Everything right in the bar world, The Dabney provides a luxurious but homey setting, exemplar service, and wonderful cocktails. Ambiance: ****1/2 Decor: ****1/2 Service: ***** Cocktails: ***** Overall Rating: 5 “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald When… Read More Cocktails from the Garden – The Dabney (Visit #2)
“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.” —Charles W. Eliot The life of a mediocre cocktail writer can be a lonely one – as you get a bit older, you realize your acquaintances steadily accrue wives, children, careers, and other unhelpful encumbrances… Read More Where to Read and Drink in DC
This week I’m reviewing Alan Furst’s latest spy novel “A Hero of France,” so I decided to play with some French-themed cocktails (for the second time). The classic French 75 was one of the first cocktails I can remember drinking – as a military history geek, I was drawn to any drink that takes a fine piece… Read More Drinking 75s in Occupied Paris
Alfie’s is a stellar bar with best-of-class cocktails, a wonderful crowd, and a simple warm décor. Ambiance: ***** Decor: **** Service: ***** Cocktails: ***** Overall Rating: 4.75 When your best-laid plans inevitably go sideways, you have to adapt and overcome. This truism came to mind this week when I headed over to Alfie’s, a proud member of… Read More One of Those Nights – Alfie’s (Visit #2)
This week I’m reviewing James Anderson’s debut novel “The Never-Open Desert Diner” a stark portrayal of life in the Utah desert. So, I went looking for cocktails that evoked that crimson, beautiful landscape that I was lucky enough to hike through over a decade ago. If you ever get the chance, go to Moab and… Read More Cocktails from the Badlands
Ashlar’s mixes a stunningly beautiful décor with awesome service and some solid drinks. Ambiance: *** Decor: ***** Service: ***** Cocktails: **** Overall Rating: 4.25 Wandering around Old Town on a quiet and warm evening last week, I almost stumbled upon the newly-refurbished Morrison House, a boutique hotel smack dab in the heart of Old Town. Its… Read More Taste of Southern Grace – Ashlar
Radiator’s cocktail list is daring and wonderful, served up by one of the best bar staffs I’ve ever watched work. Ambiance: **** Decor: **** Service: ***** Cocktails: ****1/2 Overall Rating: 4.5 Strolling around the surprisingly quiet Logan Circle neighborhood one weekend afternoon, I spied the construction of what looked like a deck. Hmm…intrigued by the potential… Read More Summer Heat – Radiator
I make no secret of my intense love for Alexandria’s Captain Gregory’s; if you’re in the DC area, consider yourself a lover of cocktails, and haven’t been yet – you’re just doing it wrong. As my blog attests to, I’ve been to tons of awesome bars all over, but none of them impress me like Captain… Read More Rum School at Captain Gregory’s
Twisted Horn is a quaint neighborhood spot with a happily sedate vibe and sweet drinks. Ambiance: **** Decor: **** Service: **** Cocktails: **** Overall Rating: 4 It’s been 5 months since I last visited Petworth’s Twisted Horn which, in that short period, has become a fixture of the neighborhood’s thriving food and drink scene. Entering this time… Read More Hello Cocktails, My Old Friend – The Twisted Horn (Visit #2)
Hello Cocktails! 