A Visit to "the Darkside" - Evening with The Black Grouse

2012-01-29T22:28:00.001-05:00

Last week I took a trip to the darkside and went to a scotch tasting. Well, I guess it wasn't really a tasting but more of a cocktail competition as part of The Black Grouse's "Distinctive Bartender" tour. The event was held at The Well, the bar next to The Forge on Miami Beach, and hosted by Baratunde Thurston, a standup comedian and director of digital at online funny news-maker, The Onion.

Three distinctive local bartenders were involved in the competition - Andres Aleman, John Lermayer, and Walid Hamid, the latter whom I recognized from spending time at Sra Martinez and The Lobby Bar at the W. Here are a few of the cocktails these gents put out for the crowd, photos courtesy of The Black Grouse:

A Tippling Ballad by Andres Aleman

Smokey New York Sour by John Lermayer

The Grouse Dram by Walid Hamid

The Tippling Ballad had a strong coffee flavor thanks to the use of espresso infused honey and, not being a coffee drinker, that was too much for me. There were a good number of fans for that one though. The Smokey New York Sour was a good drink and I liked the way the splash of red wine added some fruit and played with the dryness of the scotch. This drink and The Grouse Dram were tied for my second favorite drink of the night. My favorite overall was The Scottish Mark by Walid Hamid. He combined The Black Grouse, Yellow Chartreuse, and a little absinthe to make one pretty awesome cocktail. It takes a lot for me to say that about a scotch cocktail but this drink was real good.

The Scottish Mark by Walid Hamid

Here's the winning recipe:

The Scottish Mark

1.5oz The Black Grouse

.75oz Yellow Chartreuse

.75oz Fresh-Squeezed Lemon and Lime Juice

.5oz Thyme Syrup

1 barspoon Absinthe

Mix together and shake all ingredients. Strain into a snifter glass.

Cheers!

Coming Soon: Frita Shop

2012-01-25T18:46:00.000-05:00

Oye! Got some pretty kickass news for ya today! Local Miamians may recall Chef Alberto Cabrera and the badass Cobaya dinner he took us underground for back in November of last year. Check out his resume. The dude gets around and has worked with some great chefs throughout his career. We chatted via text today and he let me know that he was leaving The Local, his gastropub concept in Coral Gables, and launching a new endeavor this summer... Frita Shop!

Oh hell yeah!

I can imagine the Burger Beast fainting from the thought of getting his hands on frita at a brand new certified frita joint. Alberto revealed minimal details. What I can tell you is that he will be offering up these classic Cuban burgers along with liquid nitrogen shakes and that there will be originally be locations in Kendall and Westchester. I imagine there will be other bites of awesomeness on the menu too.

Currently the website, www.fritashop.com, is in the final development stages and soon there will be Facebook and Twitter pages to follow to get the latest updates on Cabrera's new joint. Alberto also let me know that inquiring minds and bellies can get a taste of Frita Shop next month inside the Grand Tasting tent at South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Locations hope to open sometime in July. Stay tuned for more info.

Blind Tastes

A Visit to "the Darkside" - Evening with The Black Grouse

Coming Soon: Frita Shop