Posts by thirstyinla
All the Booze That’s Fit to Print – January 2010
An occasional roundup of L.A. cocktail culture in various media. Before recapping a busy January 2010 (see below) let’s take one last look at December 2009 and the decade that was. In its Dec. 29th edition, the NY Times published A Decade of Invention and Reinvention, its look at mixology trends of the decade. Topping…
Read MoreThere's an App for That: BlackBook for the iPhone
Now that Steve Jobs has finally unveiled the iPad (aka The Tablet That Launched a Million Tampon Jokes) and the world can collectively breathe again, it’s time to focus on more serious matters. No, I’m not talking about health care or the economy. I refer of course to the never-ending search to find the world’s…
Read MoreA Toast to the Bard of Ayrshire
It’s January 25, and on this day in 1759, the great Romantic poet Robert Burns was born. To celebrate Burns Night, people around the world will gather for a Burns Supper and eat haggis, drink whisky, and recite Burns’ poetry. Now, any event that calls for drams of whisky is fine by me, but a…
Read MoreHaiti Relief Events at The Doheny and The Edison
Beginning tonight, two of the top cocktail destinations in Los Angeles are joining the many bars and restaurants that are hosting fundraisers to benefit the ongoing Haiti earthquake relief efforts. In addition to The Doheny and The Edison events, be sure to check the links below for other venues, as well as a Mashable guide…
Read MoreDrink Local: Made in Malibu Launches at Pourtal
When wine aficionados talk about California wine, it’s more than likely they’re discussing the world famous wineries that are well north of our fair city. Santa Monica’s Pourtal aims to change that way of thinking with Made in Malibu, a wine tasting series that explores Malibu’s burgeoning wine region, or American Viticultural Area (AVA). The…
Read MoreWhen Scotland Met Portugal: The Balvenie Madeira Cask 17 Year Old
The Balvenie has been called “the bourbon lover’s scotch,” a perfect description of the smooth, honeyed sweetness found in the Speyside distillery’s single malts. For the last several years, Balvenie has been one of the foremost practitioners of the wood-finished style, in which traditionally-aged Scotch is “finished” for an additional two years (or more) in…
Read More2010: So Far, So Good
So far, 2010 is off to a great start: got up early this morning, made brunch with my brother, had a nice Chinese seafood dinner with the family, then topped off the evening with a Manhattan at home on a quiet Friday night. Day One may be winding down, but a look at the calendar…
Read MoreSo Long Aughts, and Thanks for All the Fish!
To help you ring in a new decade (or bury the old one, depending on your POV), some of the city’s top cocktail destinations are throwing New Year’s Eve parties with a dizzying variety of offerings. To make your search for the perfect NYE bash a little easier, I’ve compiled a list of events below.…
Read MoreThe Tar Pit is Simply Swellegant
It all started with a text message from Rivera‘s Julian Cox: “You, me, Thursday Friends and Family, Tar Pit. You down?” Hmm…go to a sneak preview of the most talked-about bar in town? Gosh, tough call! After carefully pulling my car over to text my reply, plans were arranged and we headed out to a…
Read MoreA Knockout of a Punch Contest
photos by Lena Watanabe Last Thursday, cocktail enthusiasts braved the rain to attend ‘Twas the Punch Before Christmas, a punch contest presented by Matt Robold (RumDood) and sponsored by Kraken Rum. It all took place in the upstairs area at Malo. The contest entries were whittled down to five (initially six) finalists, a formidable lineup…
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