west coast adventure: cocktails

Though the drink of choice for the trip was wine, we managed to fit in a few cocktails. We focused on the classics. The first cocktail I had was a dry gin martini (19/100) at Tosca in San Francisco.





The martini was perfect - so cold and appropriately sized. This wasn't a jumbo martini glass that tips out of your hand and sloshes everywhere. Those big gulp glasses are meant to contain all the juices, puckers, and sugary adult candies that people call martinis. Bah humbug. Nah, mine was all gin and vermouth, baby. And, as it should be, if I had three of 'em, you woulda found me under a table. Granted, Tosca had outstanding tables (large, round red vinyl booths) and it would have been my great pleasure to end up underneath 'em. I liked that bar.



It is also worth nothing that my mom had her very first gin and tonic at Tosca. The first of her entire life. Can you believe it? Her second was at Carrie's house in Portland after day tripping around the city. Carrie imparted some valuable wisdom - gin in the summertime, whiskey in the fall. So simple and beautiful, I almost take it for granted.





Another gin drink that simple and sublime is the Negroni (20/100). I ordered this at Clyde Common because they had a Barrel-Aged Negroni on the menu. Unfortunately, they were out of it the night that I was there so I just had a traditional, fresh made drink. Someone please go drink the barrel-aged version because it sounds stupendous.







As rules are made to be broken, I strayed from gin and had (scotch) whiskey in the summertime in a Rob Roy (21/100) at the Doug Fir. Ain't that place relaxed-classy-kitschy-fun? The atmosphere begged a Rob Roy - Drewars, sweet vermouth, and a Maraschino cherry. Yes.

The next two drinks I debated putting in the wine blog, but one's a total classic and the other should be.

Mom and I started our last day in Portland with mimosas (22/100) at Broder. I brunched at this spot with Emily on my last visit west. While the food and drinks were just as delicious as last visit, I spent much of the meal wishing Emily could be brunching with us. Alas.

Finally, I sampled a new favorite drink on this trip - the bicicletta (23/100). I know that I might be parital because I've got a little crush on my bicycle right now. I also recognize that alongside house-made salami, I might have declared Tang my new best drink.

But this mix of white wine, Campari, and club soda is a party in my mouth even without the cured meats or the two-wheel cruisin round town. I know because I've been sipping a homemade bicicletta while simply sitting and typing away.