Where: Bandolero, 3241 M St. NW Bartender Response: “We have a few drinks, but we’re out of the Bitter Handshake.” What We Got: An El Capo made with Fidencio mezcal, Campari, Carpano Antica vermouth, and two dashes of Laphroaig scotch. Price: $14 How It Tasted: Mildly bitter with an undeniably smoky and peaty aftertaste. Improv [...]
Where: Napoleon Bistro & Lounge, 1847 Columbia Road NW Bartender Response: “I can make an Irish coffee.” What We Got: An Irish coffee made with coffee, Jameson whiskey, and Bailey’s Irish Cream, and topped with whipped cream. Price: $10 How It Tasted: Despite the sweetness of the cream, the strong coffee and strong whiskey provided [...]
Where: The Heights, 3115 14th St. NW Bartender Response: He suggested a high-proof beer and vodka cocktail. What We Got: Moscow Mule with Ultimat Vodka, house ginger-lime syrup, and Gosling’s Ginger Beer. Price: $9 How It Tasted: Like a ginger-y limeade. Improv Points (1-5): 3. A high-proof drink is a common salve for heartbreak, but [...]
Where: Bistro Bohem, 600 Florida Ave. NW Bartender Response: “We have a really strong Czech plum brandy.” What We Got: A Velvet Revolution made with slivovice (Czech plum brandy), plum juice, and ice Price: $10 How It Tasted: Sweet like a plum, and reminiscent of a purple lollipop Improv Points (1–5): 4. Plums? Now there’s [...]
Where: Café Saint-Ex, 1847 14th St. NW Bartender Response: “A Campari and soda?” We pressed for something more creative. What We Got: A Negroni made with gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, garnished with a cherry and orange slice Price: $9.09 How It Tasted: Surprisingly heavy on gin Improv Points (1-5): 3. A Negroni is a [...]
Where: Maple, 3418 11th St. NW Bartender Response: “It was a dark and stormy night before Christmas.” What We Got: A Dark and Stormy with dark rum and Fever-Tree ginger beer Price: $10 How It Tasted: Generous with the ice, cold as a white Christmas, and heavy on the ginger Improv Points (1–5): 3. Perfect [...]
Where: Boundary Stone, 116 Rhode Island Ave. NW Bartender response: “Do you like O.J.?” We passed on the O.J. What we got: Whiskey, ginger syrup, and grenadine. Price: $3.18 How it tasted: Like straight grenadine. The drink was more reminiscent of Cheerwine soda than a cocktail. Improv points (1-5): 1. “Something with grenadine” doesn’t mean [...]
Where: Darlington House, 1610 20th St. NW Bartender Response: “Congratulations.” What We Got: A margarita with Milagro Silver tequila, agave, and lemon juice, served with salt on the rocks Price: $11 How It Tasted: The agave and lemon rendered this margarita more grown-up than the standard sour-mix version. Improv Points (1–5): 1. Margaritas echo our [...]
Where: Eatonville, 2121 14th St. NW Bartender Response: “Uh, a mint julep?” What We Got: We asked for something a bit more creative—Eatonville specializes in Southern cuisine—and got the Hurricane Zora with Pyrat Rum XO Gold, passion fruit, orange juice, and grenadine garnished with a cherry and an orange slice. Price: $10 How It Tasted: [...]
Location: Room 11, 3234 11th St. NW Bartender Response: “What if I made you what I’d like to drink on my birthday?” What We Got: The 4th Regiment with Redemption rye, Dolin Rouge sweet vermouth, Peychaud’s bitters, Regan’s Orange Bitters No. 6, and Scrappy’s celery bitters with a lemon peel How It Tasted: Sweet, savory, [...]
