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60 Years Strong: The Industry’s Toast to Jimmy Russell

By thirstyinla On August 10, 2014 · Add Comment · In Events, Reviews, Stories
One of the best events from last month’s Tales of the Cocktail was 60 Years Strong: The Industry’s Toast to Jimmy Russell. Sponsored by Wild Turkey and hosted by Erick Castro, 60 Years Strong was held in honor of Wild Turkey Master Distiller Jimmy Russell, the Bourbon Hall of Famer affectionately known as the “Buddha of Bourbon.”
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Yael Vengroff - Speed Rack National Finals 2012

Speed Rack San Diego, Ivy Mix at Sadie

By thirstyinla On February 24, 2013 · 2 Comments · In Events
Speed Rack, the first nationwide competition created by and for female bartenders comes to San Diego on March 3, 2013 for an extraordinary event that combines world class bartenders, spectator sport and fundraising to fight breast cancer.
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Eveleigh Guest Bartender Series Round 5

By thirstyinla On May 27, 2012 · Add Comment · In Events
On Monday, May 28th, Eveleigh returns with Round 5 of its superb Guest Bartender Series. Round 5 kicks off with former Varnish GM Chris Bostick in his final LA appearance before he heads to Austin to open his own bar.
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March 31: Mixtape Mixology at Big Bar with Erick Castro

By thirstyinla On March 22, 2011 · Add Comment · In Events
On Thursday, March 31st, Big Bar is spicing up its weekly Mixtape Mixology night with a bit of friendly LA-SF rivalry. Starting at 7pm, San Francisco's Erick Castro will be mixing SF-inspired Plymouth Gin cocktails, while Big Bar’s Juan Sevilla and Dan Long will be holding it down for the home team.
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Riding the Trolley of Death, Fueled by Plymouth Gin

By thirstyinla On February 8, 2011 · 7 Comments · In Events, Reviews
A motley crew of gin-soaked bloggers, bartenders and shanghaied passengers rides the Trolley of Death for a night of drinks at some of L.A.'s best bars.
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Oliver Jones Named Winner of the 2010 Jimmy Barela Award

By thirstyinla On December 8, 2010 · 5 Comments · In Uncategorized
Oliver Jones has been named the winner of the 2010 Jimmy Barela Award, which honors the legendary bartender who held court at Cole’s Red Car Bar for 65 years. Jones, who can be found behind the stick at Las Perlas and Tengu (Westwood), bested eleven other competitors in a cocktail showdown that took place at The Varnish on Repeal Day.
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Get into the Spirit of Halloween with 213, The Edison, Les Deux, Villains Tavern

By thirstyinla On October 25, 2010 · 4 Comments · In Events
Halloween Weekend is upon us, and thirsty Angelenos have nothing to fear if they’re looking for great cocktails to go with a plethora of scary shenanigans. Whether it’s the bars of 213, the steampunk atmosphere of Villains Tavern and The Edison, or the Hollywood glam of Les Deux, there’s no shortage of temptations to indulge in this sinful weekend.
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Blame it on Rio: Leblon and the Caipirinha

By thirstyinla On March 28, 2010 · 2 Comments · In Reviews
In the next several years, the eyes of the world will be on Brazil, the host country of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. The booze fairy wanted me to get a head start on getting to know Brazil and thoughtfully sent a review package of Leblon Cachaça. Cachaça (pronounced “ka-SHA-sa”) [...]
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February 23: Radio Room at the Edison

By thirstyinla On February 19, 2010 · Add Comment · In Events
Since its relaunch last February, the Radio Room at the Edison has hosted guest mixologists from top bars such as Bourbon & Branch, Death & Co., Milk & Honey, Drink, Heaven’s Dog, and Clyde Common. In November, the Radio Room brought in guests Kirk Estopinal, Richard Gomez, and Danny Valdez from Cure (New Orleans), along with Plymouth Gin brand [...]
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    • Booze and Vinyl 2022: Electric Boogaloo
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    Still recovering from last night’s Friends & Fam Still recovering from last night’s Friends & Family at @ginrummybar, now open in the former Nueva space! Much more to share, stay tuned…
🔥💨 Corpse Reviver  No. 47: Chamomile Infused Gin, Yellow Chartreuse, Lemon, Orange Curaçao, Absinthe, Chamomile Smoke
#thirstyinla #discoverla #dinela
    As part of its #AAPIHeritageMonth programming, on As part of its #AAPIHeritageMonth programming, on May 22 @pbs is premiering “Fanny: The Right to Rock,” the award-winning 2021 documentary about the pioneering rock band co-founded by Filipina American and queer teenagers 💛🏳️‍🌈🎸
Fanny is renowned as the first all-women band to release an album with a major record label (Warner/Reprise, 1970)

For the 2021 edition of Booze and Vinyl, @davemakessensedollarsandcents selected Fanny’s eponymous 1970 debut album - his intro featured this @davidbowie quote from a 1999 @rollingstone interview: 

“One of the most important female bands in American rock has been buried without a trace, and that is Fanny. They were one of the finest fvcking rock bands of their time in about 1973. They were extraordinary; they wrote everything, they played like motherfvckers, they were just colossal and wonderful, and nobody’s ever mentioned them. They’re as important as anybody else who’s ever been, ever, it just wasn’t their time. Revivify Fanny and I will feel that my work is done.” 👨🏻‍🎤

👀 Check out Dave’s cocktail pairings for “Fanny” in Ye Olde Profile, along with contributions from @allofthedrinks @chernobes @colinxmiller @davestolte @eugeneshoots @rev_robertsinewave @robin_nance_ @sazeracla
#thirstyinla #boozeandvinyl
    Happy AAPI Heritage Month y’all! Check the link Happy AAPI Heritage Month y’all!
Check the link in my profile for our @discoverla guide to cultural exhibits, film screenings and live performances taking place throughout the city 💛

📸 @lalouver - @gajinfujita.la “Mere Mortal” (2022)
📸 @kaijukrys as Fusion Godzilla
📸 @lapubliclibrary - @neaarts Big Read: “Interior Chinatown”
📸 @academymuseumscreenings - Sammo Hung in “Millionaires Express”

#aapiheritagemonth #discoverla
    It’s National Prime Rib Day and the eve of the 1 It’s National Prime Rib Day and the eve of the 15th anniversary @dinela Restaurant Week! 🤩
@lawrystheprimerib is an OG RW participant, and to celebrate Prime Rib Day and the anniversary they’re launching their Surf & Turf Dine LA menu a day early 🦞 🥩

Lawry’s has been a family favorite for decades - my late father had been going there since the 1950s 🙏
📸 dad’s birthday at Lawry’s in August 2022 - the last time we all had dinner there together 🥺
 
Check my profile for links to the @discoverla history of Lawry’s and menus for hundreds of restaurants participating in Dine LA, taking place April 28 - May 12 🍽 
#lawrys #nationalprimeribday #dinela #discoverla
    Spring has sprung at @bigbaralcove! 💐 🥂 Th Spring has sprung at @bigbaralcove! 💐 

🥂 This month’s Featured Cocktail is the delightful, dangerously good Escape from LA by @cocktailsbyhawk:
Courvoisier VSOP Cognac, Giffard Abricot du Roussillon, Demerara Syrup, Lemon Juice, Scrappy’s Chocolate Bitters, Saline Solution; topped with Prosecco and garnished with Dark Chocolate Dust 🦅
🎞 Check out Saeed’s IG Reel for the recipe 🙌

Slowly working my way through the newly launched Spring/Summer menu:
🍸 We Go Deep - a Chicago deep dish 🍕 inspired Martini by @where_aremypants, made with Future Gin, Wheatley Vodka, Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth, pizza sauce, GF baguette, anchovy oil (optional) 
🔥 The Jerk by lead bartender @abigaillsmith - Diplomatico Reserva Rum, Havana Club Blanco Rum, Smith & Cross, jicama, tomatillo, mango, jerk 
🥃 Oregano Trail by @szenitram - Maker's Mark 46 Bourbon, barley, oregano, Old Fashioned + Angostura Bitters

Hope to see y’all at the Big Bar Spring Party on April 27! 🎉
#thirstyinla #discoverla
    Throwing it back to April 14, 2012: Lamb & Libatio Throwing it back to April 14, 2012: Lamb & Libations with this Murderers’ Row 🤩
🔥 oak-rotisserie lamb with garlic, rosemary, lemon 
🍹 Jason making a Sprezzatura
👂🏻 “Did someone just challenge me to a Margarita Throwdown?”
🥊 Stolte’s Classic vs Bostick’s Good Ol’ Texas Margarita

UPDATE: Margarita specs from Ye Olde Blog
👀

@davestolte
1.5 oz reposado tequila
.75 oz triple sec
.5 oz lemon juice
.5 oz lime juice
“Chill a cocktail glass in the freezer at least ten minutes. Add ingredients in a shaker about a third-full with ice cubes. Shake well to blend and chill, then strain into the chilled glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.”

@mrbostick
2 oz Siete Leguas Reposado
1 oz fresh lime juice
.75 oz orange curaçao (Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao works great)
.25 oz simple
“Shake all ingredients together and pour into double Old Fashioned glass filled with hand cracked ice. Garnish with lime wedge. Eat 2 cheese enchiladas with chili gravy, rice and beans. Repeat.”

#thirstyinla #fbf
    Last week, @discoverla hosted a wonderful pasta-ma Last week, @discoverla hosted a wonderful pasta-making demo and four-course dinner at @rossoblula 🍝
After dinner, @baotruong21 and I stopped by @damafashiondistrict for a nightcap and OMG @pablo_moix was there! 🤩

Named to this year’s @imbibe 75, Pablo and his @rarecharacterwhiskey partners @peteofdiscovery and Andy Shapira recently revived the historic @fortunabourbon, which was available from the 1880s to the 1960s. 

Guided by samples of original stocks from his personal collection, Pablo hand-blended six barrels aged a minimum of six years for a modern Fortuna that clocks in at 102 proof 🥃

Pablo graciously poured us a dram of Fortuna and a comparative taste of @blantons_bourbon. Bao enthused that the Fortuna was the best bourbon he’d ever had, and it is indeed superb. @klwines Spirits Buyer David Othenin-Girard wrote, “I have to say [Pablo] hit an absolute home run. … I can't believe anyone else is taking so much time and energy to put together such a delicious product.” 👏

#thirstyinla #fortunabourbon #rarecharacterwhiskey #imbibe75 #discoverla #dtla
    Love you and miss you @falcofernet 😘 📸 @saze Love you and miss you @falcofernet 😘
📸 @sazeracla
#thirstyinla #barbiethemovie
    Follow @thirstyinla