Forgotten Cocktail Club



Alewife in Baltimore

Read about the Forgotten Cocktail Club a while back in Baltimore Magazine, but didn't have a chance to attend one of the "pop up bar" events until July 20 over at Alewife in Baltimore. So far the only way to know about upcoming events is to "like" them on Facebook, but that may change before long. Opening the doors at 7pm on a Friday evening, there was a $7 cover charge, but that was likely to cover the cost of renting out a rather large upstairs space at Alewife. 8-9 craft cocktails were presented on a menu; some of their own generation, some vintage. The Blood and Sand was well-made, as was their original concoction (blanking on the name, sorry!) with gin, agave syrup, soda and some other ingredient...ginger perhaps? Anyway, worth the effort for the folks really in it for the drinks (or beginners seeking out a learning experience)...but with no food service and $12-$15/glass it's unlikely you'll stay beyond a two-drink minimum. Gave me an excuse to get 'tarted up' and have a cold one though, so to be clear, I will definitely be going again!


Bacon Maple Beer

So I just returned from dinner with a friend of mine who came bearing a no-reason gift for yours truly. Who doesn't love no-reason gifts??? Super excited when she hinted that it was liquid, and even more delighted when she presented me with this BOTTLE OF AWESOME:


How could one not love a gift of this character? Let's count the ways in which it should inspire you to acquire:

1. It's PINK
2. It's from my beloved home state of Oregon
3.  <insert beer lover comment here>
4. Bacon + Maple = Delicious (although admittedly this combo + Beer is dubious; but curiosity should win out here. Be adventurous.)
5. Rogue is one of the best cheeky breweries out there
6. As they say..."The Magic is in the Hole"...liquefied Voodoo Doughnuts 
7. You gotta support pure Portland kitch

So torn though! The chances of me liking the taste of this hoover somewhere around 30% to zero so...

Informal poll:  do I not open it and keep it as a collector's item? Or...does curiosity win out? It probably won't last well after it's open, so if taking a swig is all the proof I need that it is not worth finishing...perhaps it is best left alone...? 

Pacifico Cantina

It's 4th of July here in the Nation's Capital and it's redonkulous-hot. Humid. Miserable. What to do on such a holiday...on a Wednesday no less? Wrong answer: hang out in crowded fields with no shade for hours on end waiting for some flecks of colored incendiary devices light up the sky. UGH! No thank you. I'd rather park myself at a bar and have a bowl of margaritas. Come to think of it, I'd rather do that most days...even when it's not humid. Enter the Pacifico Cantina rooftop bar in DC, near the Eastern Market metro stop. Having read a review online that inspired my holiday hang-out choice...the photo of the rooftop bar looked so enticing, I had to go check the venue out.

 

bowl of liquor

Apart from the truly nasty weather, the rooftop atmosphere and organized set-up did not disappoint. Neither did the margaritas, which were made to specification and served in beautiful festive glassware. The queso, however, was soupy and flavorless, salmon tacos were different but not exciting, and the service was incredibly slow, forgetful, and just preoccupied in general...and we were sitting at the bar. While it was clear the weather had nobody performing at their best, it was overall an underwhelming experience that some people might not repeat. Personally, I'll go back simply for the atmosphere on a balmy night alone (and judging by the happy hour specials below it will likely be on a Monday), with a decent cold beverage, but admittedly will probably never plan on another meal there...

 

Happy Hour Specials @ Pacifico:  

• Monday:  $5 Margarita by the Glass
• Tuesday:  $1 off Tacos
• Wednesday:  Half Priced Quesadillas
• Sunday:  Half Priced Nachos &Sangria