Seattle Rumdrops: Sambar's Orangiste



Orangiste
Crafted by Jay Kuehner

If you didn't get wet on your way to Sambar, don't worry, the downpour can be enjoyed once inside. Sambar may be your first and final stop in Ballard for cocktails if you arrive during one of Jay Kuehner's shifts. A steady hand and a refined taste, his skills are known and respected by many in the industry. This Rumdrops post highlights a cocktail fitting for the season titled, Orangiste. Raise your glass folks and toast to the marriage of Rhum Agricole and the juice of blood orange. Love and marriage go together right? As I listen to a couple's conversation at the bar, Jay heats up the commentary about the cocktail being carefully built before their eyes. He smiles and replies, "Oh, I can put the sexy on it." He does just that with some Clément Créole Shrubb. This lucid relationship, or should I say, ménage à trois, would put even Dr. Phil out of business. The floral notes of Rhum J.M. overcome your sense of smell as the silky sweet texture of Creole Shrubb coat the inside of your mouth, leaving you with a love bite of orange citrus. Did I mention it also contains the Italian digestif, Barolo Chinato? This offers a little spiced complexity and maturity, rounding the cocktail off perfectly. Yum! Sambar's cocktail menu features three other rum based cocktails to try out as well. What's that you say? You want to have Jay just make you a drink? Ask for a rum based cocktail using ginger. He's the master, just take a look at this decorative impromptu below.

Untitled
Crafted by Jay Kuehner


Readers beware, for Jay's days are limited as Sambar has recently announced its closing. After June 2nd, you may only get to experience Jay's knowledge of this craft in his upcoming cocktail book, so go and enjoy the talents of one of Seattle's finest bartenders while you still can!

Cheers!

Seattle Rumdrops: A Rum Refresher at Ray's Boathouse



Rum Refresher
Ray's Boathouse

Are you tired of the Seattle weather yet? This week, I managed to find a few rays of liquid sunlight to keep your spirits up at Ray's Boathouse. Their recently introduced cocktail, the Rum Refresher is a must do for this water view. Mount Gay Eclipse Rum shaken with pür•likör spice blood orange liqueur, and Dish D'Lish Lemon & Lime Sour is refreshing indeed. Mount Gay Rum, known as "the rum that invented rum" needs little introduction, but just in case, read our distillery review here. Served up, this cocktail rim's cinnamon sugar dusting is attractive and provides a texturally unique sipping experience as the bright flavors of blood orange and Barbados Rum awaken your palate. Yum! Dish D'Lish is also made by our own talented local chef extraordinaire, Kathy Casey. As the daylight hours get longer and boat watching fills the happy hours at Ray's, stop by for a Rum Refresher and enjoy the view!

Cheers!

Seattle Rumdrops: Toulouse Petit's Honey Badger

The Seattle Rumdrops weather report is back again and you don't need an umbrella...unless it happens to be a garnish. Toulouse Petit, located in the heart of the loqua (Lower Queen Anne) neighborhood, offers a Paduan twist on a prohibition-era cocktail named Bees Knees. This cocktail is titled, Honey Badger. Their website describes Toulouse Petit's New Orleans' cousine as a blend of many cultures. Their cocktails are too. Bees Knees is also a saying made popular in the 1920s meaning "the height of excellence". Fittingly, the Honey Badger cocktail is served in a Collins glass. Replacing the gin with Bacardi Gold Rum, maintaining the lemon and honey while adding Aperol and bitters makes for a tasty libation. Boothby's 1934 Reprint - World Drinks and How to Mix Them also calls for orange juice in the Bees Knees cocktail recipe. Aperol's bittersweet orange flavor works well and gives it some complexity without as much citrus sweetness of something like orange juice. What about the Angostura Bitters? Bitters makes it better! Unlike the Honey Badger animal, whose name it bares, this cocktail is  pleasantly refreshing and light. Also important, ordering it supports honey farmers and bee populations, which have been in rapid decline in recent years. The Honey Badger is one of several rum based cocktails on their menu to try. Stop by and enjoy it on special during happy hour for $7.50. Why not have another drink and help save the bees. Yes please!

Cheers!