Brian Petro

Five For Drinking: Bloody Mary Edition

January 11, 2017 By Brian Petro

The simple, savory, Bloody Mary. What spices would you add?

The Bloody Mary is THE brunch cocktail. There can be an argument for the mimosa, but it lacks the vibrancy a Bloody Mary offers. The vodka and tomato juice are essentially blank canvases for the spices the bartender chooses to add. When concocted during Prohibition, it was a half and half blend of vodka and tomato juice. The tomato juice was a gift from American bartenders fleeing to practice their craft; the vodka was provided by Russians fleeing an unstable country. They met in Paris, and the rest is history. Eventually the mixture was spiced up. The story goes that a Russian businessman had no interest in the plain tomato juice that was common in the drink and requested it get spiced up. Ever since that day, the Bloody Mary (or Red Snapper, as it was known for a brief period) was a mixture of spicy tomato juice and vodka.

After that, the sky became the limit for what you could do with a Bloody Mary. How to you utilize the savory and sweet characteristics of the tomato? Do you bring the strong heat, or are you looking for something that is a little more balanced for a meal? Does the cocktail even matter at all; are you shooting for some crazy garnish? When you start from a spicy tomato juice as a base, you really can go anywhere with it, as these five variants prove:

Bloody Maria

1.5 oz. tequila (I enjoy reposado in mine)
2 oz. tomato juice
2 oz. orange juice
.5 oz. lime juice
.25 tsp. chilé powder
2-3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Glass: Tall
Ice: Cubed
Garnish: Sliced jalapeno pepper

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing tin over ice. Shake well for 20 – 30 seconds, then strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Garnish with the jalapeno and serve.

Some Bloody Maria’s call for just substituting out the vodka with tequila and calling it a day. This one reaches into the Mexican tradition of drinking sangrita (“little blood”) with tequila. Sangrita is made with a mix of fruit juices, traditionally pomegranate, orange, and lime, and served as a compliment to the peppery tequila. This recipe blends it all into one glass in a much more American way. The chilés provide the heat, this time in powder form.

Bloody Caesar

So. Many. Spices.

1.5 oz. vodka
3 oz. tomato juice
1.5 oz. clam juice (yes, really)
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
4 dashes Tabasco sauce
.25 oz. lemon juice
Pinch of pepper

Glass: Tall
Ice: Cubed
Garnish: Celery stalk

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing tin over ice. Shake well for 20 – 30 seconds, then strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Garnish with the jalapeno and serve.

More popular in Canada than in the United States, the Bloody Caesar adds some clam juice for additional richness. Taking out the salt is needed because that juice will add enough to the cocktail. You can simplify the recipe by using 4 oz. of Clamato juice as a base.

Bloody Bull

1.5 oz. vodka
3 oz. tomato juice
2 oz. beef bouillon
.5 oz. lemon juice
3 dashes of Tabasco sauce
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
Pinch of celery salt
Pinch of pepper

Glass: Tall
Ice: Cubed
Garnish: Celery Stick

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing tin over ice. Shake well for 20 – 30 seconds, then strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Garnish with the jalapeno and serve.

Before bacon was a flavor in everything, there was beef bouillon to add meaty goodness. That richness we were discussing with the clam juice is achievable with beef bouillon.

Crosby Gaige’s Cocktail Guide and Ladies Companion, asserting that vodka is the spirit of choice.

Red Snapper

1.5 oz. gin (Belle of Dayton makes a dandy one.)
4 oz. tomato juice
.5 oz. lemon juice
3 dashes of Tabasco sauce
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
Pinch of celery salt
Pinch of pepper

Glass: Tall
Ice: Cubed
Garnish: Celery Stick

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing tin over ice. Shake well for 20 – 30 seconds, then strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Garnish with the celery stick and serve.

The charm of this cocktail is the savory nature of the tomato juice. Why not add even more flavor by using gin? We are in a Golden Age of Gin. Distillers are taking liberties with the herbs that make up its flavor profile, providing a wide selection for cocktails.

Michelada

4 oz. Mexican lager (any lager will work)
3 oz. tomato juice
1 oz. clam juice
.5 oz. lime juice
3 dashes of Tabasco sauce
2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
2 dashes Maggi seasoning (soy is an acceptable substitute)
.25 tsp. chili powder (plus more for garnish)

Glass: Pint
Ice: None
Garnish: Lime Wedge and chili powder

Run the lime wedge around the rim of a pint glass. Pour chili powder on a plate. Roll the wet rim of the glass in the chili powder, tapping the glass after to remove the excess. Pour all of the ingredients, except for the lager, into a mixing tin. Shake well for 20 – 30 seconds. Fill the pint glass halfway with the Mexican lager, then strain the contents of the tin into the glass. Stir a few times gently, then serve.

More clam juice. There are versions of this cocktail where it is just the beer and the spices, and no tomato juice. Maggi seasoning is similar to soy, but you may be able to find it in some specialty grocery stores. Lucky Star offers a Mexican lager you can grab in a growler and Trotwood by Warped Wing is always a favorite.

There is a cocktail in there somewhere.

The spices added to most of these cocktails are typical for a Bloody Mary: Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco (or other favorite) hot sauce, salt, pepper, and some citrus. There is a wide variety of other flavors you can add to the mix to cater to your personal tastes. Like the Old Fashioned, every bar has their variation, and every bar’s variation is the best around. For the garnishes, there is nothing fancy here. You can be as simple or complex as you would like. Tradition calls for celery sticks, olives, or a citrus wedge.

Looking for more variations on the theme? This Sunday is the Second Bloody Mary Showdown, where some of the best bartenders in Dayton will attempt to prove that their recipe is the best one in the Miami Valley. Scratch Event Catering will be providing the brunch fare you will be enjoying with the Bloody Mary samples. And you can vote for the best one!

Bartenders will be competing for bragging rights and $300 cash for the winner. Awards will also be given out for best table decor and best garnish. Scheduled to compete are:

Champ Mack’s tavern will be on hand to defend her title!

Lily’s Bistro
Good Time Charlies
Trolley Stop
Whole Foods Market
Mudlick Tap House
Vue Ultra Lounge
Mack’s Tavern
MJ’s on Jefferson
Old Scratch Pizza
Kingspoint Pub
Meadowlark
Jimmie’s Ladder 11
Fifth Street Brewpub
Smart Guy In A Tie Cocktails

The event is produced by Planned2Give, an event planning service that provides support for local non-profits and proceeds from the event will benefit The Greater Dayton LGBT Center. The event takes place at the Coliseum in the Montgomery County Fairgrounds from 11am to 2pm and tickets are $25 in advance, available online or at Mack’s Tavern, The Vue or Lily’s Bistro. Come on out for a bite of brunch and a spicy start to you Sunday!

Being A Nerd Is Not Dead: Welcome D20!

December 19, 2016 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

This place is going to become a critical hit.

Anyone who has ever sat down for a session of games knows the drill. The players all gather around a table, or several tables, and start to spread out cards, dice, and meeples. Beverages are chilling in the fridge, and friendly banter is flowing. Then the games begin. Sometimes you sit down to a long, intense game of Arkham Horror. It could be a night of a few quick games of Ticket to Ride, Smash Up, or King of Tokyo. Or you look at the four games just mentioned and wondered what the hell are you playing. When you started gaming, it was Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Of course, when you started gaming the drink options were Mountain Dew or Coke. Board games have expanded in the last five years like craft beer started to in the mid-to-late 90’s. There are stores full of European style and other modern games like there are stores full of craft beer from all over the world. These two forces have been emerging in other cities, and have finally made it to Dayton in the form of D20: A Bar with Characters.

The story above is probably familiar to Andrew Sparks, co-owner of D20. He has been a game enthusiast for as long as he could remember. His D&D game was strong, and it grew into a lifelong love of games and gaming. It is something that his wife and co-owner Chrissy Sparks have in common. They also share a love of craft beer, something he developed during his time managing Belmont Party Supply. D20 emerged from the realization that if this was something their friends enjoyed doing, why not invite other people to do it as well? After another bar concept had fallen through, he found a vacant cell phone store on Whipp Rd. to be the perfect place for his new concept. Then Andrew and his crew went to work.

There is a little something for everyone!

When you walk in and look around, everything in the bar was hand selected and hand made by Andrew. Even the stacks and stacks of games were brought in from his collection. There is a handful that are donated, but the vast majority are his. The tap list, covering twenty taps in all, were also hand selected by them. Not a beer person? They have already thought of that. Knowing that a gaming place was going to attract a wide variety of people, they offer a selection of cocktails and mocktails. Mead and ciders are available, as are teas and other non-alcoholic options. You need to pace yourself when someone pulls out Carcassonne. If you are planning on playing through dinner, have no fear. The owners have worked that out as well. Their neighbors at Peking Garden are willing to walk next door to deliver, and a wood-fired, artisan pizza place will be moving in soon. During their soft opening, they had more than a few visits from Cousin Vinny’s.

Their soft opening was a huge success. So much so that the owners extended it an extra three hours to accommodate all of their guests. But they are not going to rest on the huge buzz of opening night. They have events planned soon. They are working with the Ohio Pathfinder Society (Dayton Chapter, of course) to set up some game nights at their venue. They are also planning their affairs, introducing people to games like Cards Against Humanity and Settlers of Catan. Andrew is looking for games that are easy to explain to new gamers, introducing them to games that are different that old standbys. Though if you want, Monopoly, Life, and Stratego are available for you to play. There are games for everyone.

Roll a twenty-sider to decide your next beer…

Andrew and Chrissy want to turn D20 into a gathering place. With comfortable couches and plenty of tables, seating and unique games to explore, they are well on their way. The air was thick with chatter, and the bartenders were keeping busy with patrons celebrating a victory or tending the sting of a narrow loss. Craft beer enthusiasts in the area can come in and enjoy a few pints, and gamers can sit down and either learn a new game, like Hive, or play a familiar one with friends. Either way, Dayton has a great new hang out south of town. Game on!

D20: A Bar with Characters is located at 2144 East Whipp Rd Kettering, OH 45420. You can contact them at (937) 221-9873. Information about the bar, their tap list, and coming events is listed on their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

(Not A) Dive Bar Tuesday: The Dark Horse Tavern

December 6, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to the Dark Horse Tavern!

In 1831, Benjamin Disraeli wrote the book The Young Duke. It is a book about a young orphan who comes into a vast sum of money and starts to squander it before the love of a woman shows him the error of his ways. During his party days, he spent a good deal of time at the track, betting on the horses as he drank and wooed the ladies. There was some excitement at the track that day; “a dark horse which had never been thought of, and which the careless St. James had never even observed in the list, rushed past the grandstand in sweeping triumph.” Disraeli penned the first written usage in history of the term “dark horse” to describe a victory that comes from an unexpected place. The book became a bestseller, and the phrase entered the English language. Daytonians don’t think of obscure British literature when a friend mentions a dark horse. They reflect on some of the best barbecue in the city, well-prices drinks, and an experience that they thought they had lost three months ago.

The Dark Horse Tavern (209 Byers Rd, Miamisburg, OH 45342) closed abruptly at the end of July when owner Dennis Williams discovered the difficulty of operating a thriving bar and a construction company. Something gave, and unfortunately for their loyal patrons it was the Dark Horse. However, people saw the potential of a favorite bar and restaurant in its just-off-the-beaten-path location. Nikky Vontz was an employee there many years back, in the heyday of the restaurant. She knew that with the right people in place, it could get back to those glory days. In the three months they were closed, she negotiated with Mr. Williams to get the Horse up and running again. Her persistence paid off; on November 19th, the Dark Horse Tavern was back and ready for business!

Patrons who were familiar with the previous incarnation of the space would not notice anything was amiss. The upstairs was clean and ready for patrons, and there were few cosmetic changes to the bar or restaurant area. The big smoker in the back was getting the meat ready as quickly as people were ordering it, covering a menu that is “tailored after the forerunners in the cowboy cooking method.” That method provides a little something for everyone, from fantastic sandwiches to plates covered in hickory smoked deliciousness and smothered with sauce. They have lighter fare if you are looking for a good piece of fish or a light salad for the evening, and a kids menu for the younguns. From what we tried, and heard from others, the food was fantastic. We heard that even some visiting Texans were impressed by the brisket and ribs the Dark Horse was serving. That says something about what you are about to experience when you eat here.

The drinks are where you may start seeing some differences. The whole staff here is new, and that is the way Nikky Vontz wants it. As the general manager, she is responsible for the smooth running of every aspect of the restaurant. She wanted a clean slate to work from, and she has it. Nikky is making sure that the cocktails, beers, and wines that flow from her staff are appropriately portioned and not too stressful on the wallet. The talent she is working with has hit the ground running. The bottles behind the bar are neatly lined up and ready for efficiency, and she is going to be running specials over the next few months to introduce us to the new menu. The first specialty: The Bad Lands, their house margarita. There are six taps and a wide bottle selection that will appeal to every palate, from Bud Light to local craft IPAs and stouts. The taps will constantly be rotating with the seasons and the tastes of the patrons.

The second floor is ready for the holidays!

Moving forward, Ms. Vontz has big plans. She is currently booking bands for spring of 2017, and the spots are starting to fill up. Karaoke has come back to Tuesday night, and trivia will be returning on Wednesday nights. Ladies’ Night will occupy the Thursday night slot and some low-key musical acts on Friday nights. Large groups (up to fifty people) can use the upstairs space, complete with your bar and a food selection that you create from their menu. If you can’t make it to the tavern for the food, have the tavern bring it to you! They will cater off-site events. Ms. Vontz is looking forward to the Dark Horse Tavern offering their room for charity events, with one or two in 2017 that she already has in the works. The new management gives new life for this Dayton staple, and they are going to make the most of it.

When a restaurant closes that abruptly, it is a long shot that it will reopen. The new blood running the bar and ownership took that shot, and are going to work hard to make sure they are successful. The Dark Horse Tavern is open for business again. Everything has changed there, but nothing changed. Welcome back to the Dayton restaurant scene Dark Horse Tavern!

The Dark Horse Tavern is located at 209 Byers Rd, Miamisburg, OH 45342. They are open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 AM to 12:30 AM, and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 AM until 2 AM. You can contact them at (937) 866-6960, or through their Facebook Page.

Vermouth: From Medicine to Mixology

November 9, 2016 By Brian Petro

Roman wormwood, vermouth’s humble beginnings.

Combing through history, you will see one fact common to most liquors: they started off as medicine. Beer and wine had other uses. They were easier to make and used for everything from paying workers to surviving fasts to having something to drink that would not kill you. Before we started to dig into the science of diseases, doctors would prescribe methods that we would now call alternative medicine. Anything from draining humours through leeches to mixing a variety of herbs into a liquid and drinking it. One of the earliest herbs used was wormwood, based on the belief that it was effective in fighting stomach ailments.

The wormwood-infused wine would be consumed after a meal to calm the stomach and aid in digestion. This technique was used in Europe as early as 400 BC and in some cultures earlier than that. As the wine became popular in the 16^th century, those creating it added other herbs and spices to take the horribly bitter edge off the wormwood. In Germany, this bitter root was called Wermut. When the French and Italians took hold of it, they just Romanticized the word, calling the new batch of fortified and aromatized wines “vermouth.”

Modern vermouth became popular around the end of the 18^th century when Antonio Benedetto Carpano introduced it to the market. It quickly became a darling with the courts in the area and started to spread to the rest of the country. Not too far away, in southern France, dry vermouth was gaining steam. The French kept the botanical punch that the Italians had built into the wine, but dialed the sugar content back considerably. This is what gives dry vermouth its herbal punch. The Italians also have a version of a white, or blanco, vermouth that is a sweeter version of the French dry. It does not have less of an herbal kick; it has more sugar to hide it. Traditionally, these were the three styles of vermouth found in any liquor store. With the boom we see in craft cocktails, manufacturers are experimenting with other wines and herbs to offer new flavor profiles. There are rosé and orange wine-based vermouths now that utilize other botanicals.

Gaze upon this collection of Martini vermouths…

For over 100 years, vermouth had a starring role in the cocktails the world enjoyed. Two of the classics, the Manhattan and the Martini, were based on the herbal flavors they brought to rye whiskey and gin, respectively. Flipping through classic recipe books, you can see that after the tremendous impact vermouth had when it arrived in the United States in the mid-19^th century, it started to wane. The amount of vermouth became smaller and smaller until we settled on the 3:1 or 5:1 proportions you may see in bars. Venues that focus more on the classics will put the ratio closer to 2:1 spirit to vermouth, and may even offer the Martinez. The Martinez is one of the few vintage cocktails you will find where the vermouth, not the spirit, is the star in the glass. Two parts vermouth to one part gin (or 1:1, or 1.5:1, whichever proportion the bartender assures you is the original) is what you will find, with some maraschino liqueur to balance out the herbal quality.

Martinez

2 oz. sweet vermouth
1 oz. Old Tom gin (Ransom is an excellent choice)
1 tsp. maraschino liqueur
2 ds. Bitters (Boker’s is in the original, but Angostura works well)

Glass: Cocktail
Ice: None
Garnish: Lemon zest

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing glass over ice. Stir until the cocktail is well chilled, then strain into the glass. Twist the zest over the cocktail then add it to the glass.

Martinez cocktail (credit: Ann Larie Valentine)

Any trace amounts of vermouth you were going to find in cocktails were wiped clean when Prohibition covered the land. Liquors that could not be faked were purged, lost in America for decades. When we finally returned to the business of drinking, vodka was becoming the spirit of choice. Vermouth has a strong flavor, and vodka has little. Vodka martinis, now sporting olives, forcefully pushed dry vermouth to the back of the bar shelf. And while some of the war vets were still big on the Manhattan, no one wanted to drink what their parents drank. Sweet vermouth soon found itself collecting dust as well, watching rum take over the brown liquor spot as vodka took over for clear liquor. The 1970’s and 80’s were dominated by sweet cocktails, balanced slightly by citrus juices. Unless grandpa was bellying up to the bar, vermouth was on the sidelines with the bitters.

The craft cocktail boom has invigorated the industry. From just a few bottles of Martini and Rossi on the shelf to an ever-widening array of flavors, vermouth is back. Before you run out and add that amazing collection to your liquor shelf, keep in mind that vermouth has to be at least 75% wine. That means an open bottle is only going to be good for up to four weeks on your liquor shelf. You can extend that through refrigeration, but not by much. Many brands offer smaller bottles to purchase. Grab one of those if it is just for you around the house. Or considering adding vermouth as part of your dinner plans to either get the stomach ready or calm it down after the meal. If the bottle lasts long enough to go a little south, you can add it to recipes that call for wine. Another requirement of vermouth is that it has wormwood as part of the recipe, best known as a dominant flavor in absinthe. That flavor heightens when you cook with it. You can put it in some cocktails to enjoy with your meal as well. Beyond the traditional Manhattan (sweet vermouth) and Gin Martini (dry vermouth), there is a wide array of cocktails that call for this fortified, aromatized wine.

Negroni

1 oz. gin
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. sweet Vermouth

Glass: Cocktail or Coupe
Ice: None
Garnish: Orange Zest

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing glass. Stir, then strain into the cocktail glass. Twist the orange zest over the cocktail, then add to the glass. Alternatively, you can pour all of the ingredients over cubed ice (larger cubes work best), stir, then serve.

A Negroni on the rocks. (credit: Geoff Peters)

The Negroni is a vintage cocktail from Italy. The rumor is that Count Negroni, after an extended stay in America, was traveling the Italian countryside. When he came to his usual bar for his usual drink, an Americano, he asked to replace the soda water with gin. The concoction worked and had been the springboard for countless variations. Substitute the gin with rye whiskey, and you have a Boulevardier. Exchange the gin with champagne for a Negroni Sbagliato. The possibilities are endless.

Vieux Carré

.75 oz Rye Whiskey
.75 oz Cognac
.75 oz sweet Vermouth
1 tsp Bénédictine
2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
2 dashes Angostura bitters

Glass: Old Fashioned
Ice: Cubed
Garnish: Cherry OR Lemon Zest

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing glass over ice. Stir, then strain into the Old Fashioned glass over fresh ice. Garnish with either the cherry or the lemon zest. Both, if you want to.

Built in New Orleans in the post-Prohibition era, it is a celebration of the vibrant cocktail culture that developed there. It is well balanced and a delight to drink. A bottle of Bénédictine herbal liqueur is a versatile addition to any home bar.

Scofflaw

2 oz. Bourbon or rye whiskey
1 oz. Dry vermouth
.25 oz. Fresh lemon juice
.5 oz. Grenadine
2 dashes Orange bitters

Glass: Cocktail
Ice: None
Garnish: Orange Zest

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing tin over ice. Shake well for 20 – 30 seconds, then strain into the cocktail glass. Twist the orange twist over the cocktail and add to the glass.

This Prohibition cocktail is appropriately named. Developed at Harry’s Bar in Paris in the 1920’s, it reaches for the traditional French dry vermouth instead of the sweet usually found in whiskey cocktails. There is also some debate as to the use of lemon or lime juice. The original recipe calls for lemon juice, and I will back that one. But experiment as you like.

With the resurgence of vermouth over the last few years, the options for bartenders have expanded. From Dolin to Noilly Pratt to Carpano, we have come a long way from just the bottles of Martini and Rossi on the shelf. Grab a bottle and take a sip before you start adding it to a cocktail. You may like what you taste!

National Coffee Day Tipple: Irish Coffee

September 29, 2016 By Brian Petro

We all take coffee for granted as just part of the daily routine. Wake up, brew or buy a cup of coffee, then get to doing something productive with your day. Before it was grown, roasted, boiled, and consumed, first it had to be discovered. The story is that a shepherd in Mocha saw his flock frolicking about after eating berries from a certain shrub. He took the berries, then to make them palatable roasted them then boiled them. He found the drink gave him vast amounts of energy, and the technology spread through the Middle East and Africa. It had to fight various bans for its mind altering effects, as scholars debated on whether or not it counted as being intoxicated when you were hopped up on caffeine. It passed the test with Muslim imams and eventually the Catholic church. According to the story, Pope Clement VIII was charged by his followers with banning the drink of the Muslims. He tasted it before the ban and chose to allow the drink to spread, stating it should be baptized as Catholic to get it from Muslim hands. This is all around 1600.

Coffee has always warmed us up and given a little jolt of energy. It also encourages conversation and the spreading of ideas. From the coffee houses of Shakespeare’s time to Starbucks, people who were looking to connect with others came together under one roof. The chef at an airport bar in Ireland concocted the drink for passengers coming off a plane looking cold and miserable. He offered hem some coffee with a little shot of Irish Whiskey in it. The passengers loved it, and it became a menu item on at the bar in question. One of the travelers that eventually enjoyed the cocktail was Stanton Delaplane, who brought the drink to San Francisco with him and championed it to the city. It was first served at the Buena Vista Cafe in 1952, and embraced by the city. It has been served there, and anywhere else that had coffee and Irish whiskey, ever since.

This is the critical ingredient: Irish whiskey

Irish Coffee

1.5 oz./ 45 mL Irish whiskey
2 tsp. brown sugar
4-6 oz./ 120 – 180 mL hot coffee
Glass: Irish Whiskey
Garnish: Whipped cream
Ice: None

Prepare the glass by warming it with hot water. Empty the glass when warmed, then add the coffee and sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar, then add the Irish whiskey. Stir again. Evenly spread the whipped cream over the top of the coffee and serve.

I love this drink. It is delightful any time, day or night. It is just warm and inviting, the bite and sweetness of the whiskey just peeking through the coffee flavor. You may be tempted to stir the whip cream in, but don’t. The layer of cream on top gives you a little with each sip, and acts as a delicious insulator for the coffee. If you are looking for some caffeine to add to your liquor, I suggest this over vodka and Red Bull any day. And you get whipped cream!

This is day 27 of a series, #100DaysOfCocktails, being done by Smart Guy In A Tie Cocktails. You can follow along daily on my Instagram page on Facebook, and on Twitter.

From Cuba,with Lime

July 11, 2016 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

They are all ready and waiting…

July 11th is National Mojito Day and a perfect time to revisit this article, originally posted in July 2012. Cheers!

It is getting warmer, and that means things will be changing soon in the Miami Valley. If the weather is even a little warm or a little sunny, we will wear shorts and flip flops. We are all getting very distracted at work by the lovely days that we could be out enjoying the fine weather instead of being behind a desk. Lawns need mowing, cars need washing, and our closets are shedding all of their winter clothes in preparation for warmer times. Patios are also opening up across the city, and cocktails are being served on them to many very relaxed patrons. We start to gravitate to lighter and fruitier flavors, or anything frozen. There is one perennial that appears again when the spring and summer months roll around. It was born on a tropical island, and its combination of citrus, sweetness, and fresh mint never fails to bring us back there. The mojito is a staple on any patio in the country, and one of the few cocktails we have a fairly accurate history of.

The base of the mojito goes back as far as 1586. From a practical perspective, Sir Francis Drake’s raid on Havana that year for gold was a huge disaster. From a drinker’s perspective, it was the beginning of summer cocktail season. One of his associates mixed a drink with aguardiente (a very early and raw form of rum, loosely translated to “fiery water”), lime, sugar and mint. It was called “El Draque” (the Drake or dragon, since the Cubans were not fans of Sir Francis); the addition of the extra ingredients was to cover the harsh nature of the liquor. It continued its evolution in the fields of Cuba. The people working the fields would crush up the sugar cane and extract a very sweet liquid from it, which they called guarapo. That sweet liquid was a staple of the workers and the base of a new spirit, rum.

Rum is really the only thing that changed “El Draque” into the mojito. The other ingredients did not change, but the switch to rum also changed the people that drank it. It moved from the fields of Cuba to the patios. It became more refined, and evolved into a drink that Cuba started to be known for. It was first recorded as a mojito in a drink manual from a bar named Sloppy Joes in 1931. This was during Prohibition, when the nearest bars in Florida were in Cuba. This attracted sort of a cocktail tourism, and people started to discover the joys of rum cocktails. From Sloppy Joe’s it moved over to a bar named Bodeguita del Medio, which became THE place to get mojitos during the 20’s and 30’s. Ernest Hemmingway (more of a daiquiri man) was once quoted as saying “My mojitos at La Bodeguita. My daiquiris at El Floradita.” During this time, the cocktail picked up a few modern conveniences: “charged” water (soda) and ice. Both of these items were in very short supply in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. There is some evidence the ice was added a little earlier, but we know that both were part of the drink when it migrated, post-Prohibition, to the United States.

1939 World’s Fair, thank you for the drink

The mojito made its grand entrance to the United States at the New York World’s Fair in 1939 as the featured drink at the Cuban pavilion. It spread like wildfire through the U.S., becoming a hugely popular drink in bars all over the country. It was fresh, it was foreign, and people were enamored with the unique flavor. At least, it was popular until the 60’s. It was about that time that processed juices and other beverages became more fashionable to use as mixers, and technology trumped fresh juices and ingredients. The drink was pushed aside by the Long Island iced tea and the mai tai. It was not revived until the craft movements of the 80’s when beers and fresh ingredient cocktails came back into vogue, and processed cocktails started to share the limelight again with smaller cocktails from a long forgotten period. The resurrection continued into the 90’s. Latin food became quite the culinary fashion. During the height of the popularity of the cosmopolitan-driven series Sex and The City, The Los Angeles Times referred to the mojito as “a cosmo for the more adventurous”. And with its light and crisp flavor, they were not entirely wrong. It’s final step back onto its original throne was James Bond having one in “Die Another Day”, offering Halle Barry one as well. Now it is considered one of the top classic cocktails in the country, right along with the mai tai and Long Island iced tea. It is another cocktail that made Imbibe’s list of most influential cocktails of the century.

It is influential for a reason. Rum is a naturally sweeter liquor, and holds together the tartness of the lime and the bite of mint together in a very refreshing manner. It is simple enough to make in any bar or home, and during the warm spring and summer months it is incredibly refreshing. If you are looking for the best place in Dayton to find one, El Meson was an overwhelming favorite in an impromptu poll. Sidebar 410 and Meadowlark were also mentioned, as well as the kitchen of Superfry! If there are other places you feel make remarkable mojitos, let us know in the comments section. If you are going to make it at home, here is the traditional recipe.

Mojito baby picture

Mojito

2 sprigs of young mint
1 oz. of simple syrup
.75 oz. of fresh lime juice
1.5 oz. of light rum (Bacardi is an excellent choice)
2 dashes of Agonstura bitters (optional)
1.5 oz. club soda

In the bottom of a glass, lightly muddle the leaves off one sprig of the mint leaves in the simple syrup and lime juice. You want to press out the mint oil from the leaves without tearing them up, as this might bring some bitterness to the drink. Add the rum (and the bitters, if you choose to), ice, and the club soda, and stir. The other lime sprig is for garnish.

El Draque grew into one of the most recognized drinks of the world. Over the 400 years the cocktail has been in existence it has changed little, but maintained a following, sometimes large, sometimes only for the adventurous. Light and refreshing, it is a perfect warm weather drink. Cheers!

Dive Bar Tuesday – Mack’s Tavern

June 28, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to Mack’s Tavern!

Scouting locations for Dive Bar Tuesday is usually pretty straight forward. We listen to the readers, make lists, and visit the sites as time allows. More often than not when we arrive, there is no doubt we are going to a dive bar. The location is small and usually hidden, there is not lots of light, and the people we see know each other. The first one we attended, Miami Valley Sports Bar, was the only venue we visited where we started to question if it had jumped to the next level. There was good food, plenty of room, and they were in the process of expanding and making the place better. Is there an upper ceiling to what can be considered a dive bar? Where does “dive bar” end and “nice place to go for a night out” begin? This conversation continued even as we walked into Mack’s Tavern, ready to get some drinks and have some of their delicious pizza.

Mack’s Tavern (381 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Washington Township, OH 45459, (937) 813-7217) failed the first test of what we have come to expect from a dive bar: difficult to find. It is just sitting there next to Big Lots on Miamisburg Centerville Rd., begging for you to pull up and visit. The place is well lit too. Not too bright, because no one wants that in a bar, but just enough light to see the vintage décor on the walls and the games that are lined up and waiting for you to play. There are still some nooks and crannies you can scurry off to for a private discussion or a first date, but the floor is set up, so it is easy to meet people. That is not by accident. MacKenzie Manley, the owner of Mack’s, wants people to come in as strangers and leave as friends. If that is something I have written before, there is a reason. It is one of the charms of the dive bar. Or, if you want to be politer with the naming, the neighborhood bar. It is working. Everyone was chatting and having fun. And MacKenzie knew every regular.

We could not even fit the food into the frame.

If you have not heard of MacKenzie, it is possible you have not been near a computer for a very long time. MacKenzie won the first annual Bloody Mary Showdown with a Barbecue Burger Bloody Mary. Media monolith BuzzFeed picked up a story about the tavern leaving coupons on cars left overnight for responsible drivers. She was a bartender at the Pour Haus for years and was voted one of the top dive bars in the city in her first year of operation. She understands both sides of the bar business: making great drinks and providing a comfortable environment for the patrons who show up. She was inspired by the venerable Cubby Hole and the Pour Haus from years gone by. Does your company need a place to have a lunch meeting? Call Mack’s. Do you want to throw that big party for the holidays, or maybe a small class get-together? Call Mack’s. Did your plans at a different bar in the city fall through? Call Mack’s. Talking with her, exploring the space, you start to wonder if you can call this a dive bar, or are we in a whole different place? This is a dive bar. MacKenzie was emphatic about it.

Their menu is filled with food and drink delicious options. Just recently she added ten more specialty pizzas and wings to go with the sandwiches and meal-sized plates of Mack and Cheese. There are many beers on tap and bottles she offers, and all of them at a reasonable price. Good luck finding any beer over $4 (but they do pop up from time to time). They offer cocktails as well, which they are happy to create to your taste. They do have some standards that they will pour for you, but for the most part that menu is a bespoke one. And after a meal and some drinks here, your wallet will not feel that much lighter. The philosophy that drives the atmosphere at Mack’s is that she wants you to have a good time without breaking the bank. The inexpensive menu and the really friendly workers there ensure that the experience will be a pleasant one. They have thought it out right down to the restrooms, which may be the cleanest, most attractive ones I have seen in a while.

When you head into Mack’s Tavern, you are heading into one of the best dive bars Dayton has to offer. From their mascots Chewy the Boar and MacKenzie’s pit bull Haze to the one-of-a-kind signs on the wall, you are going to have a unique experience. They offer pool and darts for entertainment on a daily basis with Monday being reserved for karaoke and Thursday being a trivia night. And come football season, have no doubt, this bar cheers for the Steelers. It is a dive bar by design, and the lead architect has done an excellent job. Head into the easy to find, spacious bar and spend the night enjoying the food, the beverages, and the fact you are likely to leave with more friends than you had heading in. And leave your car if you had a little too much to drink. They will take care of that, too.

Dive Bar Tuesday – Dr. Doodles Lounge

June 7, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to Dr. Doodle’s Lounge!

There has been a theme in the last few dive bars we have explored. They are small and intimate venues, where is it hard not to meet know people because you were in pretty close proximity to them. Bar space was limited, and there was not much light in the room, which tends to bring people closer together. Space is expensive; unless you have a good deal, what you pay for the building, as well as its maintenance, can be costly. This could be a reason that dive bars tend to end up in places that are hard to find or out of the way. Many of the ones that are on our list are out of the way places that people almost have to draw us maps for to ensure that we find it. Had people not told us about Time Out Cavern or Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge, I am not sure we would have stumbled on them by just wandering down the street. In some ways, this week’s adventure to Dr. Doodle’s Lounge follows that script. In more ways, it breaks it.

Dr. Doodle’s Lounge (1510 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Dayton, OH 45459) DOES have a sign on 725 that lets you know it is there. However, you won’t see it from the street. You need to go around the back of the Original Pancake House to find this delight. When you do head back there, the first thing you will notice is their nicely enclosed patio. It is spacious and covered, so as long as the weather is warm, you can sit out there with your favorite beverage. When you enter and pass a small shelf of books and a jukebox on the left, there is a good chance someone is going to say hello to you. And it may not be the bartender. Like most of the other bars we have gone to, we immediately felt welcome here. More than one person we spoke with mentioned the feel was very much like the beloved Cubby Hole, complete with several of the bartenders that made that venue great. It was also said a few times that “the stranger you are, the more you fit in.”

This place seems a little strict with rules.

The openness was not just for the customers and staff. The whole atmosphere was open, thanks in large part to the walls of windows on two sides of the building. The ceilings were high, and there was natural light (possibly Natural Light too, we did not check) pouring through space. The bar was tucked into the corner, so there was plenty of room for activities like darts, pool, trivia, the occasional Sunday karaoke night, and any other events one can imagine. Even on nights in the past, we were there, and it was busy, it did not feel like a cramped space. There is room for everyone to come in for a drink!

And come in for a drink you should! They have three taps for beer, but a much wider selection of cans and bottles for you to enjoy. There was a cocktail list, but it has been lost to history. The spirits they keep behind the bar offer an imbibing option for everyone and the bartenders there know how to use them. Specials, as well as food, depends on the night that drops in. Each man or woman handling bar duty that night will have their own special, from $3 shots of Fireball to $10 buckets of beer. The food menu is just as dependent on staff taste. One night could be pulled pork sandwiches; another they could be grilling brats on the patio. This is one of the beauties of small, independent businesses. There is always something different going on, and the staff has some leeway to cater to the customers. In fact, some of the customers will bring in side dishes depending on the night and the bartender. Who needs a regular menu?

What are you in the mood for today?

It would be easy to become a regular here. The whole atmosphere is a big warm embrace. There is going to be a motorcycle run in August to Indian Lake, starting with some hamburgers and brats on the patio and finishing with the ride. Last year over 200 people participated in the event, and this year will probably be bigger. Every night will offer a different experience, which means if you go often enough, you will find the right time for you. It does not matter who you are or what you do; there’s a bar stool and a cold drink waiting for you. Just a cursory look at the parking lot ran the gamut of styles, from hard working pick-up trucks to shining and stylish high-end cars. Stop by Dr. Doodles Lounge over a few different nights as the summer starts to heat up. Enjoy the patio, the food, and the friendly atmosphere. Pretty soon you too will be welcoming people as they walk up to the bar for a drink.

Dr. Doodles lounge is located at 1510 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Dayton, OH 45459. Their number is (937) 434-8748, and they are open every day from 12:00 PM to 2:30 AM. You can find their upcoming events and other information on their Facebook page.

Dive Bar Tuesday – Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge

May 31, 2016 By Brian Petro

That is the whole cozy space, ladies and gents.

In 1865, a mathematician named Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (His pen name was Lewis Carroll.) wrote a book about a little girl who has an amazing adventure in a faraway land. Alice’s adventures begin when she spies a white rabbit run by as she is drowsily listening to her sister. The rabbit is in a petticoat and muttering about how late he is as he stares at his watch. She follows him into his rabbit hole, and that is where her adventures in Wonderland begin. Ever since that book, the white rabbit has been a symbol of diving into something mysterious with a fantastic payoff. Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge was that for our band of merrymakers. This is the first dive bar we patronized that we were not overly familiar with. We had been told of it by Big Ragu and The Crew, but we did not know much. Now we do, and we did have a fantastic adventure.

You are not going to stumble randomly on Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge (889 South Main Street Centerville, OH 45458, 937-435-3150); someone is going to have to lead you there. It is located in a strip mall pushed away from the street. When we went in, there was a handful of people at the bar. The first thing we noticed is that the place was small. Performers would call the venue “intimate”, and they would not be wrong. The size of the space contributes to people being able to see and experience everything happening. There are some nooks and crannies, but they don’t offer much in ways of privacy. It was well lit, and the music that was playing was at the right level. You could have a conversation and still enjoy the jukebox. Televisions cover just enough of the walls to be seen from any point in the room. The ceiling tiles are decorated with advertisements and other patron artwork. There are still some spaces available for only $25 each.

Adrienne's White Rabbit Lounge Beer and Cocktails

Drink all the drinks!

The drinks here are well-priced. And by well-priced I mean inexpensive. That is not even taking into account the daily specials they offer, from shots based on the vodka flavor of the month to seasonal beer specials. There is also a Queen of Hearts game that happens on Thursday nights, where lucky gamers can win a nice sized jackpot. They have house-created cocktail specials, an excellent selection of domestic beers (some part of their daily specials), and something I have not yet found at other bars we have explored. They have a special cabinet filled with tequilas and other special liquors. A rotating list of unique bottles is one more unique things the White Rabbit offers. They even have events that feature these gems, like the tequila they event they are planning for June 3. The cocktails were tried were both tasty in their way; one was a refreshingly summery sour cocktail, and the other was a seasonal recipe. We asked Tori, our bartender that night, what we should try and she pointed us to the Merry Cherry. It was a Jägermeister cocktail where the spices of the liqueur came through just enough to give some zest to the cherry and raspberry in the drink.

If you are looking for a place to eat, there are many options nearby that will have a reliable menu. Like any real house of mystery, the food is a grab bag depending on the day and if there is an event. There are always some snacks in one of the nooks. Typical bar food that the regulars help to keep stocked, like pretzels, chips, and cheese balls. For special events, like Derby parties or events with customers (the bar, usually closed Sundays, can handle special events), you will find a more robust fare. Burgers, brats, pulled pork, and other staples of great get-togethers will be available.

The snack nook, complete with deer head wearing shades.

Above anything else, the thing we were most impressed with was how friendly everyone was. The bartenders treated us as if we had been loyal bar patrons for months, being very friendly to us and answering every question we had. We had multiple conversations with other bar patrons, from what we did as a business to the current state of Reds baseball. There was even a round of drinks purchased for the whole bar, which at the time was pretty damn full. It was not a bumping Friday night, but there were people there. It was a neighborhood bar in the best sense. A place where it felt like you could go at any time and either meet friends you already knew or make some brand new ones over some music and a round of darts.

We left at the end of our time there glad that we found another lovely place to go for a drink in Dayton. Adrienne’s White Rabbit, which has been around in a variety of forms for almost forty years, is what most people are looking for when they are seeking a casual watering hole. There may not be any rabbits, hatters, living playing cards, or red queens, but you will have to enjoy a friendly experience when you go.

Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge is located at 889 South Main Street, Centerville, OH 45458. They are open Monday through Saturday from 1 PM to 2:30 AM, closed on Sundays. You can find them on the web at adrienneswhiterabbit.com, or visit their Facebook page for information on upcoming events. Their phone number is 937-435-3150.

Dive Bar Tuesday – Diplomat Lounge

April 26, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to the Diplomat Lounge!

After an extended hiatus, we are back! Of course, that is one of the best things about any good dive bar you go to. Any bar, really. They become more than a place to just get a drink after work; you get to know the bartenders. You start to discover that other patrons are from a town near yours, or enjoy Game of Thrones as much as you do, or weep quietly every Sunday after a Browns loss. Whether you go to the best wine bar in town or a venue where their craft beer is Budweiser Lime-A-Rita, you are going for more than the product they are offering. You are going for the comfortable feeling it provides. Of all the bars my friends and I have gone to so far, the Diplomat Lounge has felt the most comfortable.

The Diplomat Lounge (2766 Wilmington Pike, Kettering, OH., 45419) was located a little further down the road on Smithville Rd., just past where it splits from Wilmington Pike. There was some major construction in the mall area they were located, changing an old Kroger and the surrounding stores into a small neighborhood. The Diplomat moved down the street and has been there since. Where many of the other bars we have gone to were more focused on pool, this is a place where darts appear to be king. They offer BYOP dart tournaments once a month on the second Saturday of the month (the next one will be May 14, 2016), and Luck of the Draw tournaments on Sunday nights. Have no fear, pool players. There are a couple of tables for you in the back half of the bar. But there are darts on both sides.

Back room pool tables, and the doorway to the “secret patio”.

When I say both sides, the bar cuts the space in half. If you are not familiar with the space, you may think that it is a little small, until you realize there is this great space on the other side of the bar as well. This is where the pool tables are, and it is a slightly darker, more intimate space. You are tucked away from the storefront windows and people coming in and out of the bar. Service was on both sides, which would be great on a busy Friday or Saturday night when you are trying to get a beverage while tossing darts or warming up your pipes for karaoke. The weekends may have all the action, but there are liquor and beer specials all week. Every night there is a liquor with a little discount and a beer that is just a dollar. My personal choices are fifty cents of tequila on Tuesday and $2 cans on Monday. Feel free to drop in and check out their other daily specials.

If you are looking for a menu, this is not the place. They do have a menu for their specials on their Facebook page, but that is the one menu we found. Their food options are limited to pizzas and chips (perfect fuel for long nights of drinking), but there are plenty of other food options nearby if you want to eat before you show up or stop somewhere after you leave. There was not a cocktail menu to be seen, and if you ask the bartender they will share the beer list with you. It offers little in the way of craft beers or cocktails, but it that really why you are going here? No, no it is not.

They have a few bottles for you to choose from…

Two things to note when you plan on making the trip to the Diplomat. The first is that motorcycle riders are welcome here. If you have been looking for a place to stop with your bike on a ride around town, we have found another place for you. Though you most likely knew it already. It is about three miles from 675 or 35, just a hop, skip, and jump. The other thing to note is that once you have discovered the back room, keep going because there is a patio! It is a great enclosed space that has a cozy feel to it, the outside world being held at bay by a wooden fence. One other thing I have found in every bar we have gone to is that each has a little surprise inside.

The Diplomat Lounge is a great place to hang out for a few hours, enjoy a few drinks on a quiet patio, and leave the world behind. If you are so inclined, they are creating summer dart leagues right now! What are you doing Tuesday nights that is more important? And who knows, maybe this is the comfortable after work spot you have been seeking. You know there will be some dart fans or motorcycle riders there to meet.

The Diplomat Lounge is located at 2766 Wilmington Pike, Dayton, OH 45419. They are open 1 PM to 2:30 AM Monday through Friday, and 12 PM to 2:30 AM Saturday and Sunday. You can visit their Facebook page for more information, or call (937) 293-2508.

Dive Bar Tuesday: McGillicutty’s Pub

March 15, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to McGillicutty’s!

When the biggest bar holiday of the year comes knocking, you sit down with your team and have a serious conversation about the bar where you are going to celebrate. A lively discussion commenced and the finalists were chosen. The finalists all had certain merits in the dive bar designation. The Final Four bars we decided on were Flannigan’s Pub, Harrigan’s Tavern, Mack’s Tavern, and McGillicutty’s Pub. We look forward to visiting all of them in good time, but the one we went for this week just ahead of St. Patrick’s Day was McGillicutty’s Pub. It has been a staple in the community for over twenty-two years, and ready to go for a celebration of all things Irish.

What struck me first about McGillicutty’s Pub (1980 E Whipp Rd, Dayton, OH 45440) was their lack of pool tables. It is officially the first dive bar we went to that did not have one. But they did have one of the biggest virtual golf games I have seen, and plenty of electronic dart boards to spend some time with. There are plenty of televisions as well, perfect for coming in over the weekend and watching your bracket either slowly rise to the top or crumble into a thousand pieces as the Cinderella teams start to emerge. It is off the beaten path enough you should be able to find a seat with your twenty-two ounce beer without a problem.

Carolina BBQ Hot Damn Wings at McGillicuttys

So. Good.

The food menu is extensive. There is something for everyone, and it is all made to order in the kitchen. There is a wide variety of specialty pizzas, small appetizers, sandwiches, and wings. We did not get a chance to sample everything, but we know some people who did. The pizza was delightful, but I do not want to take anything away from the wings. The wings were delicious. The award winning Carolina BBQ Hot Damn Sauce was amazing. On Monday nights, the wings are $0.50 each, and we could not get enough of them. They were good enough to get one of our party that will not eat meat off the bone to dissect a wing so she could enjoy it. The sauce is on the spicy side, but not so spicy they will make you miserable. Even if they were, there is enough to drink to cool off your mouth.

The beer and cocktail menu…well, does not really exist. The beers they have on tap lean as far as this bar goes to the craft side of the spectrum: Blue Moon, Fat Tire, and some seasonals. They also have some classics on tap like Yuengling, which they were offering for $3.50 for thirty-four ounces on Mondays. They have tried offering more craft beers, but as we found out from our server and co-owner, the regulars like to stick to the basics. They have quite a few bottle offerings as well, including twenty-two ounce bottles of Bud Light for Sundays. Cocktails are more bespoke than anything else. They have their own unique specials, including a punch that sounds like a throwback to punches of yore: a variety of rums and available fruit juices, served so the whole table can enjoy such delights at a fair price. If you are there on Sunday, ask for their award winning Bloody Mary to get you through the morning.

Just getting started…

Is this an Irish pub that will be doing Kegs and Eggs? No. If you really want one you can start off your day there on Thursday (10 A.M.) with an Irish Breakfast. Then you will be ready for green beer and specials on some of their more Irish fare. The Reuben sandwich and pizza will be discounted, and there will be an Irish stew added as a special for the day. The staff will also be working hard on their specialty cocktails like the Shamrock and Lucky Charm for those that may need to switch it up from beer for a drink or two. It will be busy on Thursday, and with some luck, their large patio will be available for all the revelers clad in green.

McGillicutty’s Pub is decked out in green and ready for St. Patrick’s Day, but it is a place to come and enjoy some camaraderie any time of the year. Everyone we spoke with was very friendly and willing to answer any question. Their Facebook page is the place to go to find all of their specials and to keep up with the events going on at the pub, like their drop in dart leagues (Saturday night) and karaoke (Sunday night). And if you are looking for a challenge, there is a record for drinking their thirty-four ounce mugs. One bold patron was able to consume eighteen in a day, with help from a friend to get him home after the feat was accomplished. While we will definitely be back for the wings and the light atmosphere, we will leave that record for someone else to break. Sláinte!

Dive Bar Tuesday: Time Out Cavern

March 8, 2016 By Brian Petro

Descending into the very familiar.

There are many criteria on which you can judge a bar. Some people look for a certain selection of liquor, focusing on bourbon or wine or craft beer. Others go because of loyalty; your friend owns it, or bartends there, or they support a certain team you like. There is something to be said for the talent that they have hired. Finding the lady who makes your Manhattan with just the right amount of sweetness, or the gentleman who has a glass of wine poured and waiting for you at your favorite seat, is worth its weight in Pappy Van Winkle. All of these things are lovely, but the real deal is when a bar becomes as comfortable as a well worn sweater. Whether it is a high end bar where you can get a pour of that Pappy or a place where “Pappy” is the nickname of the guy that is ALWAYS sitting at the end of the bar, getting to that point where everyone knows who you are makes the best watering hole. Walking down the stairs into the Time Out Cavern (5543 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH 45429), every step feels a little more like home.

Yes, you are walking down, like you are going into someone’s basement. The mirrors and metal signs on the wall span the gamut of styles, from old Apsen Edge (the Coors answer to Bud Platinum or Miller 64) to modern Stella Artois images. At the bottom of the staircase you turn to your right and you would swear you were in your friend’s kick ass basement. There are two pool tables (used for tournaments on Wednesday and are FREE to use on Sunday), two dart boards, a nice long bar, a jukebox filled with excellent tunes, and enough mirrors and beer signs on the walls to explore for majority of your stay. There is definitely a rich atmosphere that throws back to a simpler time in the American bar scene. If you are paying enough attention, you will notice that many of them revolve around the Kentucky Derby.

The owner, John “The Man” Seaman is a lover of horse racing. If you stop by while he is there, you may catch a race on one of the many televisions around the bar. He is such a lover of the sport that every year Time Out Cavern throws one of the best, if not best known, watching parties in the city. They ship in bottles of the official bourbon to serve in the official glasses of the derby that year (which they bring by the case). Of course there is the popular Mint Julep as the star of the night, but they mix up a few house specialties as well. They have a raffle where you can win one of those official bottles, as well as swag from Kentucky Derby’s past. Fancy hats are a must, but there is a low ceiling and not much lighting, so not too fancy.

Welcome to the Cavern! Make yourself at home.

Their beer selection is typical to what you would find in a proper dive bar with a few exceptions like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Samuel Adams Winter Lager. You can settle down with a Rolling Rock as well, or 22s of Budweiser or Heineken. The cocktail specialties they have are not limited to the Kentucky Derby; while they do not keep an up to date menu for them, they do have a secret menu you can ask for. I am going to go on a limb and say it is one of the few bars of its kind where you will find a Brandy Alexander on the menu. You can also find their signature shot, the Time Out, a combination of raspberry and orange vodka, orange juice, and a splash of sour and grenadine. While they have a good variety of flavored vodkas, whiskeys, and other liquors, their favorites seem to be Jameson and Patron. I am going to go even further out on that limb from earlier and say it is the only dive bar we will cover that you can get a Bénédictine and Brandy, also known as a B and B. It is one of John’s favorite drinks, and definitely a rarity to find.

One thing that really struck me was Bubba’s Corner. It is a baby bar within the bar. On a busy Friday or Saturday night, I could see it being used as a second stop for a beer or a shot of bourbon. It is a shrine than John keeps to an old friend of his who used to like watching the Derby with him. That would be Bubba’s spot in the bar to watch it. When he passed away, the spot was kept for him to keep watching the majestic horse race. In that area there is also a plaque with a dedication to Cpl. Richard Gilbert Jr., a Marine who gave his life in service of his country. He was a regular there, and it is a touching tribute to the sacrifice he and his fellow Marines and sailors made. They have a loyal base of regulars, and that is a sign of a great place to get a drink.

Descending into the Time Out Cavern takes you back. And it sucks you in. Why go back up into the world when there are good beers and plenty of drinks? Well, maybe if you are hungry. They do not serve food there. Plus it is a Browns bar, and we all know how friendly those fans are (Speaking as a life-long Browns fan). Talking to one of the bartenders, I learned that the main entrance near Meadowlark is where the new customers enter; regulars usually park in the back and use the back entrance. Enter where you want, just as long as you enter. A good time will be had by all.

Time Out Cavern is open 2:30 PM to 2:30 AM, Monday through Saturday and 7:30 PM to 2:30 AM on Sunday.

Viva Margarita!

February 21, 2016 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

The drink that launched a thousand drunken texts…

Each year on February 22 we take some time to celebrate National Margarita Day. We all love a good margarita. They are a staple drink at any Mexican restaurant, and for the most part the only tequila based drink most people can name. Blended with ice or on the rocks, they come in all flavors in a margarita glass, usually with a salted (or in some cases, sugared) rim. If you are a Dayton native, you know that Elsa’s and their Bad Juans are THE margaritas to drink. You may also know that if you live in or near Tampa, Florida. There is an Elsa’s there, and Bad Juans are served in the Tampa Bay Times Forum Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The margarita is a drink that every bartender, amateur and professional, knows how to make. It is one of the basics.

What no bartender knows is where the margarita originally came from. In fact, no one knows. But the stories that hover around the origins of the drink are pretty incredible. One of the most told ones is that a wealthy socialite from Texas names Margaret “Margarita” Sames created the drink in 1948 at a party she was throwing at her vacation home in Acapulco. She stepped behind the bar and started to experiment, and had her guests judge the results. The most popular one was the one that went on to bear her name. It is a great story, but it also ignores the fact that in 1945, Jose Cuervo had an advertisement with the phrase “Margarita: it’s more than a girl’s name”. A story that would fit that timeline is the one where it is created in the 1930’s for a woman named Marjorie King by a bartender named Carlos “Danny” Herrera. She was supposedly allergic to all forms of alcohol…except for tequila. This was made as her drink. Or, maybe a rock star bartender named Enrique Bastante Gutierrez made it for a little known actress named Margarita Cansino. Some bartenders think it was not named for a woman at all, but it is a variation of a classic drink named a Daisy, which in Spanish is margarita. The Daisy was a much more complex drink with a brandy base, and added simple syrup and soda water.

The margarita is a cocktail that comes from a much simpler background, probably relating a little closer to the sours popular in the late 19^th century. When we go out, we look to get pitchers, fishbowls, 55 gallon drums, any large container full of a slightly sour, greenish/yellowish beverage. The original recipe is a little closer to this:

Margarita

1.5 oz. tequila (I am a fan of El Espalon Reposado lately)
1 oz. orange liqueur (Triple sec, Grand Marnier, etc.)
.75 oz. lime juice

Combine the ingredients into a mixing glass over ice. Shake well, and then strain into a margarita glass with a salted rim.

To salt a rim, take a lime wedge and run it around the edge of the glass to add moisture. Then dip the edge into a plate with kosher salt covering it, pressing the salt into the edge. Lift the glass and tap the edge gently, knocking off any excess salt. You want the salt to be on the outside and edge of the glass, not the inside where salt may slide into and contaminate the drink.

So simple to change the flavor of your margarita to your personal taste.

The original margarita recipe is very simple. Just three ingredients and you have a delicious cocktail ready to go. Such simplicity has inspired a wide variety of creativity in the margarita realm, much like it has in the martini realm. The core of the drink sill revolves around the tequila, and adding something sweet to it. Some of the variations are very subtle, like the Blue Margarita, Mango Margarita, or a Sour Apple Margarita. Some of them are a little more complicated:

Spicy Cucumber Margarita (via Examiner)

Half a cucumber, peeled and cubed
1 slice jalapeno pepper, minced, no seeds
1 oz. reposado tequila
.5 oz. lime juice (about half a medium lime)
.5 oz. orange liqueur

Muddle the cucumber and jalapeno in the bottom of a shaker, and then add ice. Pour all of the liquid ingredients into the shaker, and then shake. You want to shake it about ten or so times. Strain the drink into the margarita glass, filled with ice and rimmed with salt. You can mix some pepper flakes in the salt as well for some extra kick.

Catalina Margarita (via About.com)

1.5 oz. silver tequila
1 oz. peach schnapps
1 oz. blue curacao
.5 oz. sour mix

Add ice into a shaker. Pour all of the liquid ingredients into the shaker, and shake well. Pour into a margarita glass, rimmed with sugar and filled with ice. For fruitier or sweeter margaritas, a sugar rim is recommended.

Baha Margarita (via The Beer Lady Speaks)

1.5 oz. silver tequila
1 oz. coconut rum (Malibu is an excellent choice)
1.5 oz. lime juice
1 tbsp. simple syrup (optional)

Add ice into a shaker. Pour all of the liquid ingredients into the shaker, and shake well. Pour into a margarita glass, rimmed with salt and filled with ice. The interesting thing here is the use of coconut rum as the sweet element, which marries well with the lime juice.

As mentioned earlier, Elsa’s is the undisputed champion of the margarita in Dayton. However, that is not to say there is not competition for the crown. Pepito’s in Kettering has been known to serve a delicious margarita or two. El Toro can also throw its hat in the ring, offering a wide variety of tequilas as well as variations on classic. El Meson will be celebrating the day with tapas specials as well as Meson Margaritas. Abuelo’s will also be celebrating the day with specials on their premium margaritas. There are plenty of places to go to celebrate National Margarita Day. Just remember this article if you have to work the next day. Cheers!

Dive Bar Tuesday – Sure Shots

February 16, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to Sure Shots!

We love to get excited about things becoming bigger and better. We watch the places that follow all the trends, trying desperately to either keep up with them or get ahead of what they are doing. More craft beers, larger cocktail menus, more and more food options. All of it in the name of trying to attract more customers. That may be the expected thing to do when you own a bar or restaurant, but it is not always the right thing. Occasionally the right thing is to be the solid rock in a sea of changing tastes. Sure Shots has been following this path for as long as I have been stopping in, and they must be doing something right. Approaching the bar from the outside, you can tell this is a no frills place where people just come for a good time and a cold beer.

The first thing that is going to strike you when you open the door to Sure Shots is a whiff of cigarette smoke. As long as it has been since the smoking ban settled on the state of Ohio, there are still bars out there where that oddly comforting aroma still lingers. The second thing that struck me is the lack of light. This is a bar where, once you are in, hours can fly by and you would not know it. The main source of lighting was focused on the pool tables and dart boards, and a few large television screens around the perimeter. There is also a nice selection of music on the juke box, and the soft glow of a Jägermeister machine and a drink mixing machine preparing Apple Pie Shots for the unsuspecting masses. A few portions of the wall are also well lit that show off their community outreach by supporting local teams, or dart and pool league champions.

Time for some beers and some pool. Not in that order.

Sure Shots is a nuts-and-bolts bar. Minus the Jaeger machine, nothing is on tap, all the beer is by the can or bottle. They like to support locals in their drink selection when they can, offering Warped Wing favorites behind the bar and some Belle of Dayton for all your vodka sipping needs. They carry a few nice liquor choices, like Hennessy and Johnny Walker Black, but there are no rarities or odd flavors that beg to try something new. The Everclear may give you a few dirty looks, but that is really what Everclear does. Every night there is a different drink special, from $5 Root Beer Floats on Mondays to $3.50 Caramel Apples on Wednesday and Saturday. The food menu, like the bar, is also no frills. Come on in for a pizza or a soft pretzel, but that is all you are going to be able to find. That being said, is there anything better to soak up drinks like pizza and pretzels? No, no there isn’t.

The best part of every place we visit are the surprises. Are you a third shift worker? You can swing by Sue Shots when you get off of your shift, since they are one of the few local bars that are open at 5:30 AM. In the area early on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday morning? You can enjoy a little breakfast while you are there. Eggs, bacon, biscuits, gravy, all of the basics one would expect for a morning meal. This is also the official Home of the Apple Pie Shot. It has an impact similar to a Bad Juan; you do not feel it at first, but it is something that packs a punch. Apples and rum pair very well together, but one would think that 151 would make its presence more known than it does. Slide in a little of that shifty Everclear, and you have a shot that will definitely grabs your attention.

Many of my friends have stumbled out of this bar in the wee hours of the morning after a long night at work. Every time I have been there the atmosphere has been cheerful, if not fairly boisterous from time to time. There is always a pool game in the corner, and the bar staff is hustling hard to make sure beers everyone has a drink and is having a great time. What more do you want from a local watering hole? Cheers!

Sure Shots is located at 3121 E Dorothy Ln, Dayton, OH 45420. They are open daily from 5:30 AM to 2:30 AM. You can like them on their Facebook page to stay up to date on their specials and other events.

Dive Bar Tuesday – Phone Booth Lounge

February 2, 2016 By Brian Petro

And the the night began: with a cocktail or two).

Since the team started working on Dive Bar Tuesdays, one bar has been at the top of our list to get to sooner than later. It is one that we all discovered while working together and we had been attending for a while. The location was relatively central to where we all lived, the food and drink prices were right, and the atmosphere was incredibly relaxed. Schedules did not align, especially since on Tuesday nights the bar was packed. Packed to the point people were making reservations. Reservations? In a dive bar? When Tuesday Night Trivia is so popular that majority of the tables in the place are set aside, something special has to be happening. This week we were finally able to make it to the Phone Booth Lounge in Kettering. It was much quieter than the last few times we tried to enjoy the calm atmosphere we were accustomed to.

The Phone Booth just exudes calm. It could be the fact that they have been serving customers for the last five decades. That’s right, they have been sitting there taking care of customers since 1964. The wood paneled walls and stained ceiling tiles tell that tale well. And not in a “this place needs an update” way. It is just comfortable, like a well-worn sweater. The bartenders are friendly, going the distance to help me find a whiskey I enjoyed (I was feeling some Bushmill’s) and rooting through the beer cooler for me. There were photos of bands surrounding the stage, and lit signs indicating all of the upcoming events being held there. There is live music all weekend, including a Blues Jam on Thursday nights. Monday through Wednesday they have beer specials and something different each night; Wii bowling on Mondays, trivia on Tuesday, and warm up the stage on Wednesday with karaoke. This month they will also be teaming up with the Dayton Blues Society for their Second Annual Youth Showcase on February 20^th.

Their cocktail menu reflects their claim of being the Home of Kettering Rock and Roll. The shot list falls on the more traditionally named side, with Black and Blues, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Sweet Tarts. When you look over to the cocktail menu, however, the rock comes out. You can find some Sweet Emotions, possibly Blinded by the Light, or end up Knocking on Heaven’s Door. There is a list of beers, wines, and other liquors they have on the back, but it is not a complete list. There is one thing that they took down that I really enjoyed using to see all their beers; a beer shelf that hung over the bar. It allowed you to look at the selection of specialty beers and be ready to order on a moment’s notice. This is also one of the few bars I have been to where all of the liquor is not up where it can be immediately seen. The hiding of the complete beer and liquor menu may just be a clever ploy to get you to chat with the staff.

So. Many. Nachos.

The food menu is a perfect complement to the space. It is all very comfortable food. You are not going to hit many surprises on it, unless you order the nacho platter without understanding what you are asking for. There was other food on the table, like hot dog pretzel bites and fried mushrooms, but we all turned our heads when the nachos came. It was big enough to serve the five people that were sitting there, and there were enough toppings on it to hold it all together. Even after nibbling on it for the better part of an hour, we did not finish it. It was one hell of a surprise to see on the table, and makes me curious as to what other surprises may be lurking in that kitchen.

Why is this place packed on a Tuesday night? It is definitely more than for just the trivia. Good food and good company are part of the equation, even if you come alone. You have great bartenders to talk with, and there is pool, darts, and on Monday nights, bowling to keep you occupied. You can admire the art show on the ceiling tiles through the building, some of which has been there for years. In the warmer months there is a patio for your enjoyment. For a low key night with friends, it is the perfect place to meet, get cozy, and hang out for a few hours.

The Phone Booth Lounge is located at 155 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering, OH 45459. You can call for information at (937) 298-8712.

Dive Bar Tuesday: Dog’s Breath Tavern

January 19, 2016 By Brian Petro

Fat Heads and pool? What more do you need?

Last week was cold. And snowy. So when we were looking for a dive bar to visit, we wanted something relatively central. There are many in the area that we have been to, but one I had always been curious about but had not explored. Well, not since I moved to the great city of Dayton, and it was better known as Alan’s Billiard’s and Brew. When it was Alan’s, I remember pool tables as far as the eye could see and beer that was exactly what beer should be: inexpensive and cold. I don’t remember much in the way of food, but who needed it? It would just ruin the flow of beer and pool.

Bits and pieces of it became the new Dog’s Breath Tavern (1912 E. Whipp Rd, Kettering, OH), which after a brief stint with a previous owner was relaunched under new ownership just over a year ago. This is where we chose to head over for our Dive Bar Tuesday. We had not heard anything about the bar, but the parking lot was always full when we drove by. People more hip to the Dayton food scene, namely The Food Adventures Crew, explored the food and gave it their stamp of approval. Normally there are football games on, people on stage belting out karaoke favorites, and bands testing the limits of the sound system. The bartenders would be taking care of customers like pros, and games of pool and darts would be going on.

Unless it is a week night during the first real snowfall of winter. Then there are a handful of people chatting warmly at the largely empty bar. Much of what we found out about the weekend shenanigans was from the bartender that night. He was incredibly friendly and informative, as well as multi-talented. Not only was he the bartender, but the cook as well. There are several dart boards for metal tipped play and some pool tables that were enjoying some action the evening we were there. Checking out the signs around the bar, there is something interesting going on every night; beer specials, trivia, 2 4 2’s Day (a wide variety of $2.42 specials on Tuesday evening, and karaoke to kick off the weekend. The one that caught our eye was the food truck rally. They have a kitchen (more on that in a few sentences), but they are willing to support local businesses and bring food trucks to a place where few are going to tread. The only other place I have seen food trucks in this area is Eudora Brewing.

So much room for activities…

During an evening of drinking, you are going to get hungry. Fortunately, they have a kitchen to take care of that for you. The menu consists of solid bar fare like burgers, wings, and appetizers like jalapeno poppers and cheese sticks. We had to try the burger (of course), their signature Dog Bones (egg rolls filled with an assortment of unique fillings), and one other thing. Since we were enjoying beers that night, we also added the pretzel bites. What goes better with beer than pretzels? The burger (which came with chips) was lovely. We tried the Barbecue Pulled Pork Dog Bones, and were impressed with the flavor, though there was a lack of traditional barbecue sauce. The pretzel bites…well, we were really unsure about them, so we had to get a second order. For evaluating purposes, of course.

Did we mention beer? They had an excellent selection of beer, from the ones you would expect every bar to have to local favorites like Yellow Springs and Warped Wing. Their selection of craft beers is a fine one, and the ones we had went down well. You have your choice of taps which are always rotating, bottles, and cans of other favorites. If you want to keep up with the beers they have, you can find them on BeerMenus and keep tabs on their changes. The bartender knew his way around the taps and bottles, which is a good thing. The impressive chalk board and printed menus on the table had not been updated in a while. There is a cocktail menu as well, filled with comfortable favorites like the classic Dirty Martini and Cosmopolitan. The staff has added their own unique cocktails like the Dog Gone Good Martini and the DBT Bulldog for good measure.

We are planning on making a return trip in the future, and not just because of convenience. The atmosphere was friendly and the food was delightful. Did we mention the pretzel bites? There will be other beers to explore the next time we step in, and a few cocktails to try out as well. I am not sure anyone in our group is going to step up for karaoke, but when the pool tournament starts up, count us in!