Page 41 - My FlipBook 1

when the bartender bangs a glass draws you in for one
cymbal hanging from the thing: a martini—large,
ceiling. (“I’ve got a mallet for strong, ice-cold gin or
it,” he’ll tell you.) But watch vodka? Lemon twist or
how that bartender peels olive? Dirty or extra dirty?
fresh citrus, grabs you a You won’t be judged for
chilled glass, painstakingly your preference. Stay
eyeballs the ingredients in for the piano bar in the
your Ortolan. This is a bar back, which on any given
where people care—even if night is packed with locals
they act like they don’t. 229 singing loudly, joyfully
South Forty-fifth Street —J. G. in unison. 4 Valencia Street
—Omar Mamoon
FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
To get an idea of the ambi- SEATTLE
tion of the drinks at Friday BOTTLEHOUSE
Saturday Sunday, ask bar- If you have ever day-
tender Paul MacDonald to dreamed about converting
explain the cocktails he your place of habitation into
makes based on the Fibo- a drinking establishment,
nacci sequence. They are consider Bottlehouse,
mysteriously round yet the incarnation of your
angular. And delicious. But wish. It’s an actual house in
this place is far from pre- the middle of the yoga-mom
cious—it’s always friendly, magnet that is Seattle’s
and hopping. You’ll run Madrona neighborhood. Sit
into someone you know by the window, or out on
any second now. 261 South the patio when the sun
Twenty-first Street —K. S. deigns to show up. The bev-
erage list goes beyond wine
SAN FRANCISCO and ventures knowingly
MARTUNI’S into ciders, vermouths,
The dark, dim bar Martuni’s sherries, and Pacific THE BEST BARS IN AMERICA, 2020
is a San Francisco institu- Northwest beers. You live
tion where everyone is wel- here now, so you have time
come. The green neon to try them all. 1416 Thirty-
outline of a familiar cocktail fourth Avenue —J. G.

NOLET’S GIN
A martini made with Nolet’s and its big, flowery
5 BOTTLES WE FELL IN LOVE WITH WHILE HOME BARTENDING when you’re stuck inside. —K.S. 361667513
notes will remind you of an eternal spring, even
CHRISTOPHER GRIFFITH (BOTTLE CAPS). COURTESY BRANDS (BAR, DRINK, GIN BOTTLE).
THRASHER’S COCONUT RUM
Todd Thrasher sent me this coconut rum the
week I would have been on an island vacation.
It was a very good substitute. —K.S.
JAMESON COLD BREW
Ten hours after waking up to a cup of black
coffee I wish I could season with whiskey, I get
to close my laptop and drink something richer,
sweeter, smoother, stronger: this, on ice, made
all the better because I held out. —Sarah Rense
TEMPUS FUGIT CRÈME DE BANANE
We made banana boats in Girl Scouts—bananas
with all the fixings, wrapped in foil, then stuck
in the coals of a campfire to melt into
caramelized dessert goo. Sweet as sin, crème
de banane over ice hits the same. —S.R.
FIVE WIVES VODKA
The name makes it sound like a dad joke about
polygamists (it’s made in Utah—get it?), but it
tastes just like the air and water in its home
state: pure. Swilling directly from a frozen bottle
from top: Serious drink-making happens at Friday Saturday Sunday in
has never felt so virtuous. —J.G. Philadelphia; Chicago’s Bamboo Room knows fancy daiquiris.
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