The Sassy Sour

Summer finally arrived this week, and fresh produce from the garden is just around the corner. Check out this cocktail we created for a good friend of The Hedonistic Bar. It combines tartness of a classic whiskey sour, with the heat of Habanero peppers. 

The Sassy Sour

1 1/2 ounces Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey

1 ounce fresh lemon juice

1/4 ounce Licor 43

25 drops Habenero tincture*

1 egg white

Combine ingredients in a shaker and dry shake until well combined. Add ice and shake again until well chilled. Double strain in to a coupe glass. Garnish with Angostura bitters.

*To make Habenero tincture, combine 13 chopped Habenro peppers into a litter of everclear. Let stand for 2 weeks. Strain into an eyedropper bottle of other suitable container.

A whiskey a day keeps the doctor away.

Not that we at The Hedonistic Bar needed another excuse to drink more whiskey, but here are 22 reasons. Who would have thought that there were so many benefits to consuming whiskey.

Classic Daiquiri

It is finally starting to look like summer around here, and we at The Hedonistic Bar think that it is about time. In preparation for more summer-like weather, here is a recipe for a well know cocktail prepared the way it was originally intended. Ditch that blender and grab your shaker tin for the classic Daiquiri.

2 oz. silver rum
1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice (we prefer key limes)
1/4 oz. simple syrup

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Don't walk away!!!

This is just too cool to not share. The hedonists are actually in the middle of building a portable (if by portable you mean at least 2 strong people and a dolly cart) bar with wine barrel bottom. If we had only know this would be available, we would have never made that first trip to Home Depot. The genius behind the Star Wars AT-AT bar is Colin Johnson, Vancouver artist a.k.a "woodbutcher".

The man himself standing by his creation

How cool is that? That would be awesome if it walked. We would totally be putting it on a leash and taking it to the dog park. "Oh yeah? You would take that to a dog park?" Yes, we sure would. He might not play fetch but watch this *opens up side and pours a dram*, much better trick in our opinion. 

Cheers!

Farewell Northern Port

We were sad to say goodbye to Duluth, not just because of the great whisky and food venues, but because this means our vacation is drawing to a close. Here are a few final notes about our trip. 

If you're in town May 1st through October 31st, hit up the Farmer's Market. It is every Wednesday and Saturday from 7am to noon in a red barn at the intersection of 14th Ave E and 3rd St. It's small and you'll darn near drive by the place, but the products are good and the prices fair. 

We enjoy At Sara's Table Chester Creek Cafe. Sara's can get crazy busy, so try for an off time to get one of their tasty entree's. When the weather is agreeable, grabbing a patio seat with a cold beer and hot sandwich makes for a very good afternoon.

The Duluth Grill can seem like you'll be waiting for hours, but table turnover is quick. For the adventuresome person, a spot at the counter can usually be had in short order. Be brave – sit next to a stranger. We promise that most of them have had their shots and are housebroken. The food is local, organic and most excellent. We love the multi-grain pancakes, eggs, and pecan caramel roll.

Positively 3rd Street Bakery is a favorite stop of ours too. It's no secret the Hedonists love their sweets and breads. We're always on the lookout for a good bakery, and 3rd Street has made our list of favorites.

And last but not least, for the road warriors passing through for work that are staying at the Holiday Inn on Superior Street, swing through The Greenery and grab a donut and coffee. It's not the same as a full home cooked breakfast, but much better than gas station coffee and rolls.

Cheers!

Spirit of the Time

The Zeitgeist Arts Cafe is the kind of place that would make any bourbon lover feel right at home. We happened through on a Monday afternoon when it is oh so conveniently half off whisky pours. On the Great Bourbon website, Zeitgeist is the only listing for Great Bourbon Bars in America in Minnesota. Although there are other great bourbon places in the state, we agree 100% that this is the place to go for Bourbon and Rye when you are in Duluth. They have a selection that would appeal to even the most seasoned whisky drinker.


The Hedonists indulged in tasting three Rye whiskies – High West Mountain Rye 21 yr, Sazerac 18 yr, and Thomas H Handy Barrel Proof. The Sazerac was very assertive with a tangy, bakery aroma. Definitely some sweet notes, very warming and finishes with a spice that lingers on the tongue. The High West 21 and the Thomas H Handy came out on top in our opinion. We enjoyed the Thomas H Handy which we thought had a slightly floral and toasty bread aroma that started with a sweet beginning and blended to a spice and heat at the end of a sip. The High West 21 did not have as strong a warming effect when on the tongue as the others, but it certainly had that same sweet caramel start with a slightly malty middle and pleasantly spicy finish.

After treating ourselves to liquid goodness we indulged in the fresh pretzels and cheese plate. The pretzels here put all other pub pretzels to shame. Fresh out of the oven, three pretzel sticks about the size of an artisan baguette; a crispy outside sprinkled in coarse salt, and a warm chewy center perfect for tearing open for dipping. There were three dipping sauces, but to be honest we enjoyed the stone ground mustard and the jalapeno sauces so much we neglected to note what the third one was. The cheese plate had three local choices, plus a fig spread, olives and super crispy crostini bites to help shuttle the tastiness in salivating mouths.

Here are a few pictures to pique your interest (sorry, no food pics. we were too busy eating to stop and grab the camera)

Our beautiful sampling of rye

1. High West Mountain Rye 21yr, UT

2. Sazerac 18yr, KY

3. Thomas H Handy Barrel Proof, KY

The view of the bar

<--------  A variety of spirits and wine

Rye & Scotch  --------->

<-------- Whisky!!!

The Aviation (look familiar?)

Bombay Dry, Luxardo Maraschino, lemon juice, simple syrup, Crème de Violette

The Aristotle O ------>
Leblon Cachaca, Aperol, lemon juice, agave nectar, Peach bitters, pasteurized egg white

<-------- A Whisky Sour made with egg white, yum!

  Four Roses, lemon juice, simple syrup, pasteurized egg white

Pisco Sour  ------->

Don César Pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, Angostura bitters, pasteurized egg white

We hope you make a point of stopping by the Zeitgeist Arts Cafe next time you are in Duluth. We will definitely be making this a mandatory stop any time we are in town.

Cheers!