Los Angeles may be over those lame below-75-degree temperatures but Drago Centro downtown has just debuted its new winter cocktail menu created by Drago Centro’s beverage director Michael Shearin and head bartender Jaymee Mandeville. It features some hits like the comforting hot buttered rummy January Jones and some misses like the mouthwash-green Watcher in the Woods. But cheers to the use of diverse and unique ingredients like blood orange “caviar,” pear puree, Clear Creek Douglas Fir Eau de Vie and Limoncello candy garnish.
Here’s the cocktail menu with some tasting notes scribbled during the media preview:
Violette Femme: Real Blanco Tequila, Luxardo Maraschino, creme de violette, Ventura Limoncello, Yuzu. Looks punk rock with purple rim and hot pink of flower. Very floral flavor. A punk rock girl drink.
Watcher in the Woods: Death’s Door Gin, Clear Creek Douglas Fir, Nocello, lavender, mint bitters. Limoncello candy garnish. Beautiful-looking cocktail, pretty green, kind of like mouthwash. Not crazy about this one, subtle but not a great flavor.
Morning Courage: Bols Genever, serrano tincture, celery bitters, beet, lemon, Hawaiian red salt. Very vegetable-y, but not in an appealing way.
Smoke on the Horizon: Zaya Rum, Drambuie, Carpano Antica, atomized Sombra Mezcal, mole bitters. Looks like a Manhattan, very bitter.
January Jones: Appleton VX Rum, demerara syrup, cinnamon tincture, butter, clove, star anise, hot water. Flavorful, spicy hot buttered rum. An instant favorite.
Cusco’s Crown: Campo de Encanto pisco, housemade pear puree, Angostura bitters, lemon. Citrusy in finish, pear flavor very subtle.
Downtown’s Drago Centro launches its new fall cocktail menu (created by Beverage Director Michael Shearin and Head Bartender Jaymee Mandeville) tonight. So all night tonight, you get a chance to get first taste for only $8. The cocktails here usually run about $12 each.
Here’s the menu with some of my tasting notes as I was able to preview the cocktails last week.
Autumn Night’s Dream – Martin Miller’s Westbourne Gin, Crème Yvette, St. Germain, Grapes, Lemon. Lovely gin cocktail, light refreshing, reminds me of purple. Love the garnish of small grapes. Girl drink, but a sophisticated girl drink.
Cherry Poppin’ Daddy – Karlsson’s Vodka, Velenosi Vischole, Basil, Honey, Lime foam, “Lime Cherry.” Smells like soap, not crazy about it. Too limey for my taste.
Dazed & Confused - Casa Noble Crystal Tequila, Creole Shrub, Cherry Heering, Rosemary, Angostura. Tasty, one of my faves. Tequila is softened.
Eponymous - Appleton VX Rum, Cruzan Blackstrap Rum, Orgeat, Lime. Tastes like maple or brown sugar. Taste it through your nostrils. Complex. Reminds me of autumn treat.
5th & Fig - Bertagnolli Grappa, Housemade Fig Syrup, Fresh Orange Juice, Lemon. Good representation of fig. Compliments it nicely. Very drinkable.
Golden Goose – Bulleit Bourbon, Fernet Branca, Fresh Cape Gooseberries, Maple Syrup. My fave. SO drinkable, too easy to down. Fernet is very faint. Out of all the cocktails we tried this is the one we almost finished.
Greco Roman – Lustau Amontillado Sherry, Luxardo Morlacco, Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters. Not my cuppa. Kinda thick.
Rimedio del Pazzo – Zaya Rum, Cynar, Sage, White Peppercorns, Fresh Orange Juice, Lime. Even though Cynar is softened here, still wouldn’t drink it. Cool garnish, though, an artichoke heart that was stolen from the kitchen.
Sera Toscana – Belle di Brillet Poire Cognac, Benedictine, Brancaia Sangiovese, Ginger. Tastes like a peary sangria. Reminds me of fall leaves for some reason.
Smitten With Britain - Tanqueray Gin, Chives, Lime, Fever Tree Tonic. Basically a gin and tonic but made green because of the chives which I don’t really taste.
Smokehouse - Laphroaig 10 Yr Scotch, Clear Creek Cranberry, Apfel Korn, Apple, Fee Bros. Whiskey Barrel Bitters, Candied Bacon. The candied bacon reminds me of a scabbed knee, add to that the smoky Band-Aidness of the Laphroaig and you have a bloody, good drink. Perfect for Halloween. Heh.
So the big hits for me were the Autumn Night’s Dream, Dazed & Confused, Golden Goose and Smokehouse. Yummy stuff!
EVENT: TODAY from 6 to 8pm
Drago Centro
525 S Flower Street
Los Angeles, California 90071 (map)
(213) 228-8998
Facebook: Drago Centro
Twitter: @DragoCentro
Drago Centro in downtown is unveiling its brand-new cocktail menu today but celebrating it this Thursday by offering every cocktail in its repertoire, normally $12 each, for $8 all day long! The new seasonal cocktail list created by DC’s sommelier and beverage director, Michael Shearin, will feature fall and winter flavors and produce. Tasty.
Check out this list:
5th e Fig: Bertagnolli Grappa, Fresh Fig, Orange Juice, Lemon Juice
Americano: Campari, Carpano Anitca Sweet Vermouth, Fever Tree Soda Water
Api e Rose: Tanqueray Gin, Poli Miele, Rosemary, Honey, Lemon Juice
Arancia Meccanica: Sombra Mezcal, Red Bell Pepper, Cilantro, Agave Nectar, Lime Juice, Smoked Salt
Violetta: Belvedere Vodka, Creme de Violette, Shiso, Vanilla Syrup, Orange Juice
Mmm, that Arancia Meccanica sounds reminiscent of Rivera’s Blood Sugar Sex Magic cocktail. But I definitely want to check out the Superstizione which reminds me of Damian of the Roger Room’s take of the Revolver cocktail. Yummy!
EVENT: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
Drago Centro
The City National Bank Plaza
525 South Flower Street, Suite 120
Los Angeles, California 90071 (map)
(213) 228-8998
Twitter: @DragoCentro
