This past Saturday, we were graced with two rarities in Portland, Ore.: first, a full day of sunshine in March and second, a visit from Brooklyn-based writer and cocktail historian, David Wondrich. In town for his first visit to the Northwest, David joined hosts Teardrop Lounge and the Oregon Bartenders Guild for a Tribute to Jerry Thomas, the 19th-century barman known for writing the first book of cocktail recipes. David is well-positioned as an expert on the topic—as you may know, he recently published the book Imbibe!: From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, a Salute in Stories and Drinks to "Professor" Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar, a well-researched history of Mr. Thomas himself, plus original and updated recipes from Jerry's 1862 Bartender's Guide. OBG member and blogger Jeffrey Morgenthaler did a great wrap-up here, so I'll focus on sharing a drink recipe from the event that's simple yet delicious: The Stone Fence. Portland bartender and Imbibe contributor Lance Mayhew presented his version of the Stone Fence, a drink that originally calls for hard cider and brandy (or rum, bourbon, Scotch or rye). As the fourth in a seven-drink event, he wisely substituted alcohol-free apple cider for the hard cider. The crowd was pleasantly surprised by the sweet and smokey flavors in such a simple drink. I enjoyed it so much that when my friends Ben and Kate, blogger at Kate of All Trades, asked me to provide a cocktail pairing for a barbecue chicken dinner that evening, I picked up some fresh apple cider on the way. My usually bourbon-shy friends changed their tune after a taste of this Stone Fence. Here's the recipe I used:
Stone Fence
2 oz. bourbon
Apple cider
Ice
Glass: Collins or old-fashioned
Garnish: Cinnamon (optional)
Fill a glass with ice. Add bourbon and top with apple cider. If desired, add a dash of bitters and/or cinnamon. Enjoy! —Siobhan Crosby
Sounds like a great event. Are these bartender guild events only open to bartenders? Is there a calendar posted somewhere of future events?
ReplyDeleteHi Matt - the OBG events are for the public and take place about once a month. There are two ways to stay informed about upcoming events right now: the Imbibe e-newsletter where we announce events (sign up on our homepage and make sure to let us know you're in the Northwest by completing your profile), or you can become a member over at the Oregon Bartenders Guild site to receive updates. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteWe made the Stone Fence for the in-laws this weekend. All we had was sparkling apple cider. Long story short - not as good. But still enjoyable!
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