LAST NIGHT A COCKTAIL SAVED MY LIFE

In the past decade, Denver has really turned a corner, transforming from a suburban mid-west capital, to a bustling and ever-evolving metropolis chalk full of unique restaurants and bars. This begs the question however, are these new and trendy - or contrived and formulaic? To me, the best cocktail bars are those with a tried and true soul and a history to back it up - a story and a flavor that does not float with the times but remains constant to its original manifest. In the quest for substance, one need not look further than The Oxford Hotel’s Cruise Room. On December 5, 1933, Prohibition was repealed. The following day The Cruise Room opened its doors for business, unveiling a beautiful Art Deco martini bar fashioned after the lounges on the Queen Mary.

The place is a real treat on the eyes, with original chrome and soft red light falling upon wall panels of jovial “toasts” from around the globe. We saddled into one of the cozy booths lining the walls and began to relax.

Our friendly server, resplendent in waistcoat and bow tie, was quick to offer up honest advice while navigating their extensive martini list. While waiting for our first taste, I mozied over to the free jukebox to put on a few tunes - you’ll find the likes of Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and many other jazzy greats of yesteryear. With every small detail you absorb the sense you’ve just stepped into a quaint time capsule. 

On to the martinis….First up was the Fresca, a resfreshing mix of Finlandia Grapefruit Vodka, Chambord, a splash of Lime Juice and fresh Grapefruit. For under ten bucks I was more than pleased.

Next I opted for the Okey Dokey - the real winner of the bunch - a perfectly tart and sweet blend of Dewars, fresh Lemon Juice, fresh O.J., a touch of Grenadine and a sugar rim. If you stop into the Cruise Room do not miss the Okey Dokey. On the more basic side of the bar, I had a sip of my partner’s Scotch and Dry, a simple but incredibly tasty concoction of Whiskey, Ginger and Bitters - perhaps my go-to cocktail anywhere. Smooth and simple. For a personal touch, all martinis are shaken and poured at the table, really heightening the service and experience as a whole. 

As we exited through the beautiful Oxford Hotel’s lobby, we had a sense of true satisfaction from the Cruise Room’s unique and historical flair. No nonsense - just superb martinis, expert service and chic atmosphere. Add the Cruise Room to your next night out - but prepare for a jam on the weekends, and an elbow from me for that booth in the back! 

The Cruise Room - The Oxford Hotel

1600 17th Street  Denver, CO 80202
(303) 825-1107

My dear friends and readers. Next week, this cocktailing queen is making her way across the vineyards of Napa and knocking down the doors of San Francisco watering holes. As I make my way there, I’d love to hear from YOU! If you happen to have stumbled across not-to-be-missed locales, please send them my way! Better yet, first round’s on me! Check back for daily reviews as I go along….

Alien fans across the world are peeing their pants with joy this week, leading up to the June 1st release of the highly anticipated Prometheus. I myself am quite excited and am feeling this event deserves nothing less than a celebration. Thus I give you two outerspace-worthy recipes today, both of which are intended solely for the adventurous lot.

First up we have the Alien Brain Hemorrhage Cocktail  (the below image courtesy of Martin Williams, alpha-nerd residing in Scotland)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 shot Peach Schnapps
• 1 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream
• 2 dashes Blue Curacao
• 1 dash grenadine

Directions: Pour half a shot glass full of peach schnapps, followed with Bailey’s Irish Cream on top. Once the shot is almost full, add small amount of blue curacao. Upon settling, add a dash of grenadine to top off. Visually this one takes the cake - the taste is yet to be determined.

Carrying on with our outerspace libations, May 25th was celebrated by many as Towel Day, paying tribute to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is the book’s ficticious cocktail, quite like an intergalactic suckerpunch to the face. This version of the beverage is served the Zaphod Beeblebrox nightclub and bar in Ottawa:

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Jack Daniels Whiskey
• 1 oz. Peach schnapps
• 4-6 oz. Orange juice
• 1 splash of Blue curacao
• 1 lemon twist 
• 1 olive (optional) 

Directions: Fill a highball glass 3/4 full of ice. Add whiskey and schnapps, topping off with orange juice. Mix well, then add the blue curacao over the top.  Garnish with a lemon twist and olive, if you chose to include it. Drink at your own risk…

Happy Prometheus Release Week to all you nerdalicious hunks out there!

Memorial Day is upon us, bringing with it an extended siesta in the sun and 24 additional free hours to explore some of the best spots in the greater Denver area. Here are my picks for the ultimate weekend:

Kick things off early with Thursday night fare:

-Combine history with local flavors and head to Four Mile Historic Park on 715 South Forest Street for Colorado Corks & Cuisine. Taste local beer, wine, spirits and various culinary treats accompanied by fascinating tales of Colorado’s colorful past.

Friday:

-The 14th annual Downtown Denver Arts Festival makes its way to the Pavillions, showcasing over 100 local Colorado artists and a select group of national artists. While you’re in the area, pop across the street to Earls’ patio overlooking 16th Street Mall for happy hour martinis.

-Head for the hills for Beaver Creek’s Brews, Blues & BBQ. This is the 9th year for the summer festival, inviting chefs from all over the country. Vail Valley favorites will serve up barbeque set to the cool sounds of many Blues and Rock bands. Most importantly, be sure to sample the myriad of microbrews from across the country that will be up for tasting. The festival runs May 25-28.

Saturday:

-The famous Color Run makes its stop in Denver. A 5k celebrating color, fun and craziness - you’ll begin the race in a white tee, and will finish plastered in a tie dyed mess of natural color powders (a different color for every kilometer). Can’t make the Denver stop? The Color Run will make 12 more rounds in cities across the country, wrapping in Indianapolis on July 28th.

-Described as “outsider funk”, modern Beach Boys-esque California dream pop, the unique duo of Best Coast plays the Fox Theater in Boulder for a mere $20 a head.

Sunday:

-Jonesy’s Eat Bar on 20th throws their 2nd annual Sunday Memorial Day BBQ, from 4:30-9PM. A $14 all-you-can-eat feast, featuring Oskar Blues beer can chicken and Sinful ‘Que’s smoked pork. Jonesy’s will  be providing the sides with help from their friends at Encore and live entertainment by Jonny Barber and The Living Deads.

-Denver Gourmet Tours takes you through one of Denver’s favorite neighborhoods with A Gourmet Taste of The Highlands. The afternoon exploration of the area includes tasting various sweets of the chocolate, ice cream and cupcake persuasion, sampling wines from various regions while learning about their unexpected food pairings, stopping by new and old favorite eateries and all in all savouring the senses.  

Monday:

-Colorado’s most famous and fun Memorial Day event - The Bolder Boulder hits the ground- well - running, with over 50,000 people committing to a 10k of fun complete with roadside belly dancing hippies, costumed teams, a flyover and parashooters landing into Folsom Stadium as you make your Rocky-like entrance. Oh - and FREE BEER.

-Entertainment or sheer stupidity- you be the judge: LMFAO at Red Rocks. I dare anyone to try and claim you haven’t Party-Rocked an evening away at least once. This is bound to be a fun one - if at the very least for a fine evening’s entertainment of White People Dancing.

-On the other end of the musical spectrum, try and scalp some tickets to the Sold Out performance by one of my favorite bands, Of Monsters and Men - they play the Ogden at 7PM.

Happy Memorial Day to everybody! Here’s to all the Veterans, America, BBQ’s, getting your fitness on, and freedom and cocktails for all.  

Is your Wednesday in need of a pick-me-up? Thanks to Joanna Goddard of the incredibly charming blog A Cup of Jo (joannagoddard.blogspot.com) we have something in store that is sure to add a pop. I bring you the light and refreshing Rosemary Gin Fizz to help usher in the launch of Summer.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rosemary simple syrup (Boil one cup of sugar in one cup of water with a couple rosemary sprigs thrown in. Boil until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool.)
• 1 cup gin
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 bottle of Prosecco (or 2, if you want the cocktail to be lighter)

Stir ingredients together in a punch bowl or carafe, and garnish with sprigs of rosemary.

Happy Hump Day and be sure to check out Joanna’s wonderful blog!

I bloody hate Tuesdays. In the words of Mick & Keith “Who could hang a name on you?” No way around it, this sticky day of the week just has a way of getting you caught up in the muck. Well muck-be-gone my friend because the Ruby Tuesday cocktail saves the day a with a sweet & sour kick. Throw on a Stones record, grab a patio seat and watch the summery sun set with this simple cocktail from Cocktal UK:

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Gin
• 5 oz. Cranberry Juice
• 2 splashes Grenadine
• 1 splash soda water

Mix Gin, Cranberry, Grenadine in shaker with ice -vigorously. Pour over high ball glass filled with ice and top with a splash of soda water. Garnish with fresh cranberries or a cherry!

Happy Tuesday!

In order to truly experience another country and all its wonders, many say you have to reject everything you brought along with you - that being your cultural ways of behaving, your style of dress, your habits, your go-to’s, your everyday comforts. I could not agree more with this philosophy and I believe this is most important when dealing with food and drink. Ditch that urge to order up a house red or draft beer, and instead seek out the distinctive beverages that are unique to your destination. Here are a sampling of my six most intriquing liquors from around the world:

1. OUZO, Greece

Ahhhh Greece….many a person dreams of island hopping around this colorful and boistrous country steeped in ancient history and culture. With such a bold national heritage, it seems only fitting Greeks should call the potent Ouzo their liquor of choice. The anis-flavored liquid is distilled from grapes, often served in small glass containers or karafakia’s and drunk diluted with water (much like my favorite Pastis in France).

2. PALINKA, Hungary

Tucked within the cold, bleak masses of Eastern Europe and the modernized inhabitants of the West - we find Hungary - a culture heavily influenced by age-old traditions that has somehow maintained it’s distinctive soul throughout the centuries that pass. Should you find yourself in Budapest or any of this country’s famed cities, a taste of Palinka should be on your To-Do list. Utilizing a unique distillation process that combines plums, pears, apples, walnuts and honey-paprika, the after effects are quite strong and will surely warm your insides on a cold winter evening.

3. POITIN, Ireland

In a country that has a celebrated affinity with libations and their folklore, one of the lesser known traditional beverages is Poitin, an Irish distilled alcohol which was formerly illegal for over three hundred and thirty six years. In 1997 the beverage became legal to drink again - but with great warning.

Traditionally distilled from malted barley grain or potatoes, Poitin is one of the strongest alcoholic beverages in the world - with an ABV of roughly 65%-90%, this one will throw you to the ground.

4. LAO KHAO, Thailand

On this 2nd of May, let’s remember an infamous moment in the history of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. This most haunted and celebrated of correctional facilities off the coast of San Francisco is home to many historical events, but this one peaks my interest.

On May 2nd, 1946, The Battle of Alcatraz began, the result of a foiled escape by several inmates - notably the leaders of this revolt: Bernard Paul Coy, a bank robber from Kentucky serving a 25-year sentence, kitchen orderly Marvin Hubbard, Joseph Cretzer, Sam Shockley and Miran Thompson. Upon overpowering the guard on duty, Bernard Coy grabbed several M1911 pistols, clubs and gas grenades, proceeding to make a tour through several blocks of the prison, releasing other fellow inmates. Nearly 48 hours later, Coy, Hubbard and Cretzer never made it to the outside, meeting their deaths in the crossfire.

Bernard Coy, JP Cretzer

Historians view this event as one of the most violent and significant moments in Alcatraz history. It would take months for things to revert back to a sense of normalcy in the prison, and the scars of this event can still be seen on the wall of Alcatraz today.

So, in commemoration of this moment only one beverage would be fitting, Food Republic’s incredibly enticing “Escape From Alcatraz Cocktail”

Ingredients:

It may only be Tuesday, but I’ve got a sunny weekend on the brain. Playing off of #2 from yesterday’s post, why not kick off summer a bit early with a BBQ in the park and this fresh Vodka & Watermelon Cooler from Epicurious:

Yield: Makes 6 drinks

In a blender purée the watermelon pieces and strain the purée through a very fine sieve set over a pitcher, discarding the solids. (There should be about 2-1/3 cups juice). Stir in the vodka, the Triple Sec, and the lime juice, pour the cooler into long-stemmed glasses filled with ice cubes, and garnish each drink with a watermelon slice.

Take your presentation up a notch and utilize that empty watermelon as your serving bowl!

Whenever you find yourself invited to a dinner party, you are probably amongst the large number of us that head out to buy a standard mid-priced bottle of red to bring along for the hostess. In the essence of wanting to strengthen your popularity at said dinner party, why not opt for one of these 10 wacky, tacky and all-around awesome cocktail accessories to spice up the apero:

1. Flex your social prowess with the Hammer of Thor bottle opener

2. Traditionally, the Draft Beer Faucet is used to operate systems like kegerators - but if you take a page out of the Food Network book, use this guy to transform your watermelon into a keg this summer for a host of fresh cocktail possibilities

3. If real men want to drink wine, then real men ought use power tools… to open their wine. Give the host a Bosch IXO Vino Cordless Screwdriver - a gadget so slick, you might even get your wife to help with the Ikea setup

4. Carrying on with gifts for Mr. Host, give the man of the house a leather beer holster, just keep the ammo to a minimum

5. Control your wine temperature with this fancy gizmo - the Ravi Wine Chiller chills red wine instantly to a perfect temperature as you pour, bringing to the surface the true flavor that too-warm temperatures mask or even damage

6. Perhaps the host has pesky roommates or thirsty teenagers…Bring them this ever handy Liquor Lock to keep their supply protected

7. Women like animals. Cute animals. Things that are shaped like cute animals and serve a function in the kitchen? You really can’t go wrong here - bring along a Penguin Shaped Martini Shaker

8. For the bicyclist, this Bottle Clip is incredibly convenient, snapping right onto the frame to securely hold most standard bottle sizes

9. Make the most of your reds with the Vinturi Red Wine Aerator. Watch through the clear glass as the aerator works to allows your reds to breathe instantly, bringing you enhanced flavor and a smoother finish

10. Ditch that hefty keg, deposit, working tap, and the rest of the hassle with the Krups Heineken Beertender, pouring fresh from Heineken and Newcastle draught kegs at a constant temp of 37.4 degrees and keeps beer fresh for 30 days

Head on over to Denver’s Mizuna tonight for a one-of-a-kind wino event. This Frank Bonanno hotspot is set right in the heart of Govenor’s Park in quite the intimate, inconspicuous location ideal for an experience of this kind. Brett Zimmerman, master sommelier at Boulder Wine Merchant, will guide your palate through the evening - presenting a unique five-course menu to be paired with a host of premier Burgundy vintages.  Things will kick off tonight at 6:30 with $120 a seat. 

Mizuna

225 E. 7th Ave., Denver, CO

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this red berry babe - it’s just the right tarty mix of refreshment and texture. Working from a previous recipe, I added a few twists to make this one truly unique: 

Ingredients:

• 1 generous tsp. of Raspberry Jam
• 2.5oz. Bulleit Bourbon Whisky
• 0.5oz. Cassis Liqueur
• 1 blended egg white
• A dash of Luxardo Marascino Liqueur
• A dash of Angostura

Directions:

- Muddle Raspberry Jam and the Cassis Liqueur into your shaker, but be sure to retain some of the clumpiness. Add in your Whisky, Marascino Liqueur, Angostura, and a handful of crushed ice - shake vigorously. Strain into your martini glass and pour egg white on top, stirring ever so slightly. Garnish with a raspberry and enjoy!

Thanks to Le Trou d’Argent blog for giving me the inspiration for this recipe!

Spice up another mundane Tuesday night and head to TAG on Larimer for their five-course dinner at 7pm. The Strasburg Game Birds event will pair each course with TWO beers from Avery Brewing.

Tonight is part of TAG’s year-round series, with monthly events that highlight the best of all things local, most notably some killer breweries this state is fast becoming a pioneer in. With a small and intimate atmosphere tonight’s dinner is also a great way to get to know a few of your fellow Coloradoans - those with a true appreciation for food and drink - just my kind of folk.

But you better act fast - reservations cut off around lunch time. For $58 a head, this may prove to be more than your money’s worth.

TAG

1441 Larimer St, Denver, CO

303-996-9985