West Hollywood: New Winter Cocktails at The Eveleigh

The Eveleigh has launched a new Winter cocktails list featuring a lot of whiskey and sherry. I had a chance to try many of the new drinks and picked out some of my favorites.

I really enjoyed the Befuddled Julep and Summer Babe – Winter Edition (not shown) — a cocktail on draft. The best part of the julep had to be the house-made Satsuma mandarin marmalade. It was sweet but not cloying, even with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. I also liked the spicy chai-infused bourbon.

For a quick and easy sipper, the Summer Babe (Aviation gin, Noilly Prat vermouth, Calisaya, Mandarin Napoleon, grapefruit-tarragon cordial) is your best bet.

Befuddled Julep – chai infused bourbon, house-made Satsuma mandarin marmalade, mint

When I first heard of the name of this drink, I thought head barman Dave Kupchinsky said “Bulls on Parade” which made sense because of the stenciled skeletal steer head. However, it’s actually Bols on Parade, a reference to the brand of genever in the drink. It’s a lovely and delicate drink with a tough edge– and not because of the dead cow head. The sherry is what keeps this drink from being too summery. It’s a nice way to start your (not-so-chilly) evening.

Bols on Parade – Bols Genever, fino sherry, pistachio-lavender orgeat, lemon, egg white

Working into the old fashioned realm is the Bergamot Sour. The bourbon and sherry seems to be a great match as they played very well together in this drink. There’s no egg white in this drink. The sour comes from pure citrus juice.

Bergamot Sour – bonded bourbon, Earl Grey infused-Amontillado sherry, lemon, cane sugar, orange essence

I always like well-balanced neo-tiki drinks and that’s what Rum Punch Drunk Love is; a drink of the moment but also something to sip while daydreaming of exotic beaches.

Rum Punch Drunk Love – Cuban style rum, Batavia-Arrak, house-made spiced pineapple syrup, pineapple juice, lime

For those brown, bitter, stirred fans, who says you can’t drink gin? The Wee Wobbler reminds me a little bit of a Negroni because of the Calisaya, an orange “amaro” like liqueur from Oregon.

Wee Wobbler – Junipero gin, Calisaya, Punt e Mes, Carpano Antica, orange essence

Eveleigh bartender Chris Amirault describes his cocktail, the Secretariat, as his version of a Brown Derby (bourbon, grapefruit, honey) which can be very sweet. He dries out this cocktail with his house-made hopped Aperol cordial. Secretariat was considered one of the best racehorses and an appropriate name for a Brown Derby-inspired cocktail.

Secretariat – rye whiskey, hopped Aperol cordial, grapefruit, lime, Peychaud’s bitters

The neo-classic American Trilogy traditionally uses Rittenhouse 100 bonded rye. The Eveleigh swaps it out for High West’s Son of Bourye, a whiskey that I like very much. Instead of sugar, Eveleigh also adds in a house-made spiced apple gomme to give it some sweetness. The result still reminds one strongly of an Old Fashioned, in which the American Trilogy is based.

American Trilogy – High West Son of Bourye, bonded apple brandy, house-made spiced apple gomme, bitters

Some like to start light and end strong but I go the opposite way. If I want a quick punch, I’d choose the Rose and Woodbine Twine, a Scotch, brandy, sherry and Benedictine drink. Of course, it’s hard to go wrong with those spirits but you have to be careful it’s also tasty.  The Eveleigh pulled off a balanced cocktail that was delightful.

The Rose and the Woodbine Twine – Auchentoshan Three Wood single malt, Lepanto PX Solera Brandy de Jerez, olorosso sherry, Benedictine

There’s still a couple more on the list I haven’t tried so I see a visit to the Sunset strip soon!

The Eveleigh

8752 W Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 — (424) 239-1630

 

© The Minty 2014