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Posts Tagged ‘Speak Easy’

Spring Sipping*

Posted in Weekly Dig, tagged 1 dash Black Pepper Tincture, BLACK ROSE, Bourbon & Branch, Darren Crawford, honey syrup, lemon juice, rosemary, San Francisco, Speak Easy on April 19, 2011| 2 Comments »

*Recent ruminations from LUPEC Boston, as originally published in the Weekly Dig.

by Pink Lady

Welcome to Boston, spring! We look forward to raising a glass in your honor, inspired by a winter jaunt this LUPEC lady took to San Francisco in March.

San Francisco is the land of eternal spring, it seems. Consistently crisp, rainy and damp, even on a bad weather day, the visit was a refreshing and reviving respite from our frozen home. My internal clock still said “hibernate” but it only felt right to drink according to our environment. A trip to the legendary Bourbon & Branch speakeasy in the Tenderloin district resulting in some delightful seasonal sipping at the hands of mixologist Darren Crawford.

The spot now occupied by Bourbon & Branch was a legit speakeasy from 1921 to 1933. First listed in the San Francisco Telephone Directory as “The Ipswitch — A Beverage Parlor,” it was purchased by industrious businessman John J. Russell in 1923, and operated from then on as “JJ Russell’s Cigar Shop.” His connections to notorious Vancouver bootleggers kept the alcohol flowing and snooping Prohibition Agents at bay. Vestiges of the venue’s sordid past still remain, including five secret tunnels. One of which, dubbed the “Ladies Exit,” granted safe passage to an exit a whole block away.

Next time you find yourself in the City by the Bay, you must pay this spot a visit—even if you’re over the Speakeasy thing and are tempted to order an illegal Cosmo just to be a pain in the ass. Don’t do that. Do be a polite guest and allow your arm-garter-clad bartender to make you a delightful concoction.

Bourbon & Branch and San Francisco’s eternal spring days are 3,000 miles away. Fortunately we can relive the moment here, with real spring and this refreshing, herbaceous libation.

BLACK ROSE
Created by Darren Crawford, Bourbon & Branch

A few sprigs rosemary
2 oz. gin
.75 oz. Lemon Juice
.5 oz. Honey Syrup
1 dash Black Pepper Tincture

Gently muddled rosemary with honey in a mixing glass. Add other ingredients and shake. Serve on the rocks in an Old Fashioned Glass. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

To make Black Pepper Tincture: macerate black peppercorns in grain alcohol until desired spiciness is achieved.

Cin-cin!

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Scotch & Chocolate*

Posted in Charity, Events, Weekly Dig, tagged ALS Association, Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters, Chocolate, Chocolate bitters, Galliano L’autentico, Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch, Pernod, sabering, Scotch, Sir Jeremy Bell, Speak Easy, sugar cube on February 9, 2011| 1 Comment »

Recent ruminations from LUPEC Boston, as originally published in the Dig.

by Pink Lady

Scotch. Chocolate. Both delight on their own, but can make for an even more exciting evening when paired. This week, you can learn more about both from Glenlivet’s own kilted brand ambassador, Sir Jeremy Bell, while raising money to fight Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

This Thursday, the ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Association will host the Inaugural Scotch and Chocolate Event at The Commandant’s House in Charlestown, MA. Dressed in full highland kilt with bagpipes blaring, Sir Jeremy Bell will enlighten guests about the fascinating facts of Scotch, port and Champagne. He’ll offer advice on winning combinations of chocolate and fruit for each spirit and wine, and will also teach guests how to saber a bottle of Champagne. For those who successfully chop the top off a bottle of bubbly with a Napoleonic saber, induction into the Confrerie du Sabre Dor (the brotherhood of the golden saber) awaits.
Cigar Masters will have an expert on-site to hand-roll cigars, adding to the old rich guy charm of the evening. The event will also feature hors d’oeuvres, a chocolate fountain with exotic fruits, piano playing, and live and silent auctions that include a shirt signed by Josh Beckett, a one-week Cape house rental in July, spa packages and a Scotch and cigar tasting for four at Cigar Masters.

This luxurious shindig is designed to benefit The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter, the only ALS-related organization in Massachusetts fighting ALS (more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) on all fronts. Tickets cost $100 and are available online at http://web.alsa.org/ScotchAndChocolate, or by phone at 1-888-CURE-ALS.

Now what to wear while sabering a bottle of Champagne? Hmmm…mix up one of these as you ponder.

Speak Easy