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The Varnish

February 24: The Varnish Three-Year Anniversary Party

By thirstyinla On February 22, 2012 · Add Comment · In Events
The Varnish is toasting its three year anniversary on Friday, February 24th, with free Bols Genever punch from 7pm-10pm (while it lasts) and jazz piano by Jamie Elman all night long.
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Harvard & Stone NYE 2011

So Long 2011, and Thanks for All the Fish!

By thirstyinla On December 21, 2011 · 3 Comments · In Events
It’s time to start stretching those livers, Los Angeles! Craft cocktail destinations across the city are welcoming the new year with masquerade parties, multi-course dinners, and spirited trips around the world and back in time to the 1920s.
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Cole's Repeal Day 2011 Flyer

December 4: Cole’s 103rd Anniversary and Repeal Day Celebration

By thirstyinla On December 1, 2011 · Add Comment · In Events
Cole’s Red Car Bar is celebrating its 103rd Anniversary and hosting a Repeal Day celebration on Sunday, December 4th. The bash features free French Dips, free Bathtub Gin Punch and a midnight champagne toast.
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Thirsty in NOLA: Tales of the Cocktail 2011

By thirstyinla On July 19, 2011 · 5 Comments · In Events, Tastings
The last time I was in New Orleans, it was many years before Katrina, when my girlfriend and I stayed at her best friend’s house in the Garden District and we spent two weeks eating and drinking our way through the Big Easy. Now, after far too long a gap between visits, I’m heading back to New Orleans to join thousands of other attendees at the 2011 Tales of the Cocktail!
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Employees Only bar

2011 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards Nominees Announced

By thirstyinla On June 2, 2011 · Add Comment · In Books, Events
The nominees for the 2011 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards have been announced, and once again the Los Angeles cocktail banner is being carried by The Varnish (nominated for Best American Cocktail Bar) and its co-owner, Eric Alperin (American Bartender of the Year). New York’s Employees Only leads the field this year with nominations for Best American Cocktail Bar, World’s Best Drink Selection, and World’s Best Cocktail Bar.
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Food & Wine Cocktails 2011: Twelve Los Angeles Bars in the Top 100 American Bars

By thirstyinla On May 27, 2011 · 1 Comment · In Books
Los Angeles cocktail culture makes a strong showing in Food & Wine Cocktails 2011, which arrived in stores in May and features 130-plus cocktail recipes, over 20 party food recipes, a mixology handbook, and a directory of the Top 100 American Bars.
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Lessons from a World Class Bartender: A Cocktail Master Class with Erik Lorincz

By thirstyinla On May 6, 2011 · 2 Comments · In Events
For a bartender, dream jobs don’t get more prestigious than Head Bartender of the American Bar at The Savoy. The current Head Bartender of the American Bar is Erik Lorincz, a 31-year-old native of Slovakia who began his tenure when The Savoy reopened on October 10, 2010.
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Bulleit Rye Whiskey is Right on Target

By thirstyinla On March 24, 2011 · 11 Comments · In Reviews
Bulleit Rye Whiskey made its national debut in March 2011, and it looks poised to garner the same devotion and acclaim as its predecessor.
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The Art of the Blend: Cognac and Cocktails at The Varnish

By thirstyinla On March 20, 2011 · Add Comment · In Tastings
Angelenos learned about cognac and its role in cocktail culture during a Cognac Cocktail Class at The Varnish, presented by Liquor.com and hosted by Varnish co-owner Eric Alperin and GM Chris Bostick. During the sold out two-hour session, attendees were educated about the luxury spirit, tasted expressions from the premium Pierre Ferrand line, and learned how to make four cognac cocktails.
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February 24: The Varnish Two Year Anniversary

By thirstyinla On February 23, 2011 · 3 Comments · In Events
Never one to announce itself, The Varnish is quietly celebrating its Two Year Anniversary on Thursday, February 24th. Eric Alperin and Marcos Tello will be behind the bar, and guests can start the celebration with a complimentary glass of punch.
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    • Booze and Vinyl 2022: Electric Boogaloo
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  • INSTAGRAM

    Cheers @makersmark for hosting “Meals That Made Cheers @makersmark for hosting “Meals That Made Us,” a stellar dinner pop-up featuring cocktails by @just_jodi and a three-course tasting menu from @meilin21 💛

Meals That Made Us is a collaboration with Project by Project, a nonprofit leadership development organization that empowers the AAPI community and develops the next generation of leaders through innovative philanthropy 🙏

📸 Jodi and Mei by @pbpla

🍵 Mano Po: Jodi’s welcome cocktail with genmaicha infused Maker's Mark, bay leaves infused manzanilla, amaro, creme de cacao

🍤 Sichuan Shrimp Stuffed Wings: shrimp, Sichuan peppercorn, cilantro, green onion, chiles, caviar
🥃 Maamsir: mango skin infused Maker's Mark, apricot, Campari, bianco vermouth

🍝 Linguine a la Vongole: geoduck, black bean sauce clams, Thai basil
🥥  Sini-Gang: Maker's Mark, Suze, lemongrass-tamarind syrup, lemon, lime, coconut sugar

🍍 Sour Pineapple Ice: passion-coconut sorbet, pomelo, chewy green mango
🍌 Banana Cue Me: Maker's Mark 46, torched plantain amontillado, creme de banana, verjus

🎁 😎 

#thirstyinla #mealsthatmadeus #makersmark #wcw #womenshistorymonth
    Much love @lawhiskeysnob for hosting last month's Much love @lawhiskeysnob for hosting last month's incredible tasting of the @teelingwhiskey 32-Year-Old Purple Muscat Single Malt Irish Whiskey! 🙏

The venue was the stunning La Boucherie, located on the 71st floor of the @intercontinentaldtla 🤩 

Clocking in at 107 proof, the superb first bottling of the Very Rare Casks Collection was distilled in 1990; matured in bourbon barrels for 28 years; and finished in a single Portuguese Purple Muscat French Oak cask for an additional four years.

🥃 Leading up to the 32-year, Lucy tasted us through the Teeling Single Malt and the final release in the Renaissance Single Malt Series, the 18-Year-Old finished in ex-calvados casks.

#thirstyinla #teelingwhiskey #irishwhiskey #stpatricksday #discoverla #dtla
    💚 #thirstyinla #discoverla #repost @schimekstu 💚
#thirstyinla #discoverla

#repost @schimekstudios
All March @soulmateweho we are featuring the Jane Roe cocktail to fundraise money for reproductive rights, thanks to our collaboration with @yolamezcal 
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The vivid green color is to honor the #mareaverde movement in the Americas and beyond.
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Jane Roe: Yola Mezcal, chlorophyll, lemon myrtle, lime, mint
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#soulmateweho #westhollywood 
#yolamezcal #fundraiser #nationalinstituteforreproductivehealth #abortionrights #reproductiverights
    “Oh, good. You’re here too.” 👀 #everythin “Oh, good. You’re here too.” 👀
#everythingeverywhere #eeaao
    There are so many extraordinary women in my life t There are so many extraordinary women in my life that I want to celebrate on #InternationalWomensDay, but first and foremost is my mom 🙏 

After emigrating from Hong Kong to the U.S. with my late father, she eventually became the head RN at Sherman Oaks Community Hospital, which had one of the preeminent burn centers in the country. Richard Pryor and Michael Jackson were just two of the famous patients treated at SO during mom’s tenure.

She and dad co-founded a home healthcare service at the dawn of the ‘80s AIDS epidemic - the majority of their patients were HIV positive or had full-blown AIDS. Her compassion for those who were afflicted - visiting and treating patients at a time when fear, ignorance and hatred prevented so many from receiving the care they desperately needed - was and is awe-inspiring.
    Kang the Conqueror had to start somewhere! 😜 #a Kang the Conqueror had to start somewhere! 😜
#antmanandthewaspquantumania
#thirstyinla
    Yesterday’s service was beautiful, thank you so Yesterday’s service was beautiful, thank you so much to everyone at @forestlawnmemorial Hollywood Hills 🙏

Dad would have been touched to see the many friends and family who attended 🥺
Mom, Andrew @adbruin and I are so grateful for the incredible amount of love and support that we’ve received since dad passed ❤️

Special thanks to our amazing Celebrant @marshamendizza - for her eloquence in sharing dad’s story, for having the most soothing voice ever, and for including quotes from Lao Tzu and Maya Angelou (her selections, not ours)

I legit choked up when the harpist @maggiesharps played dad’s favorite hymn, “In the Garden” 😭 (Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” also sounded lovely as guests paid their respects)

Shout out to Andrew for knocking it out of the park with his remembrance! 👏

The Memorial Video that was shown during the service is at dad’s online obituary, link in profile 👀
    Over the weekend we went through decades of photos Over the weekend we went through decades of photos for the video montage at my dad’s funeral service 🥹
These Hong Kong photos were a revelation - dad looks more like a bartender than a pharmacist (👋 @apothekela) and my mom is luminous, straight out of “In the Mood for Love.”
    Follow @thirstyinla