Bar Talk With Your Host, Clare Quilty - Page 46 - Other Topics Forum - Discuss Pop Culture, Arts and Entertainment

towards_night · 10-14-2011, 02:52 PM

oh wow, that place is actually a block from my office

I'll have to check it out

The Hands · 10-14-2011, 03:01 PM

Went out Wednesday to a bar and had the highly recommended sidecar cocktail. I am a convert now thanks to this thread.

I have a question for Clare about something that happened. Woman came up to the bar and sat down. There are about 20~ seats at this bar. Only one was open after woman sat down. Bartender came over and asked formher order. She said: "I am waiting for a friend so just a water." Bartender (female) looked at her and slowly got her a glass of water while staring at her. I think requesting water while sitting at a busy bar is a douche move. Agree?

Clare Quilty · 10-14-2011, 03:22 PM

Meh. Not that douchey imo if friend shows up fairly quickly and they order drinks then. Certainly not worth a staredown contest.

Clare Quilty · 10-14-2011, 03:25 PM

Meta/towards,

Brandy Library looks pretty sweet. I was going to try think of somewhere slightly more downmarket, but if it's a block from your office, I say spend the 15 bucks or w/e it will be--from the looks of it, you could get a perfect sidecar there and know pretty definitively if you like them or not.

El Diablo · 10-14-2011, 03:30 PM

Meta/Night: Brandy Library is a great bar. Definitely on the pricey side, but they have an incredible selection of whiskies/brandies and make really great cocktails.

TH: Getting a water when waiting for a friend who should be there any minute is completely standard and fine IMO. If the friend runs late, order a drink.

**citanul** · 10-14-2011, 03:34 PM

meta,

Pegu Club is also within the immediate vicinity and should be able to give you a very good sidecar.

guids · 10-14-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaft88

On the subject of bitters, a couple years ago there was a shortage of bitters for whatever reason, as they are primarily produced from one place:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...11900877.html/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0...le=The_Sazerac

My bar doesn't even have bitters anymore, but the only use we had for them was to cure hiccups. (Bitters splashed on a lemon wedge and sucked will cure hiccups- allegedly.)

If your local liquor store/bar was unable to order bitters due to the shortage, then they may have never bothered to order them again, as there is not much of a demand for them anymore. Be wary of ordering an old fashioned, as the bartender might not inform you of their lack of bitters.

bitters and club soda will cure heartburn like instantly.

Aceium · 10-14-2011, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hands

Went out Wednesday to a bar and had the highly recommended sidecar cocktail. I am a convert now thanks to this thread.

I have a question for Clare about something that happened. Woman came up to the bar and sat down. There are about 20~ seats at this bar. Only one was open after woman sat down. Bartender came over and asked formher order. She said: "I am waiting for a friend so just a water." Bartender (female) looked at her and slowly got her a glass of water while staring at her. I think requesting water while sitting at a busy bar is a douche move. Agree?

Bartender is most likely assuming that as long as the last seat remains untaken, the friend will show up and buy 2 drinks.

GooseHinson · 10-14-2011, 05:16 PM

Just bought all the components for the sidecar (Remy Martin VS, Cointreau, Lemons) and will make some tonight. Never had them, hope they're good!

Clare Quilty · 10-14-2011, 05:26 PM

Goose,

Well done, plz report findings.

GooseHinson · 10-14-2011, 05:29 PM

Thanks, I was trying to get together stuff for old fashioneds too. Bought some Bulleit, but couldn't find bitters anywhere. ****ing Canada.

Anybody know somewhere I could order online from that would ship here?

Ethos · 10-14-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clare Quilty

I think he means you will just get dry vermouth w/out any gin or vodka, maybe b/c most bars have Martini and Rossi vermouth?

Correct. It's a favourite aperitif here, along with Campari. The Italian influence, no doubt. The fact that both the cocktail and the vermouth share the name 'Martini' is allegedly a coincidence, though I'm kind of hoping there's more of a story than that.

A quite rundown from a NYT article about the Kronenhalle

Quote:

Originally Posted by 13.09.2009 New York Times

To rub elbows with the captains of capitalism, sidle up to the Kronenhalle Bar (Rämistrasse 4; 41-44-262-
9900; www.kronenhalle.com), inside one of the city’s most venerable restaurants. Dark mahogany paneling,
green leather walls and marble tables with legs designed by Diego Giacometti exude the Zurich of old money,
discretion and fat Swiss bank accounts. Peek inside the restaurant proper, with its high ceilings and
renowned art collection, though some of the best works by Chagall, Picasso and Miró have been sold. Resist
the temptation to eat there, as good as the Alsatian and Bavarian classics are, and come back when the global
economy has improved — or when someone else is footing the bill.

CQ, do you have any cocktail suggestions for someone who really likes Campari? Have you created any cocktails of your own, and are there any stories behind their inception?

dukemagic · 10-14-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GooseHinson

Thanks, I was trying to get together stuff for old fashioneds too. Bought some Bulleit, but couldn't find bitters anywhere. ****ing Canada.

Anybody know somewhere I could order online from that would ship here?

Amazon? I just did a search there on there are quite a few bitters. I assume they'd ship to Canada but I didn't check that.

NozeCandy · 10-14-2011, 06:49 PM

I've just started dabbling in martinis, my standard thus far (after like 3, lol) is just a Ketel One martini with a twist of lemon. This seems lame. Any suggestions? I don't mind decent gin, so if you have ideas for gin martinis hit me up.

metaname2 · 10-14-2011, 07:05 PM

Hendrick's is my favorite and is pretty widely available now, Plymouth is good too. Failing those, I think Beefeater makes a pretty classic martini. If you want to go cheap, I actually think Gordon's is quite good (I actually like it better then Tanquaray or Bombay).

Also, I think people are too apt to go for the dry martini. I actually like vermouth (have been know to have a straight glass on occasion too), and it is really a natural compliment to good gin.