TNL Pub 2010

**stormy** · 07 Jul 2012, 02:37 PM

Some of these fancy restaurants around me are really pissing me off. On the cocktail list they show what spirits they use to make them. If you're selling $13 mojitos don't fucking tell me you made it with Bacardi!!! Or a Manhattan with Maker's Mark, which is not even a rye bourbon, let alone a rye whiskey!

**icarusfall** · 07 Jul 2012, 03:03 PM

Our bartender makes his own bitters and we don't stock any national brand stuff.

Our most expensive drink is $11.

**Razor Ramon** · 07 Jul 2012, 03:06 PM

That is $8 too expensive for me. I live on $3 whiskey seltzers.

**stormy** · 07 Jul 2012, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by icarusfall

Our bartender makes his own bitters and we don't stock any national brand stuff.

Our most expensive drink is $11.

There are a couple places around here that are similar. They will only use CA produced whiskeys. I called them out on their facebook page once when they posted a bottle that was bottled in CA but produced in KY. The problem, particularly with American whiskeys, is that the micro-distillers all suck. My opinion of your beverage program probably hinges on your definition of a non-national brand. The best choice is to pick what is the most well made for the price point. Everything else is grandstanding. If you're turning your back on Four Roses, Buffalo Trace, Heaven's Hill, etc... then you are just wrong.

edit - Icarus, The Bulleit rye you use is a label owned by Diageo, the biggest (and most evil) spirits conglomerate in the world. It is also not even made by them, they source it from LDI and put their own label on it. I'm not calling you out, just let you know this probably does not conform to your ethos. The bourbon companies are notorious for hiding the sources of their whiskey, and if you don't know to look deeper it's easy to be misled.

**stormy** · 12 Jul 2012, 02:38 AM

Got a shipment of bourbons in today and opened up two of them. First is John J Bowman, it's a 100 proof 14 year old single barrel. There were some cask strength versions I missed out on before that sold out in hours. This one isn't selling quite as fast as those and it's the first one I've been able to get. It's really good. The nose is oaky and great. It has a great balanced sweetness, and is slightly fruity and floral with that oaky backbone and long finish. This is one of my favorite bourbons so far this year.

Second one is Ancient Ancient Age. The second "ancient" in the name indicates it's the 10 year old expression of Ancient Age. Further, this is a single barrel edition of the product. It's a value at $17. It has an oily mouth feel that I like but lacks the richness of a more expensive bourbon. There's more alcohol on the palate as well. Still has good flavor, is very drinkable neat and I can use this for cocktails too. Lastly I got the Four Roses 2012 single barrel limited edition, but I'm going to keep that one for later.

**icarusfall** · 12 Jul 2012, 04:21 PM

I define national brand as Bacardi, Jack Daniels, Smirnoff, etc.

The world of spirits is much trickier to navigate than food.

Our overall guiding principle is "7-out-of-10." We try to make 7 out of ten good decisions in the restaurant without fucking ourselves or being totally obnoxious.

**haohmaru** · 13 Jul 2012, 09:27 AM

Sierra Nevada Ovila Golden Ale = WIN. Look for it.

**stormy** · 15 Jul 2012, 07:58 PM

Bought the beer for my wedding. 2 cases Firestone DBA, 2 cases Firestone pale ale, 1 case stone ipa, 1 case Stone smoked porter with vanilla bean. 2 cases of champagne too.