Drink #8 Amaretto Sour

1.18.2012

I kinda get it now. See, I’ve never, ever just gone to a local bar, actually sat at the bar, ordered a drink and then just hung out there watching sports on the flat screens. Or chatted with the bartender, eating happy hour wings, just blowing off a solid hour.

It was a really nice time. I’m not going to over-romanticize this experience mind you, but I met a couple of cool local people, had some great drink chat with Addy our fantastic bartender and had one of the most amazing tastiest drinks of my life.

And the whole time I kept thinking: why haven’t I done this sooner?

For the most part, unless for a party or because they’re known for having great food, I don’t just casually visit bars. Why bother? I can water-down my own ginger ale at home. So, much like the alcohol itself, I plan on de-flowering myself when it comes to the bar scene too.

We went to the Blue Banana, a local year old Petworth bar just a few blocks from our home. Joe and I went together after he got off work and we were able to catch a few weekly Happy Hour deals (6-8pm). He went with draft Blue Moon and I had my first amaretto sour…

Wait. Stop. Ok, I can’t wait any longer to talk about this heavenly drink.

Have you ever had an amaretto sour?

Wait. Stop. No, seriously. Stop.

If you’re reading this, do you know me personally? Do you know how many times my friends, family and near strangers have tried to seriously playfully get me to drink.

Um, you failed because you didn’t arm yourself with an amaretto sour.

Joe said it’s basically a delicious drink that tastes like maraschino cherries.

Lies!

Its far more delicious and complex. Its this quixotic mix of cherry licorice, children’s cherry cough syrup, rainbows, unicorns and blissful red-headed midgets who have pockets filled with maraschino cherries and love.

And the sweet and sour mix adds a slight tart, yet creamy lemony flavor. I could certainly taste the alcohol but it was slight, smooth and tangy. Love.

I’m sure sometime I’ll break my own rule, but I will note that I only ordered one. I wanted 6 13. And I will admit that I ate all the ice and maybe licked the glass. But, I only ordered one… only one. Sadly, one.

No, seriously, have you ever had an amaretto sour?

Again, shout out to Addy our bartender. She was really great and interested in this project. And the Blue Banana was a great little bar. It reminded me of a solid college bar, room for sitting, standing, drinking, bands, dancing and it has a generic but tasty bar food menu.

After drinking half of my amaretto sour, I asked if the sweet & sour was a mix or handmade, out of interest. It was a mix, but they offered to hand make one for me, once they fully understood the project. It was a really kind offer that I refused, but greatly appreciated and spoke well of the BB’s bartenders.

In planning some future monthly Happy Hours, I’m absolutely going to connect with the BB for a gathering. So be looking out for that.

Who knew chilling for an hour at the bar would be so fun? Oh, everyone? Right. I’m the virgin.

But I do get it. My husband and I stopped and had a few drinks and a snack, got caught up on some sports–well, they were on the tv’s anyway, I had no idea what was going on. I’m not even sure what sports they were highlighting, why lie–made some friends and then walked home and had dinner and settled in for the night. It was just really nice. Very community affirming. And they were playing early 90’s hip-hop: Tribe Called Quest, the Pharcyde, Digable Planets. It was heaven.

[“Community affirming”? It sounds good in my head. Think about that phrase. Some people will get it, but I bet others will think I’m being dorky. I can’t have that. I don’t want to tarnish my very non-dorky credentials. Oh, I’ll write more later, Thundercats is on!]

But damn, amaretto sour. I think I love you. If–heaven forbid–anything ever happened between Joe an I… no, that’s terrible. Forget I said anything. Sorry, what a terrible thing to say. Wow. My goodness, what is wrong with me? Ignore me. Wow. Sorry.

(I’ll call you)

Cheers, Ben


PS: Next up, my 3rd beer, a draft Yuengling at Good Stuff Eatery tonight and then I’m having a glass of Chardonnay over dinner with a great friend from out of town during the weekend. Drinks drinks drinks, hope you’ll stick around to read them all.