November 2018 Cocktail Events Round-Up

I missed you all in October, but I’m back with a list of November 2018 cocktail events in the District.  

Let’s lead off with two week-long events, the first of which we are in the midst of:  Old Fashioned Week, which runs from November 1 through November 10.  If you’re celebrating at home, try my Old-Refashioned, which I posted here last year as part of an Instagram campaign conceived to celebrate the Week:  

If you’re looking for a great Old Fashioned somewhere in the District, try Eater’s list of Ten Standout Old Fashioneds in D.C., a list that is (not surprisingly) topped by Jack Rose.  And to learn about Old Fashioneds more generally, try the site dedicated to the Week, the cleverly named www.old-fashioned-week.com.

D.C. Cocktail Week is the other weeklong event, and it runs from November 12th (my birthday) through the 18th.  This year there is a good list of participants, including a number of José Andrés spots, Doi Moi, and the Royal, all places where I’ve gotten great cocktails in the past.  Each restaurant celebrates Cocktail Week in its own way.  Oyamel, for example, offers the following cocktail pairing:  its “El Catrín cocktail made with Bahnez mezcal, Cocchi Americano, blanc vermouth, amd St. Germain” with its “Machuco relleno de frijol con salsa negra – Plantain and butternut squash fritters stuffed with black beans and served with a chipotle chile and piloncillo sugar sauce,” for $14 a person.  Check out the other deals on offer and more details at dccocktailweek.com.

It should also be acknowledged that November 8 is apparently National Harvey Wallbanger Day, about which more information here; also note that Buffalo and Bergen celebrated the day last year, but unclear if we’re in for a repeat this November 8.  And at least in the District, November is also saffron season.  Note that despite its reputation as a luxury item, saffron bulbs (or corms) are actually pretty easy to plant, are at least theoretically perennial, and offer a natural addition to that herb garden that is otherwise hitting the end of its season by now.  If you have planned ahead, you now have saffron to experiment with in your homemade cocktails this month (look for my Fall Sunset recipe, coming soon).  If not well, there’s always next year:  bulbs here, and photo here:

There are also a few events this month of the usual sort.  Here are the details on classes and other events in the D.C. area this month:

Proof: Maryland Spirits and Cocktails at the College Park Aviation Museum.  It is Maryland Spirits Month, according to the Maryland Distillers Guild, and to celebrate, several Maryland distillers are assembling at the College Park Aviation Museum to offer you a taste of their products.  A “small-batch seminar” and tips for making “the best sour cocktails around” are also on offer.  Tickets are $35 and available here.  1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park; November 9 at 6 p.m.

Class:  Mulled Specialities at Via Umbria.  Via Umbria wants to help you prepare your cold-weather cocktail menu by showing you how to make some hot drinks.  On the list are Glogg, Wassail and Spicy Mulled Negroni cocktails.  The class promises an “evening of sugar, spice, and warm cocktails of nice!”  Tickets are $38.50 and available here.  1525 Wisconsin Avenue N.W.; November 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Class:  “Sugar Cane Cocktails” at barmini.  barmini’s monthly “#barmini101” class focuses this month on liquors derived from sugar cane:  rum, cachaça, cañazo, rum Agricole and arak, among others.  The barmini team will great you with a cocktail and then teach you how “to complement the[] sweet-based flavors” of these spirits “to create the perfectly balanced cocktail.”  You’ll also enjoy snacks between making cocktails.  Tickets are $145 and available here.  501 9th Street N.W.; November 15 at 5:30 p.m.

And of course, Thanksgiving arrives at the end of the month; try my Thanksgiving Boulevardier if you’re looking for a pre-Turkey cocktail, and be on the look out for my 2018 holiday gift list if you plan on shopping for cocktail-themed items the Friday after (last year’s list here).

That’s all I have for this month.  As always, please let me know if there are other things you would like to see listed here in future months.