Best of the West: Left Coast Libations Release Party at The Varnish

Ever since I received a preview copy of Left Coast Libations (LCL), I shamelessly posted recipes from the excellent book of 100 cocktails, created by 51 of the best bartenders on the West Coast. To celebrate the book’s release, LCL creators Ted Munat, Michael Lazar, and Scott Bodarky have spent the last few weeks hosting release parties at LCL cities such as San Francisco, Seattle and Portland. This Sunday, October 17th, it’s L.A.’s turn to party LCL-style when The Varnish welcomes Munat, Lazar and Bodarky for a Left Coast Libations Release Party.

The LCL creators will be at The Varnish to sign books, which will be available for purchase at the event. (Hmm…since I already bought my own copy will they make me buy another one if I want it signed?) As I write this, Lazar is infusing Duggan McDonnell’s Campo de Encanto Pisco with dried apricots in order to make Ryan Fitzgerald’s Il Terzo (LCL pg. 52) for the party. Also guest bartending is Anu Apte (Rob Roy, Seattle), who will feature her original LCL cocktails such as the Saffron Sandalwood Sour and the Smallflower (both pg. 102).

Joining McDonnell and Apte from the home team is The Varnish’s own Devon Tarby. As it says on the Facebook event page: “[Devon Tarby] with Anu will surely create the most Unstoppable Drink Duo of Full Feminine Force the world has yet known.” LCL’s Los Angeles contributors, such as Varnish co-owner Eric Alperin, will also be present.

For more information, visit www.leftcoastlibations.com.

Left Coast Libations Release Party
Sunday, October 17, 2010
8pm-12am

The Varnish
118 E. Sixth St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 622-9999
www.thevarnishbar.com

Update 10/14: As if the LCL release party weren’t enough, there’s a preparty from 4-8pm, featuring LCL contributors Eric Alperin and Marcos Tello! The preparty is FREE, but RSVP is required. Send your RSVPs to Varnish GM Chris Bostick, at bostick[at]213downtown[dot]la.