New 2015 Spring Cocktails at Roger Room

 

Roger Room has launched new Spring Cocktails. We were invited to check out all five new drinks. Roger Room is one of my favorite bars to stop for both a quickie or for the long haul. It’s fun to either hang out at the bar or cozy up in one of the booths.

I really liked the Hodad featuring Bulliet bourbon and it got its creaminess from both orgeat and egg white. For a great twist, try it with mezcal. Either way, it’s a super tipple for Spring.

Hodad – Bulliet bourbon, strawberries, orgeat, egg white, lemon, rhubarb bitters, mint garnish

 

The reason why I sit at the bar is you never know when there’s a show. Flaming a garnish has never looked more dramatic than it did at Roger Room the other night.

 

We asked our bartender Bruce to course out our drinks like a fancy pants fine dining meal. He said we had to start with the Contortionist. It’s definitely on the lighter side. A pretty drink to sip on if you got to the bar before your friend or a to muse over if you’re alone. The Suze and pear liqueur really tame the rum. It had great mouth feel.

The Contortionist – Starr African rum, Suze Saveur d’Autrefois, Rothman & Winter Orchard Pear liqueur, guava nectar, lemon, flamed orange twist

 

Singani 63, the Bolivian brandy has been hitting the LA market hard. I’ve seen it pop up on a few different menus now. It reminds me of pisco and definitely smells like it. The Sammy Glick drink reminds me a little bit of an old fashioned cocktail but also a bit like a Manhattan. Served on the rocks, it’s easy to nurse on but don’t let it get too watered down since you’ll want to get those heady brandy notes.

Sammy Glick – Singani 63 Bolivian brandy, Grand Marnier, Martini & Rossi rosato vermouth, orange blossom water, orange twist

 

All the drinks at Roger Room are show stoppers but nothing is sexier than a twist wending its way down a flute. Lemon spirals leave slinky tracks around the glass and immediately catches the eyeballs around you. You’re the star, a super star when you sip on this. And then you call tell people you’re having Mr. Pussycat. The amaro and limoncello is balanced by the sherry in this drink then lightened up by the Prosecco. Purrrr.

Mr. Pussycat – Amaro di Angostura, limoncello, amontillado sherry, Prosecco, orange bitters, lemon twist

 

The bright green drink is the One-armed Hug. The mint bitters make it electric. We tried to guess the specs and we were slightly off but if you do try to make this at home, do it right and follow this recipe:

• 1.5 Jameson Black Barrel
• 1 oz Dolin Blanc
• .25 Chareau Aloe Vera liqueur
• 1 drop Fees Mint Bitters
• lemon twist

Stir and strain into a chilled coupe.

One-armed Hug– Jameson Black Barrel Irish whiskey, Chareau, Dolin Blanc, mint bitters, lemon twist

 

Roger Room

370 N La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048  —  (310) 854-1300

 

© The Minty  2015