Tag Archives: cocktails

Looking for something to do after work? Want to meet new, interesting people in Boston? Check out Opus Affair’s monthly cocktail social after work tonight at Tapestry in the heart of the Fenway.

There is no cost to join, but Opus Affair does asks you to RSVP so they can keep count and ensure the bar has enough staff – this group is very popular and attracts a large, friendly crowd.

Opus Affair Cocktail Social 6-9PM
Tapestry
69 Kilmarnock Street in The Fenway
RSVP – Yes, I’m Going

About: Opus Affair is a mix of artists and art appreciators who get together each month for cocktails and to chat about the arts scene in Boston. Some come for serious networking, others come for fun. There’s no agenda—just a chance to have a few drinks with other like-minded folks. Bring some friends or come make some new ones.

After work tonight head to the Highball Lounge located on the second floor of the trendy Nine Zero Hotel near the Park Street T station.

Opus Affair is hosting their annual monthly cocktail social from 6pm – 9pm.  Don’t worry if you can’t persuade any friends to join you. This is a friendly crowd mostly comprised of professionals who are passionate about Boston’s art scene. Most people range in age from 20-40-something.

For more details and to RSVP (it is free) link here.

Tomorrow, Monday, June 20 Opus Affair heads over to my favorite patio bar at Cinquecento in the South End (the restaurant also has free parking). Join them as they play host to a friendly crowd mostly comprised of 20-, 30- and 40-somethings at their monthly cocktail social which runs from 6pm – 9pm.

Unfamiliar with Opus Affair? The group is comprised of a mix of artists and art appreciators who get together each month for cocktails and to chat about the arts scene in Boston or whatever else comes to mind. Some people come for serious networking, others come for fun. There’s no agenda—just a chance to have a few drinks with other like-minded folks.

For more details and to RSVP (it is free) link here.

Local bartender Luis Arzuaga is competing in the Stoli Key West Cocktail competition for the Boston Living Center, and he needs your support.  Won’t you please go and vote for him by clicking on the link below and selecting his name?

Stoli Key West Cocktail Competition – Luis Arzuaga

Share with your friends. You can vote once per day through Thursday, June 2nd.

Tonight, Friday, April 29th from 6 to 8 pm BRIX South End will be hosting Vermont-based Caledonia Spirits, which happens to make my favorite gin, Barr Hill Gin. I liked it so much that I actually wrote about it last September, here.

Friday, April 29th from 6 to 8 pm at BRIX South End

Not a gin drinker? No worries, Caledonia Spirits makes a range of spirits so stop by for a quick visit to sample some of their drinks. I bet you’ll love them too.

Enjoy this new take on a classic cocktail. Caledonia Spirits Barr Hill Gin from Vermont makes an unique gin that incorporates raw honey which gives it a subtle floral quality. I suggest combining it with a quality tonic water and meyer lemon. Although this is a classic summer drink, I’ll be enjoying it through out the fall.

I was first introduced to this gin at Mare Oyster Bar in the North End. They have modified a popular vodka drink, The Moscow Mule, and use Barr Hill Gin with Ginger Beer, Lime, Black Tea Syrup and Boston Bitters to make their cocktail, Boston Buck, which I posted on Instagram, here.

Both cocktails are delicious, but my mixing skills are somewhat remedial so I’ll be sticking with the classic G&T this weekend.

Click on image to enlarge

Vinepair has created a map to show the the drinking preferences of Americans by state.  The states are classified into four different colors to show their preference in wine, beer, spirit or other alcohol.

What do you make of your state’s preference? While I do like beer, I have to admit I’m far more likely to have either a glass of wine or dry martini.

Last week I had a dinner with colleagues and we ordered a couple bottles of the 2012 Anthill Farms Pinot Noir.  My colleague who selected the wine indicated that Anthill Farms is one of her favorite wineries.

The color of the wine was hard to discern in the restaurant’s subdued lighting but its cherry-like aromas were easy to pick up and accompanied my dinner so nicely from start to finish this wine could be summed up in one word: versatile. The flavors never overpower you but they linger with a soft finish. I will remember the 2012 Anthill Farms Pinot Noir as my favorite in recent memory.

If you are looking for a nice host gift or present for a friend during the holidays this would be appreciated.  The appeal of this wine was universal at our dinner table, and I know I’ll keep my eye out for it in the future. The 2012 Anthill Farms Pinot Noir from their Comptche Ridge Vineyard in Mendocino County retails for $50-$60 and is widely available in the US.

Recently my sister and her fiancé came to visit us.  To celebrate their recent engagement we popped a bottle of 1999 Billecart-Salmon Champagne.  While Sergio and I truly enjoy Champagne, we had not tried this before.

The Champagne is 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay and has a whitish-gold coloring that you can see from my photograph shown below.  The taste is crisp and finishes with a light minerality that I really enjoyed.  My preference was to drink this Champagne unaccompanied, appreciating its flavors and watching the bubbles dance vertically up my champagne flute.

Unfortunately I do not recall how we acquired this bottle and assume it must have been brought to our home from a friend or guest so I cannot offer advice on where to purchase it, but a quick look online shows this for sale from $60-$90.  My sincere thanks to whomever brought this to our home we truly enjoyed it.

This would make for a generous gift for friends who enjoy Champagne whom you may be contemplating buying something during the holiday season.