make my rounds visiting the work Turner, Van Gogh, Piccasso and Seurat.  This particular visit I noticed Moulin Huet Bay, Guernsey by Renoir that was painted in 1883.  I thought that colors were amazing, the simple brush strokes conveyed so much feeling of the beach. His ability to make the sky, the sea mist and the water seem as one and also distinctly separate forced me to stare (a bit too long).  The way that the rock outcroppings are painted with tropical colors and an almost Gauguin-esque feel surprised me that it was in fact Renoir.

It has been studied and identified that the rocks have been identified as ‘Les Tas de Pois d’Amont’ on the left, while those on the right are probably ‘La Surtaut’ (Cradle Rock) which appear in Guernsey.  

Visit this painting via the Nation Gallery website

 
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Posted by on January 18, 2017 in Art, London

 

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First Proper Pint in Awhile

26 Jun


It nice to be back in London on a cold wet windy blustery gloomy summer evening. The sunscreen business must be awful, but I am sure the parka industry is booming.  

I am enjoying a nice pint of Samuel Smith’s Organic Lager at the Rising Sun pub which sits across from St. Bartholomew The Great Church (from the 12th century) 

 
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Posted by on June 26, 2016 in Around the globe, Beer, London

 

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5 Boats Racing

18 Jun


I am literally  turned this painting upside down before I painted the boats. So much for planning!   I think I will always have a thing for sailboats, especially small racing boats (Sunfish) like the ones I used to sail.  

 
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Posted by on June 18, 2016 in Art, Highlighted Artist

 

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Flowers in Mug

18 Jun

I just did a quick colorful flower pot(mug) with this one.  When I was finished I realized the flowers look like they have green arms that say “Goal !!”   Maybe that’s because I was watching the Copa América at the time 

 
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Posted by on June 18, 2016 in Art, Highlighted Artist

 

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Cortiina Hotel Bar – München – Revisited 

23 Apr


Almost three years ago I wrote a post on one of my favorite Manhhattans that I have ever had.  That drink was served by an excellent bartender.   I decided to go back to the Cortiina Hotel Bar in Munich and see if that fantastic drink still existed.   

My only request was for it to be made with Basil Hayden bourbon. I left the rest up to the bar host/server (Djemal) and bartender. Note: The fact that this bar has at least seven different types of real bourbon tells me they are serious. Many times in Europe a bar carries Jack as their “bourbon”… And that’s it. Ugh- oh please. 

As with my first time here, I knew upon arrival of my cocktail, and before I tasted it, that is was perfect. The mixed liquids were beautifully see-through. (A 4:2 ratio was used for the bourbon and vermouth) and very importantly, they never saw the inside of a shaker.  The amount of vermouth didn’t darken the drink to look like over steeped English tea, it was still a bourbon colored cocktail. Perfect. 

Well, I was right.  It was made perfectly by a bartender who definitely cares about what they are doing and knows how to do it.  The drink was as crisp as physically possible, they used what I presume to be home made or small batch brandied cherries that could likely be locally acquired.  Everything was perfect, including the slight hint of bitters. 

I definitely recommend this bar as a must do while in Munich, but as it is small and popular, I recommend that you plan to wait to get in or make a reservation. 

 
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Posted by on April 23, 2016 in Around the globe, Happy Hour

 

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Palmer House Chicago – Shaken, really?

20 Apr

  
I watched in horror as my bartender shook my drink as if it was some type of Shake Weight workout regimen.  My Basil Hayden bourbon had no chance of making it out alive. Despite having a nice flavor, my Manhhattan had a head. There was a “mousse” loose in Chicago. Thank the gods it had 3 Maraschino cherries which made me smile a little.  

The Palmer House Hilton Lockwood Bar has a great vibe but somehow the steps to make a great cocktail got lost 😦

 
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Posted by on April 20, 2016 in Happy Hour

 

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