This past weekend, friend Jack and I made our way to downtown Decatur to seek out one of Atlanta's newest cocktail-centric bars, Paper Plane. The cozy, retro-infused spot is the latest project by local bar wizard Paul Calvert (of Pura Vida and Sound Table fame). As the AJC has said, it's not a speakeasy -- it... Continue Reading →
Recently, I paid a visit to Charleston, which has established itself as a culinary Mecca in the South -- James Beard Award-winning chefs, fresh seafood, classic southern dishes, and more than a few microbreweries dot the city's foodscape. While the city frequently boasts more churches than bars -- earning its "Holy City" moniker -- it nonetheless has an excellent, if small, selection of... Continue Reading →
In a word, Yes. True, I like Holeman & Finch, but it takes aim at the semi-high-spending gastropub crowd and is a tad over-hyped (I admit, I've done my share of hyping). I mean, H&F has become a destination now, lauded by the AJC, listed in Food + Wine's "Best Bars in the World/Country," and written... Continue Reading →
Well, I met David Wondrich last Thursday. Yes, I could heap applause and accolades upon him, but that's been done enough already. I'll just say that Mr. Wondrich was an affable, approachable guy who loves his cocktails, and that all of us who attended the book signing -- a surprisingly low half-dozen or so --... Continue Reading →
...and now, for a Tempered Spirits first, a post that has but one purpose: to refer you to an interesting article involving booze! Featured is a nice little interview video, a transcript of the interview, and a number of cocktail recipes. Enjoy! Creative Loafing: "Atlanta's best bartenders speak up: A roundtable discussion about the city's cocktail renaissance, plus their... Continue Reading →
After dinner at Emeril's New Orleans Fish House on our final night of the trip, we wandered down the Strip and back toward the Monte Carlo, stopping in at the Cosmopolitan on the way. We were seeking out the Vesper, which, as Drink Spirits mentions, is located in an oasis removed from the buzzing, dinging,... Continue Reading →
On the second-to-last day of the trip, we decided to pay a visit to two more cocktail bars that I had located. First was Bar Moderno, at the Aria. Photo by wbeem on Flickr. The three of us arrived around 4:00 PM or so, and the bar wasn't especially busy, so we grabbed a couple... Continue Reading →
At the beginning and end of our recent Tour de Southwest, Matt, Jack, and I spent some time in Las Vegas, the City of Kitsch. Well, maybe it deserves a little bit more credit than that. Regardless of your opinion of Vegas, it's unique. Nobody can deny that. It also happens to be home to... Continue Reading →
That's right folks, we're Off, on the road, to Madison... Well, technically, we're already in here, in town for a wedding. I was lucky enough to come up earlier this year to do a little architectural and cocktailian snooping, which turned out extraordinarily well. Now, Madtown may be a Beertown, but that doesn't mean the... Continue Reading →
"There comes a time when all the cosmic tumblers have clicked into place, and the universe opens itself up for a few seconds to show you what's possible." - Field of Dreams, 1989 OK, so that might be a bit of over-enthusiastic hyperbole, but I can't help but praise Leon's Full Service in downtown Decatur.... Continue Reading →
Tempered Spirits 