Tag Archives: dtla

Apr2

Trying Caliche Rum Cocktails by Michel Dozois

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Hot Bartender Michel Dozois

Hot Bartender Michel Dozois for Caliche Rum

I was first introduced to Caliche Rum about a year ago at their launch party.

I haven’t really seen it much on menus so I was glad to try a few cocktails made by Neve Ice’s Michel Dozois at Cana Rum Bar recently. There were also snacks from Rivera.

I had been asked if I preferred savory or sweet cocktails but Michel knows what I like. I still recall his hoisin sauce gin cocktail with fondness. We tried to talk him into recreating the drink with Caliche but he doesn’t like to repeat himself. One day I’ll get the specs though.

Caliche

Caliche – with Cynar, Michel’s Curacao, Tequila, Aperol

 

I’d describe this cocktail made with Caliche, Cynar, Tequila, Aperol and Michel’s homemade curacao as boozey. I was glad for that chunk of Neve ice in there! Everything was exquisitely balanced and every sip revealed a hint of spice.

A stirred Caliche Cocktail

A stirred Caliche Cocktail

Next, I got the only up cocktail of the night. Naturally, Michel would want to feature his wonderful line of ice in addition to Caliche but for me, he gave me boozey drink with Caliche, Maraschino and Torani Amer.

Both cocktails though rum based could have been very well been whiskey based. I was delighted how well Caliche played with others. Who says rum always has to be tropical? Sure, Caliche makes a good mojito but it can stand up to the bold amari and other modifiers.

caliche

Caliche Rum

Cana Rum Bar

714 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015 – (213) 745-7090

© The Minty // LACocktails.com 2013

Mar26

DTLA: Happy Hour at Rivera

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Jeremy Lake, The Minty Hot Bartender 2012

Jeremy Lake, The Minty Hot Bartender 2012

I recently discovered Rivera now has happy hour. When the restaurant first opened, they famously didn’t have discounted cocktails or food for the hungry office workers. They’re fairly close to LA Live, the Convention Center and Staples. I wouldn’t want to discount my food or booze either. Then Rivera started doing reverse happy hour and that seemed to work at catching the folks leaving the nearby entertainment.

Luckily they started happy hour about five months ago. It only took me that long to figure this out. I was looking at their lunch menu online (which hasn’t changed much) and noticed the happy hour menu. Say what? I was there that same week. Okay, it was a week later. But I have made it a semi-regular thing bringing in my coworkers. I needed to find a new happy hour/ after-work hang since I am not frequenting my other two haunts at the moment.

Beverage Director (and the Minty Hot Bartender 2012) Jeremy Lake along with Julian Cox put together the cocktails. The following is a mix of what’s currently available but catch these soon because they’re gearing up for Spring menus soon.

arepas with BBQ shrimp

arepas with BBQ shrimp

The food for happy hour includes stuffed olives, arepas with BBQ shrimp, a short ribs tamailii, the always delicious tortillas florales and more. All for $5 a pop. I’m currently obsessed with the arepas and tamalii (that’s how they spell it).

daiquiri

daiquiri

Happy hour cocktails include classics like daiquiri and Gold Rush. The Rivera’s Cup– a take on a Pimm’s cup is also very popular with tequila and cucumbers. There’s also a few beer and wine options.

tamalii short ribs

tamalii short ribs

Mushrooms add to the already great flavor of the tamalii short  ribs.

Saved by Basil

Saved by Basil

Saved by Basil is already off the list but I’m always curious about Dimmi based cocktails. The Italian grappa lends itself well to fruity concoctions. Plus, I love basil. My alter ego is The Basil.

La Ofrenda

La Ofrenda

On the regular cocktails list, La Ofrenda is one of my favorites with housemade blood orange chips and foam. The tequila based cocktail is a showy cocktail but still has a lot of substance to back it up. I was sitting at the bar before a Lakers game and so many people were intrigued by this drink. Sure, the Barbacoa and Blood Sugar Sex Magic are still probably the best sellers but I have a feeling La Ofrenda will go far. At least until the end of the blood orange season.

Autumn Sour

Autumn Sour

Whenever I want to go light, I ask for a sour. The Autumn Sour is a nice one.

Flor de Jerez

Flor de Jerez

I love that Rivera has a whole section of sherry cocktails right now. The Flor de Jerez is my pick at the moment.

Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo

Rivera is probably known for its wide selection of tequilas but it also has a strong whiskey selection as well. Get classics like the Monte Carlo here.

Chet Baker

Chet Baker

Or if you like rum, the Chet Baker from the happy hour menu is also a deal.

Carroll Gardens

Carroll Gardens

One of these days, I’ll have to put together my Manhattan Project post. I’ve been on a hunt trying all the different Manhattan variations. Carroll Gardens may not be as well-known as a Little Italy or a Red Hook but it has it’s place in my heart.

Rivera Restaurant

1050 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015-5100 – (213) 749-1460

© The Minty // LA Cocktails 2013

Feb13

213 Day Today, Free Membership to Cana Rum Bar & Win a Trip to San Diego

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Tears of a Clown

Tears of a Clown

Today, February 13 marks the first 213 Day for the 213 Nightlife Bars – The Varnish, Seven Grand, Las Perlas, Caña Rum Bar, Casey’s, Cole’s, Broadway Bar, Golden Gopher, 4100 Bar, and Tony’s.

Everyone who goes to any of the 213 bars will receive a complimentary membership to Caña as well as a raffle ticket to win a trip to San Diego. The winner will receive train tickets to San Diego, hotel stay and drinks for two all night at Seven Grand San Diego.

Juniper Flats

Juniper Flats

In the meantime, I’ve been enjoying the new drinks menu at Cana.

My faves so far are Tears of a Clown (Campari, Cocchi Americano, lime, maple-thyme syrup, fizz) and Juniper Flats (Tanqueray gin, Averna, lime, guava, canela). Both are simply delicious, easy drinking and thirst-quenching after a round of dancing with the new Thursday night music made more lively by DJ Anthony Valdez (KCRW).

Red Eye to Rio

Red Eye to Rio

I didn’t have a chance to inquire about the Red Eye to Rio (Leblon cachaca, lime, maple syrup, “that evil rum,” Peychaud’s bitters) as I was a bit busy. I should have asked what that evil rum was but maybe it’s a general observation about rum? Perhaps I’ll ask tonight during 213 Day!

Cana Rum Bar

714 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015 – (213) 745-7090

For all 213 bars locations, check out 213 Nightlife.

© The Minty // LA Cocktails  2013

Jan11

Bartending on the Fly at Cole’s for Repeal Day

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Cole's - now muddling with beer bottles

Cole’s – now muddling with beer bottles

A few weeks ago, on the night before Repeal Day, Cole’s hosted their annual Jimmy Barella bartending competition. It started at 2PM and I made it to Cole’s to watch the final heat with Edwin Gomez of Cole’s competing with Chris Day (formerly of Bar | Kitchen, Sotto).

For this round, they were not allowed any bar tools except for the glasses the cocktails and ice. They were given a MacGyver type kit that included string and random ingredients.

Remember those days in college when you used to stir your cocktails with chopsticks? This was more intense than that. I saw Edwin muddling mint with a beer bottle and Chris mixing his cocktail with a carafe he found at the bar and then straining with a ladle. Oh yeah, that meant everything was free poured as well.

Chris won with his 2-part cocktail which involved Templeton rye, Fernet-Branca and Chartreuse. Hey, sounds like my kind of party!

Fernet luge

Fernet-Branca luge

Part of the festivities included a Fernet-Branca double ice luge, Templeton punch and a free shot of Fernet-Branca at midnight. The double luge was set on a table with two chairs so you could do a shot with a friend. As if you really needed moral support to do a luge.

Chris Day

Chris Day

Danny Cymbal's Old Devil

Danny Cymbal’s Old Devil

On a side note, after the competition, I got the Old Devil (Smith & Cross rum, Sailor Jerry rum, Appleton 12-Year-Old rum, Angostura bitters, Tiki Bitters, brown sugar cube), a drink by one of the Minty’s Hot Bartenders Danny Cymbal. It just went off the specials list but I’m sure you can still request the potent triple rum brew.

 

Cole’s Red Car Bar

118 East 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014-2006 – (213) 622-4090

© The Minty // LA Cocktails 2013

Dec19

Colorful Drinks at the Varnish

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Jason at the Varnish

Jason at the Varnish

 

A couple of weeks ago, I was at the Varnish and Jason Hubert was behind the stick. Jason moved to LA from Oakland earlier this year and has been helpful with his tips for the East Bay spots I’ve tried.

Green

Green Elevator

I mentioned to Jason I wanted something with Chartreuse– green Chartreuse and he complied with a classic drink called the Green Elevator. It was perfect since I tend to like egg white drinks as well. Read more about the cocktail here.

The Green Elevator

 

  • 1 oz Green Chartreuse
  • .5 oz lemon
  • .5 oz grapefruit juice
  • egg white

 
Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.

I did translate the measurements of the recipe to something a bit more familiar. Let me know if you make adjustments.

Blue

Blue Collar

 

But I started off the night with a Blue Collar. I’ve seen different recipes for this but it involves rye, Amer Picon, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur and bitters. I saw a variation with Cio Ciaro that looks great. Looks like Short Order has a version but they use Cherry Grenadine instead of maraschino.

Ah, did you expect neon colored drinks? I think I rather have a Green Elevator or Blue Collar any day.

Varnish
118 E 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90014 — (213) 622-9999
 
© The Minty // LA Cocktails  2012

 

 

 

Sep18

New Cocktails at Cana Rum Bar

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But first – an old favorite, Rum & Coconut Water

As mentioned in my last Cana post, the late summer menu had just dropped. I stopped in recently to try some of the new cocktails. But first, a friend who hadn’t been before decided to get the best selling drink- the Rum and Coconut Water. Cana buys fresh coconuts almost every day and it’s a sad night when they run out. They crack that baby up and add rum. Simple? Yes, and delicious. Plus, if you get hungry, you can nibble on the young coconut meat.

Exile in Paradise

Cana has renamed cocktail categories. Now there is a new section called “From the Garden.” I mostly concentrated on that page. For my first drink, I decided on the Exile in Paradise (whiskey, tequila, cognac, ripe peaches, lemon, pepper-cumin honey syrup). Oh, it was delicious. It’s times like this I really appreciate living in California with all our fresh produce.

Vamos a la Playa

Cana pays tribute to bartender Katie Stipe from Brooklyn’s Clover Club. She came up with Vamos a la Playa, this amazing watermelon cocktail. The Don Q anejo, lime, muddled watermelon, coriander syrup and salt at first sounds like it could be overdone but as GM Allan Katz told me, the surprising specs are just right. It’s not too sweet and very refreshing during our still sweltering nights.

What I really like about Cana’s menus are the tributes they give. Cana is across the street from Rivera where bartender Erik Lund recently left to head up MessHall. Cana named Grape Expectations for him. The drink with Kappa pisco, champagne grapes, lime and Imbue vermouth sounds like my next drink.

The next group of drinks are all beer cocktails. Called “Cold Ones,” this category includes four drinks including a twist on a Last Word called the Curse Word (Tanqueray, Bitter Truth EXR (herbal liqueur), lime, Maraska maraschino, La Chouffe Blonde). And now I know what the beer cocktail I tried before the menu dropped, Black Shack Alley (rhum agricole, Cynar, lime, Cana’s pineapple syrup, Monkey Fist IPA). When I do drink beer, they tend to be dark beers like porters and stouts. I definitely giving the Apache Knuckleduster (rye, Imperial IPA, stout syrup, Luxardo bitter, Meletti) a go next.

The last page of the list, “Victory Laps”, are Cana originals that are favorites including the Rum & Coconut Water.

What time does the bar open tonight? It might be time for a beer cocktail.

Cana Rum Bar

714 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015 – (213) 745-7090

© The Minty // LA Cocktails  2012

Aug10

Cana: A Bitters Craving

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Arms Race

From what I understand, Cana’s new menu dropped last week which means this post about the last menu is a bit late. But I am still craving the Arms Race which features 9 different kinds of bitters. I hope they kept this one of the list though they can probably make it again as it’s a Sazarac with the 9 different bitters. It’s Cana one-upping Amor y Amargo’s 8-Amaro Sazarac.

Erik Trickett

A few weeks ago, Erik Trickett formerly of 320 Main and now at roe in Long Beach was in between gigs. He tended bar at Cana while perfecting his tiki and rum drinks.

Ancient Mariner

Erik introduced to me his favorite tiki drink, Ancient Mariner. It originated with Beachbum Jeff Berry’s Grog Log. At first sip, I thought it was pretty similar to a Mai Tai though not as sweet. I enjoyed it because usually I could handle only one tiki drink at a time- the amount of sugar usually bothers me. Looking at the recipe, I could possibly have another or at least go for another drink.

Rum Dood has a great post on the Ancient Mariner and recipe.

Snake Eyes

During my last visit, Snake Eyes was one of my favorites (drink on the left). Made with Banks rum, Yellow Chartreuse, Absinthe, pasilla pepper, lime and Eucalyptus syrup,  I could easily have 3 of these and never tire of them.

Rope Burn

Back to bitter, I spotted the Rope Burn which I later found out Lush Angeles had a hand in. With Smith & Cross rum, Bonal and Aperol, it was a delicious and funky drink.

Cana’s latest beer cocktail

I did get a sneak peak of the beer cocktail that is on the new menu a few weeks ago.  I’m really digging beer cocktails so I’m happy for this trend.

I’ll have to go back in to try the rest of the menu!

Cana Rum Bar

714 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015 – (213) 745-7090

© The Minty // LA Cocktails 2012

 

A couple of notes:

  • $20 yearly membership fee (good for you and up to 3 guests)
  • Entrance off Flower
Aug8

DTLA: New Drinks at Bar | Kitchen

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Cherimoya

Recently Bar | Kitchen updated its cocktail and food menus. I tried a couple of the new ones with plans to return to check out the rest of the list. On this night, I started with the Cherimoya (pisco, white monkey tea, lemon). It’s a great opening cocktail and I would order this over and over again.

Pardon

Next, I tasted the Pardon (bourbon, Pimm’s #1, curacao, cucumber, orange oil). For those expecting something lighter along the lines of a Pimm’s cup might be surprised by this drink. Being a whiskey fan, I was all about it.

I’m looking forward to trying the following:

Commissioner’s Row- Tennessee whiskey, rhubarb amaro, black strap rum, anisette, pineapple, lime bitters

Gully H. Cobbler – sherry, Gentian liqueur, lemon, cinnamon, peaches

The rest of the menu has many summer libations created with sparkling wine, vermouths and tropical juices. Find me drinking a Cox Comb (reposado tequila, Cocchi Americano, Aperol, grapefruit) soon.

Bar | Kitchen at the O Hotel

819 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 – (213) 623-9904

© The Minty // LA Cocktails 2012

Aug3

Meet the New Summer Cocktails at Border Grill

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Tequila at Border Grill

 

Summer’s here and it’s time to meet the new cocktails at Border Grill. You can say goodbye to the Winter ones and maybe they’ll make their way back in a few month.

Cava Guava

 

The bubbly girl at the party is Cava Guava (Cava, tequila blanco, guava, lemon). She’s the one you want to meet first before you say hello to anyone else. She’s got a bit of a Latin flair to her as she’s like the Chilean cocktail Cazuela en Champagne but when you add tequila, you know you’re in for a good time.

Ginger Summers

 

Ready to meet another pretty girl? You may be too young to remember but there was this fantastic TV show called Gilligan’s Island. Many little girls– and some little boys have thought a lot about Mary Ann and Ginger. Ginger Summers is the best of both; spicy and completely comfortable playing her role as the girl next door. The margarita is with tequila reposado, orange liqueur, ginger and blueberry.

Summer Santa

Hoja santa leaf

 

And who is that guy looking dapper in the corner? He’s hanging out showing off his Christmas look in the summer. He reminds you of your college trip to South America where you saw flora and fauna like you’ve never seen before. The giant hoja santa leaf is incorporated with cachaca, raspberry, orange and lemon for this drink. Hoja santa taste a bit like root beer and anise. The red and green. Christmas! Santa! Summer Santa likes being noticed at this cocktail  hour.

 

Fire/Water/Melon

 

If Summer Santa can be the older, interesting guy at the party then Fire/Water/Melon is the shaman whose wisdom you seek. The pisco, watermelon, lemon and serrano chile was the favorite of the party.

Silver Surfer

Oh, and who just crashed the party? The Silver Surfer rolled in with his suave tequila blanco, celery mint shrub and sparkling water. After mixing with Fire, you want to cool your night down with the Silver Surfer.

Andean Stallion

 

But the man of my dreams just walked in. I met Andean Stallion thinking he was going to show me the world but he said he’ll show me South America and then Italy first. With pisco, Fernet Branca, lime, agave and Angostura bitters, I’m in love.

Welcome to all the cocktails, they’re ready to party.

Border Grill

Los Angeles – 445 S Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90071 – (213) 486-5171

 

© The Minty // LA Cocktails 2012

Aug1

Some Days We Need a Dive Bar- Back Door Pub in DTLA

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Back Door Pub

Some days you just want to go to a bar where it’s not about cocktails. I’ve been thinking about doing another dive bar crawl in Downtown Los Angeles and was checking out the Back Door Pub at the Milner Hotel. I’ve wondered about this place for ages as it’s next door to my beloved Bar | Kitchen at the O Hotel. 

There have been many nights where I go from my office at Drago Centro to BK to Cana and sometimes Rivera. I would make this an official event but that’s generally my Tuesday nights.

We arrived through the front door though every one joked you should get in from the back. The lights were too bright and it felt like we were crashing someone’s party. Or perhaps we needed to camp out two hours ahead and got to know the locals. I eyed the popcorn machine but since I was still full from dinner, I just headed to the bar.

We had a good laugh about the bottle nipples and ordered some shots- Jameson for me, Maker’s Mark for her. We sipped, we looked, we got stared at, we offered our bar stools to a couple of hipsters buying PBR and popped over to my locals- yep, BK and Cana. I’ll have to save Rivera for another night.

Would I go back again? Yeah, my Jameson was $7 and it was quite the adventure. Plus, I want some popcorn.
Stay tuned for the next DTLA Dive Bar Crawl featuring Back Door and Hank’s soon!

 

Back Door Pub at the Milner Hotel

813 S. Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 — (213) 627-6981

© The Minty // LA Cocktails 2012