It’s a perfect drink to enjoy by the fire – not too heavy, and with pleasant seasonal flavors.  Or if you’re throwing up holiday decorations, you might prefer to make the Decorator’s Drink, another recipe from last year.  Also of note, December 24 is National Egg Nog Day and December 31 is (for obvious reasons) National Champagne Day, giving you multiple occasions to celebrate at home this month.  

And for those willing to leave the house despite the dropping temperatures, there is quite a list of events in December.  The holiday spirit apparently moves many to offer cocktails to make or drink, plus we have Repeal Day and New Year’s Eve on the calendar.  So let’s jump right in, starting with a return of Drink Company’s annual hit, the Miracle on 7th Street Bar:

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DC's favorite Christmas bar is here (ft. 100% more pandas ) Read more about #Miracleon7thStreet featured in @brightestyoungthings Link in Bio! Opening 11/23

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I’m still kicking myself for missing the Game of Thrones Pop-Up bar, but I have been to the Christmas bar multiple times in the past, and it never disappoints.  Maybe you’ll see me there in December!  1839 7th Street N.W.; through December 31 from 5 pm to 12:30 a.m. (Sunday through Thursday) or to 1:30 a.m. (Friday and Saturday).

Read on for more:

Repeal Day:

As you may know, December 5 is Repeal Day – the anniversary of the effective date of the Twenty-First Amendment, that blessed constitutional provision that repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, the great Failed Experiment of Prohibition.  I wrote a bit more on Repeal Day last year – pointing out that repeal was not actually self-executing and as a result the District was not actually wet on December 5, 1933 (though Maryland, which clearly had its legislative priorities in order, did legalize drinking on that date).  Nevertheless, one may now celebrate Repeal Day legally in the District, and there are several options to consider:

11th Annual Repeal Day Ball.  The D.C. Craft Bartenders Guild returns with  its annual soiree, a black-tie affair to be held this year at the National Union Building in Penn Quarter.  World-famous PDT and other bartenders haling from distant locales will be on scene to provide libations while over 500 attendees dance to Prohibition-era tunes.  As of the moment the event is reporting that it is sold out, but stay tuned here in case in there are any last-minute ticket releases; note also that this is a Saturday-night event and is not actually on Repeal Day.  918 F Street N.W.; December 9 from 7:30 p.m. to midnight.

7th Annual 1930s-Inspired Repeal Day Celebration at Jack Rose.  Actually on Repeal Day, Jack Rose is hosting its own celebration, inviting you to “drink like it’s 1933” and enticing you with “Prohibition-era whiskey, burlesque, and bottomless bubbles.”  The event begins at 5 p.m. with a “Pappy Hour,” when the entire Pappy Van Winkle whiskey line-up will be on sale at special pricing.  Jack Rose’s Whiskey Cellar will convert into a speakeasy-themed venue with Prohibition-era whiskeys and other vintage spirits, and the main floor will offer bottomless champagne for $20, while burlesque dancers and “cigarette girls” (women offering you cigars for sale, apparently) round out the experience.  “Flapper dresses and swanky suits” are encouraged.  More information here.  2007 18th Street N.W.; December 5 from 5:30 p.m. to midnight.

More In December:

There is much more on tap in December.  First, on several different dates during December (including Repeal Day), join Urban Adventures on a Speakeasies & Craft Cocktail Tour of the Capitol.  The tour promises to show you various speakeasies around town, to educate you on how Prohibition shaped the District, and to offer you some “sweet libations.”  Tickets are $45 and available here.  678 Indiana Avenue N.W.; December 5, 13, 20, 21 and 28, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Next, there are two events featuring Philip Greene, cocktail historian and author of A Drinkable Feast: A Cocktail Companion to 1920s Paris, which these two events are presumably intended to promote, as well as To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion and The Manhattan: The Story of the First Modern Cocktail.  The first is the 1920s Cocktail Night at The Fourth Estate Restaurant.  Sample four cocktails – hot rum punch, the Jack Rose, the Bees Knees, and the Boulevardier (see my take on the last if you want to try it at home) – and enjoy light hors d’oeuvres followed by dinner.  Tickets are $75 (or $140 for couples) and available here.  529 14th Street N.W.; December 13 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Greene will also be present with copies of his latest book at the 11th Annual D.C. Holiday Cocktail Seminar, where bartenders from Buffalo & Bergen, Bourbon Steak, the Passenger, Occidental, and other spots will be showing you their favorite holiday cocktails and how to make them at home.  The event is being held at Occidental, which will also serve light fare.  Tickets are $50 and available here.  1475 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.; December 17 from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m.

On to the individual events:

Class:  “Holiday Drinks” at Via Umbria.  Via Umbria returns with its monthly installment of cocktail classes, this time with a focus on holiday cocktails.  Learn how to make a spiked hot chocolate, spicy eggnog, and Winter Espresso Soda in a class led by a Via Umbria mixologist.  Via Umbria promises “an evening of sugar, spice, and warm cocktails of nice” and to provide you with skills needed to “invigorate any holiday bash” – perfect for that upcoming work holiday party.  Tickets are $38.50 and available here.  1525 Wisconsin Avenue N.W.; December 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Class:  “Winter Cocktail Class” at BRABO Brasserie.  On the same night, a cocktail class is also on offer in Alexandria, Virginia, at BRABO Brasserie.  A similar menu is on offer, promising to teach you how to make the restaurant’s “signature Eggnog,” a spiced hot chocolate, and a winter citrus shrub.  Snacks will also be provided.  Tickets are $35 and available here.  1600 King Street in Alexandria; December 19 from 7 to 9 p.m.

“Mezcal Under the Mistletoe” at the Royal.  El Silencio is co-sponsoring an ugly-Christmas-sweater and mezcal cocktail bash at the Royal, which should be all you need to know to want to attend this event.  But I’ll tell you more anyway.  The event promises a range of mezcal cocktails, starting with a warming coconut and mezcal-spiked toddy to welcome you, a range of tasty snacks, an “epic Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest,” and an “educational, sensory El Silencio Mezcal tasting,” among other things.  Plus mistletoe, presumably?  Not actually mentioned in the event description; maybe bring some just in case.  Tickets are $60 and available here.  501 Florida Avenue N.W.; December 19 from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Class:  “Winter-Whisky Cocktails” at barmini.  Monthly #barmini101 classes continue.  This month learn to make three “winter-inspired cocktails and explor[e] whiskys around the world.”  The team will greet you with a drink and provide delicious snacks between lessons.  Tickets are $145 and available here.  501 9th Street N.W.; December 20 at 5:30 p.m.

Class:  “It’s a Commissary Christmas – Holiday Mixology Class with Food Pairings” at Commissary D.C.  In our last class for the month, Commissary joins the holiday-cocktail-making party, promising to teach you how to make two of those plus one traditional cocktail.  While you learn, you will also be able to “enjoy[] curated bites before Christmas Day.”  Might be just the thing to wrap up that last-second Christmas shopping that you may or may not be doing.  (Unless, of course, you still need to wrap up those gifts.)  Tickets are $65 and available here.  1443 P Street N.W.; December 24 from 8 to 10 p.m.

New Year’s Eve at barmini.  The second of two barmini events this month – and the only NYE event on this year’s list.  barmini promises a “one-time only cocktail flight” inspired by the “most popular ‘New Year Resolutions.'”  Food will also be on offer.  Tickets are $175 and available here.  501 9th Street N.W.; December 31, with seatings at 5:30, 8, and 10:30 p.m.

That’s all for this month.  Send me any events you think should be here or in future month’s lists.  And see you back here in 2019!

The post December 2018 Cocktail Events Round-Up appeared first on Capital Cocktails.

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.

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Join us opening week at #GWARPUB! Enjoy a Jagermonsta Colada while you witness a 34-year retrospective of the band’s signature stage props and costumes!

A post shared by Drink Company (@drinkcompany) on Sep 7, 2018 at 4:46pm PDT

That’s Drink Company’s latest, honoring 34 years of Gwar just in time for Halloween, running at 1839 7th Street N.W. from September 6 through October 31.

Even if that’s not your cup of tea, there’s more in store this month.  For one thing, September is National Bourbon Heritage Month, which one could celebrate any number of productive ways; the 20th and 28th also bring us National Rum Punch Day and National Drink a Beer Day, respectively.  And there are also a bunch of fun events around town.  Read on for cocktail classes and other events on offer in our Nation’s Capitol this month.

“Woodford Reserve Master Class” at Rebellion.  Come taste “all expressions  of Woodford” at a tasting night at the Whisk(e)y Library at Rebellion.  A “unique” cocktail featuring one of the spirits will also be on offer.  And in case you still have your wits about you after tasting four whisk(e)ys and a cocktail, the Whisk(e)y Library folks promise to deliver their “normal phenomenal education and background.”  Tickets are $22 and available here.  1836 18th Street N.W.; September 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

“Cocktails and Comedy” at The Avenue.  Drinking and laughing have long been a winning combination, and this month the Avenue presents just such a 2-for-1 opportunity at an event featuring cocktail historian Philip Greene and standup comic George Peacock.  As tends to be the case, the drinks will come first, while Greene shares “entertaining and informative” stories about cocktails that “fueled the lives of Ernest Hemingway, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and many other luminaries during their time in 1920s Paris.”  Then laughs follow when Peacock takes over with a “wide-ranging standup” routine that covers “God to Alexa to evolution” (?) and “men & women, and more.”  Tickets are $25 and available here.  5540 Connecticut Avenue N.W.; September 20 at 7 p.m.

“September Sessions” at Hank’s Cocktail Bar.  Hank’s is hosting a September event featuring cocktails that “are light on alcohol and heavy on flavor,” meaning you can (and will want to) have more than one of them and “stay a while.”  Hanks also promises cheese, charcuterie and oysters to round out the experience.  More information here.  819 Upshur Street N.W.; September 22 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Class:  “Beer” at barmini.  barmini’s monthly “#barmini101” classes return in September.  This month’s class focuses on beer, featuring “Beer from some of the most iconic producers in the world.”  As usual, the team will greet you with a cocktail and then teach you how to make three more.  You’ll also enjoy snacks between making cocktails and leave with a parting gift.  Tickets are $145 and available here.  501 9th Street N.W.; September 26 at 5:30 p.m.

Class:  “Adult Versions of Childhood Favorites” at Via Umbria.  If beer isn’t your speed for cocktails but spiked versions of children’s drinks is, then . . . well, I’ll withhold judgment and instead just tell you that you might prefer the class going on the same day at Via Umbria.  (Or depending on how fast you run, you might be able to make both classes, but just remember “beer before liquor” and all that.)  Via Umbria will show you how to make “adult versions” of the Shirley Temple, Orange Julius, and Arnold Palmer.  Tickets are $38.50 and available here.  1525 Wisconsin Avenue N.W.; September 26 at 7:30 p.m.

That’s all I’ve got for this month.  As always, send me a note if there are other events you think should be listed here or that are coming up in future months!

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Medicine Making Class: Herbal Vinegars, Cordials, & Cocktails at Smile Herb Shop.  The Smile Herb Shop in College Park has specialized in herbal products since 1975.  This month, herbalist Besty Miller will teach you to make herbal vinegars like “fire cider,” strawberry rose shrubs, and herbal cordials with elderberries and fruits.  These ingredients can be used to make “delicious and healthful herbal cocktails,” and cocktails, we are assured, “can be medicine too.”  (This brings to mind the Traditional Chinese Medicine cocktails at Tiger Fork, which you can read about here.)  Tickets are $100; more information here.  4908 Berwyn Road, College Park; August 18 from noon to 3 p.m.

Cocktail Class: Make Your Own Gin at Via Umbria.  As past round-ups reveal, Via Umbria has been conducting monthly cocktail-making classes.  This month it mixes things up slightly by showing you how to make your own gin at home.  Continuing this month’s herbal theme, Via Umbria tells us that gin’s first use was as an “herbal medicine” (but also its current use, am I right?).  Via Umbria also explains that the heart of gin is the juniper berry (which is not actually a berry but can be found in abundance in Maine, so one more reason to visit).  Playing host to District 209 – maker of several gins – Via Umbria will show you how to mix those (non)berries with “sugar, spice, and ice” to craft your own home gin.  1525 Wisconsin Avenue; August 29 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Class: Cocktails 101.  If making gin is not your thing there is another option at basically the same time:  a cocktail-making class for “the novice and intermediate home mixologist” at Benjamin’s on Franklin at Tastemakers in Brookland.  Benjamin’s promises to teach you how to make three classic cocktails and educate you on the history behind them.  2800 10th Street N.E.; August 29 from 7 to 9 p.m.

That’s all I have this month.  As always, please send me any events you’d like to see featured here!

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Getting close to fireworks time. Happy 4th! (Mezcal, green Chartreuse, raspberries, watermelon, lime juice, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and blue decorator sugar on the rim.) . . . #cocktails #mezcal #chartreuse #raspberries #watermelons #redwhiteandblue #4thofjuly #happy4th #mixology #homebartender #homebartending #sparklers #fireworks

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July also provides several opportunities to celebrate cocktails and spirits at home, bringing us National Anisette Day (July 2), National Piña Colada Day (July 10 – see recipe here), National Mojito Day (July 11), National Grand Marnier Day (July 14), National Daiquiri Day (July 19 – see my recipe for a blood orange daiquiri here), National Tequila Day (July 24 – try Ted’s Tequila Cocktail if you haven’t already), and National Scotch Day (July 27).

But if you want to escape the comfortable air conditioning of your house this month, here’s what’s happening around town:

Class:  “Project Bitters” at Reliable Tavern.  Santa Teresa 1796, maker of Venezuelan Rum, is hosting a bitters-making class at Reliable Tavern.  Learn about the history of bitters, Venezuelan chocolate, and Venezuelan rum, all while making Venezuelan chocolate bitters that you can take home and use in your mixological creations.  Tickets are free; more information here.  3655 Georgia Avenue N.W.; July 1 from 2 to 5 p.m.

“Speakeasies and Craft Cocktail Tour of the Capitol” by D.C. Urban Adventures.  Become a tourist in your own town and take one of Urban Adventures’s tours of the District, this one focused on its craft cocktail scene.  The tour promises to take you to some of best bars in town to sample the cocktails; to teach you about the history of speakeasies in the District and how to craft cocktails of your own; and to show you where to find some of the best hidden bars in Penn Quarter and Chinatown.  Tickets are $32 and up and available here (at the discounted $32 price) or here (not discounted, but more options).  All month; start times are 7:30 and 8 p.m.

“Boom with a View”:  Fourth of July at the W Hotel.  If you are looking for a rooftop from which to observe the fireworks while sipping “signature cocktails,” you could do worse than the annual celebration on the POV Terrace at the old Hotel Washington.  The event promises “vibrant beats,” “passed bites” and food stations, and to make you pay for it – tickets are $275 and available here.  515 15th Street N.W.; July 4 at 6:30 p.m.

The “Major Bars mini-series” at barmini.  Starting this month, barmini is bringing in a guest bartender for a one-night-only cocktail flight experience from some of the best bars in the world.  The series opens on July 7, with senior bartender Giannis Sitanos of the world-famous American Bar in London.  The series continues on July 28, with Aaron Diaz of the acclaimed Carnaval in Lima, Peru.  Both nights feature a flight of four cocktails and a menu signed by the guest bartender.  Tickets are $125 and available here.  501 9th Street N.W.; July 7 and 28 at 5:30, 8, and 10:15 p.m.

Cocktail and Wine Tasting:  “Sizzling Summer Cocktails, Cool Northwestern Wines” at I Ricchi.  Enjoy craft cocktails and northwestern wines along with food pairings at the West End’s I Ricchi.  The event promises a “new take on your favorite cocktails,” including variations of the Negroni and two whiskey cocktails.  Tickets are $59 and available here.  1220 19th Street N.W.; July 10 at 6 p.m.

Cocktail Class:  Cocktails with Indian Flair at Pansaari.  Pansaari offers to help you “[p]ut some spice in ya life!  Or at least in your next cocktail.”  Its mixology course will guide you in the use of spices in your cocktail creations and teach you how to make three cocktails using Indian spices and mixers.  Tickets are $55 and available here.  1603 17th Street N.W.; July 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Cocktail Class:  “(Ver)mouth Watering Drinks” at Via Umbria.  This month, Via Umbria aims to expand your knowledge of vermouth and how to use it to good effect in your cocktails.  Promising an evening of “sugar, spice, and cocktails blended with ice,” Via Umbria offers to teach you how to make the Agavoni, Martinez, and Blood and Sand cocktails – which are “sure to invigorate any summer bash!”  Tickets are $38.50 and available here.  1525 Wisconsin Avenue N.W.; July 25 at 7:30 p.m.

That’s it for July.  As always, please send me any events you’d like to see featured here!

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To start, although this isn’t really a “cocktail event,” per se, you could do worse than spend one of your June nights at a Rake’s Progress.  Rake’s is using unique ingredients, with an emphasis on local products, and it has one of the most thoughtful cocktail menus I’ve seen in the District.  Plus, the drinks just look good:

Read more in my review of Rake’s.  Then consider your other options for June:

Negroni week.  That’s right, the annual event is back in the first week of June.  This is one cocktail event that is so widely celebrated that it’s not really possible to give you comprehensive coverage of D.C.-based celebrations.  But there’s a website for that – check out the Negroni venue locator at negroniweek.com, the joint project of Campari and Imbibe Magazine.  A few D.C. spots have dedicated pages to the event, including Free State Bar (events through Friday, June 8), Farmers and Distillers (events through Sunday, June 10), and Buffalo and Bergen at Union Market (events through Sunday, June 10, with funds raised going to charity).  Prefer to celebrate at home?  Do it D.C.-style with my Cherry-Blossom Negroni recipe, which replaces Campari with Cerasum, the cherry-blossom-flavored liqueur by D.C.’s own Don Ciccio & Figli.  Pretty much everywhere that owns a bottle of Campari, including (I should hope) your own kitchen; June 4 through June 10.

Cocktail Class:  “Italian Frozen Cocktails” at Via Umbria.  Always seasonally appropriate, Via Umbria’s cocktail class this month shifts focus to the frozen variety.  And perhaps in an oblique nod to Negroni week, the focus is on Italian cocktails specifically.  No frozen Negronis are on the menu (but if that’s your game and you want to make one at home, try an excellent recipe for the “Frogroni,” published in the Washington Post last year here; my Instagram photo of same here).  But Via Umbria will show you how to assemble a Frozen Umbria Red Sangria; an Aperol Spritz Granita; and a Sgroppino.  Tickets are $38.50 and available here.  1525 Wisconsin Avenue N.W.; June 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Cocktail Class:  “Seeds + Sips:  Cocktail Making with Fresh Herbs” at Up Top Acres.  Up Top Acres is “reimagining what a farm looks like.”  It’s a D.C.-based group that aims to bring agriculture to the city – think green rooftops.  And this month, they are both showing you how to grow things like rosemary and ginger at home and how to use these fresh ingredients in your homemade cocktails.  $30 tickets get you three plants to take home, two cocktails to drink, and one fun evening at the Navy Yard – available here.  55 M Street S.E.; June 14 at 6 p.m.

Master Cocktail Class Series:  “The Evolution of the Old Fashioned” at St. Regis.  St. Regis’s monthly cocktail class strikes a Father’s Day theme in June, suggesting its session on how to make Old Fashioneds is “a perfect gift for dads.”  It would indeed be a good gift for my dad, although he already makes a mean Old Fashioned, but St. Regis might be underselling the appeal here since I know several women and childless men who enjoy the drink as well.  No matter – whoever you are, if you enjoy Old Fashioneds and want to learn how to make the original as well as two variations (the Oaxaca Old Fashioned and the hotel’s paradoxically named “modern” Old Fashioned), this class is for you.  (I also offer you yet a fourth variation on this very blog here.)  Tickets are $55; more information here.  923 16th Street N.W.; June 16 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Cocktail Class:  “Agave Spirits” at barmini.  I had a great experience at barmini’s infusion class last month (and am planning to post one of the drinks we made on Instagram later this month).  This month the focus is on agave spirits – tequila, mezcal and the like.  Barmini promises to school you in the “adaptability of agave spirits,” which sounds like something I could have used before brainstorming the recipe for Ted’s Tequila Cocktail, although I eventually figured it out.  As always, you will be greeted with a cocktail on arrival and learn to make three more.  Tickets are $145 and available here.  501 9th Street N.W.; June 27 at 5:15 p.m.

That’s it for June.  As always, please send me any events you’d like to see featured here!

The post June 2018 Cocktail Events Round-Up appeared first on Capital Cocktails.

I don’t think daffodil water is a thing, but if it is, there you are.  Also, don’t forget that May brings us many drink-worthy themes and occasions, three celebratory and one somber:  horse races, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day.  Plan your home drinking accordingly.  Onward:

Master Cocktail Class Series: Kentucky Derby Cocktails at St. Regis.  In May, St. Regis focuses its monthly cocktail class on the Kentucky Derby – and on Derby Day, conveniently enough.  They are cutting it close on timing though; the class is scheduled to run right up to 6 p.m., less than an hour before the big race (scheduled start time 6:46).  So if you plan to serve cocktails and watch the race somewhere else, you’ll need to … uh … race to your next stop.  (Sorry, I had to do it.)  Tickets are $55; info here.  923 16th Street N.W.; May 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Cinco de Mayo at basically every bar in town.  If it’s not mint juleps it’s margaritas on the first Saturday in May this year.  I wanted to provide you with an authoritative, here’s-where-to-celebrate-Cinco-de-Mayo event, but I can’t parse the many, many options and pick a winner.  Here’s a sampling:  there’s a rooftop pig-roast at the Taco Bamba in Shaw (1-4 p.m.); another rooftop event called “View de Mayo” at the Graham Hotel in Georgetown (1-6 p.m.); and yet another rooftop event at Flash (3-9 p.m.); and, for those whose thirst is not yet quenched the following day, a “Morning After Brunch and Day Party” at Ozio on May 6 (12-9 p.m.).  Remember to hydrate, everyone.  Pretty much everywhere that leaves the door to its rooftop unlocked; May 5 from first to last call.

Kentucky Derby AND Cinco de Mayo in One Place at “Derby de Mayo” at Jack Rose.  It need not be a choice between mint juleps and margaritas as I suggested above – you may wish to live dangerously and have both at Jack Rose on the – wait for it – rooftop.  But also in the basement at Dram & Grain if you prefer a more “intimate viewing experience,” per Jack Rose’s description, or if it rains and you have to flee any of the aforementioned rooftop Cinco de Mayo parties.  Also note that Derby attire is encouraged.  No charge for getting in the door; more information here.  2007 18th Street N.W.; May 5 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

More, non-Derby, non-Cinco de Mayo events after the jump.

Taco, Beer, Tequila Party at the Yards.  Need I say more?  Ok I will.  There will be:  taquerias and taco trucks; over 50 beers and ciders from 25 craft breweries; 8 margarita bars; and a tequila pavilion.  There are a variety of ticket options, ranging from $45 for general admission, to $65 if you want to add a tequila tasting, to $75 if you want “VIP” status, which apparently gets you in an hour earlier and access to “private bathrooms.”  Find tickets and more information here.  The Yards Lot H, 136 N Street N.E.; May 12 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Cocktail Class:  “Infusions” at barmini.  As you know, I love the classes at barmini and I will be in attendance at this month’s event, focused on infusions.  The class apparently involves the use of a botarrón, a traditional Spanish black-leather wine skin for aging and infusing.  I know nothing about this and look forward to learning more.  As always, you will be greeted with a cocktail on arrival and learn to make three more.  Tickets are $145 and available here – hope to see you there!  501 9th Street N.W.; May 16 at 5:30 p.m.

Sundresses & Whiskey for World Whiskey Day at Pinea at the W Hotel.  Apparently it is World Whiskey Day on May 19, and Jameson invites you to celebrate by donning a sundress and drinking Black Barrel Whiskey.  Various packages are available, starting at $20 for general admission, going up to $792 (!) for the “Baller Package.”  Live music, bottle service, and hookah and cigars on the patio are promised.  Tickets and more information here.  515 15th Street N.W.; May 19 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Cocktail Class: Julep Cocktails at Via Umbria.  As you may have grasped from the above, people drink juleps in May.  Via Umbria would like to teach you how to make one, albeit toward month’s end.  If you have tired of the classic mint julep by then, fear not:  Via Umbria also promises to teach you to make two other julep cocktails to keep things interesting:  the sparkling blackberry mint julep and the prosecco julep.  Tickets are $38.50 and available here.  1525 Wisconsin Avenue N.W.; May 23 at 7:30 p.m.

That’s it for May.  As always, let me know if there are any events you think should be listed here or in future round-ups!

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The bad news is that I missed reporting on any April 1, 2 or 3 events there might have been; but that’s only 10 percent of the month.  Here are the April 2018 cocktail events over the last 90 percent:

Tasting Preview of Reverie, at Columbia Room.  This month you can get a sneak preview of Reverie, the forthcoming Johnny Spero-Drink Company brainchild that is set to open in Georgetown “this winter” per its website.  (See Washington City Paper’s write-up of Reverie for more details on its inspiration and vision.)  Columbia Room – where Spero has been working while Reverie moves toward opening – is hosting four tasting and drink pairing sessions this month.  Tickets are $143.31 (i.e., $185 after tax and tip) and available here.  124 Blagden Alley N.W.; April 10 and 24 at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Cocktail Class:  Spring Has Spring at Via Umbria.  Via Umbria celebrates the arrival of spring this month by showing you how to make three cocktails:  the Lavender Martini; the Bourbon Sweet Tea; and the Vodka Spiced Cider.  Tickets are $38.50 and available here.  1525 Wisconsin Avenue N.W.; April 11, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

Cocktail Class:  Home Is Where The Bar Is II at Columbia Room.  A couple of months ago, Columbia Room offered a class focused on making good drinks at home.  This month it returns with a sequel that promises to cover clarification, rapid infusions, and making ice and your own amaro.  The class was already booked a while back, but there’s a waitlist here; tickets are $85.  124 Blagden Alley N.W.; April 14 at 3 p.m.

Cocktail Class:  “Japan” at barmini.  This month’s cocktail-making class at barmini focuses on Japan.  Although the class description gives few details, the inspiration is the ongoing celebration of cherry blossoms covered in last month’s round-up (and note that the Cherry Blossom Pop-Up bar covered there continues through this month).  As usual, you will be greeted with a cocktail on arrival and learn to make three more.  Tickets are $145 and available here.  501 9th Street N.W.; April 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Cocktail Class:  Sustainable Cocktails at the St. Regis.  This month, the St. Regis’s monthly offering celebrates Earth Day.  It promises to show us how to make “zero-waste” cocktails featuring ingredients from local, sustainable distilleries.  The class will include hors d’oeuvres, cocktail tastings, and a “special parting gift.”  Tickets are $55; more information here.  923 16th Street N.W.; April 21 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

That’s it for April.  As always, let me know if there are any events you think I should add here!

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Cherry Blossom Events

“Cherry blossom” is the byword (are the bywords?) this month, with multiple events celebrating the annual bloom that typically begins at the end of March.  That seems fair – cherry blossoms are worth celebrating.  One shot from my archive:

If past is prologue, many D.C.-area bars will have cherry-blossom-themed cocktails on offer this month.  Those who enjoy mixing at home might experiment with these pickled cherry blossoms or this cherry blossom honey syrup.  In any event, here are two places you can go to get your cherry blossom/cocktail fix:

Cherry Blossom Pop-Up Bar at Mockingbird Hill and Southern Efficiency.  The folks from Drink Company (they of the Christmas Bar pop-up in the same space) have done the cherry-blossom-themed pop-up before.  They are back again this year, this time as an official partner of the National Cherry Blossom Festival (detailed preview at Eater).  If you have hit the Christmas Bar or other pop-ups in this space in the past, you know this will be a must-see event.  If you haven’t, here’s a preview to help convince you:

A post shared by Drink Company (@drinkcompany) on Feb 8, 2018 at 12:39pm PST

That, and the menu:  10 Japanese-inspired cocktails to celebrate the occasion.  So, yeah, see you there.  1841 7th Street N.W.; March 1 through April 29.

Cherry Blossom Cocktail Class at Via Umbria.  If you want to go beyond consuming cherry-blossom-themed cocktails and get some tips on creating your own, there is a class this month at Via Umbria that promises to do just that.  They will walk you through three recipes:  a Gin Blossom Dearie, a Sake Blossom, and a Cherry Blossom Daquiri.  Tickets are are $35.  1525 Wisconsin Avenue N.W.; March 21, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

Read on for the best of the rest of March events, not necessarily cherry-blossom-themed.

Best of the Rest

Hold the Fort…ified Wines! at Columbia Room.  Columbia Room promises to educate you in the use of fortified wines in cocktails, including sherry, vermouth, and madeira.  The class is led by head bartender Suzy Crithclow and includes light snacks and three drinks.  Tickets are $85 and available here.  124 Blagden Alley N.W.; March 3 at 3 p.m.

Tequila & Mezcal Festival Kickoff Party at Oyamel.  For several years, now, Oyamel has been celebrating tequila and mezcal in the month of March.  The festival is back for another year, and the kickoff party promises tequila and mezcal tasting stations, specialty cocktails, and light fare, including tequila cotton candy(!).  Tickets are $49 and are available here.  401 7th Street N.W.; March 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Cocktail Class: Back to Basics at the St. Regis.  The St. Regis offers monthly cocktail classes, and March brings a course aimed at beginners.  This two-hour class promises to teach you the essentials of cocktail mixology and includes hors d’euvres, cocktail tastings, and a parting gift.  Reservations are $85 and made here.  923 16th Street N.W.; March 9 and 16 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Cocktail Class: From Garden to Glass at barmini.  This month’s #barmini101 class at barmini features St.-Germain and edible flowers as cocktail garnishes (and on that note, stay tuned for my next original recipe here, which makes use of hibiscus flowers).  As always, the barmini team will greet you with a cocktail and then show you how to make three more, this time with the assistance of St.-Germain brand ambassador Jenny Feldt.  Tickets are $145 and available here.  501 9th Street N.W.; March 14 at 5:30 p.m.

Watercolor and Cocktails at Union Market.  In case you didn’t know, cocktails and art go very well together; indeed, if you’re doing it right, making drinks is itself an art form.  So it only makes sense to mix it with watercolor painting (for a great D.C.-based blog that pairs the two, check out The Cocktail Artist).  Try your own hand at combining these two great arts this month at Union Market, where Buffalo and Bergen will craft you a cocktail to serve as inspiration for your watercolor, with the help of cookbook author and illustrator Marcella Kriebel (@marcellakriebel on Instagram).  Tickets are $50 and available here.  1309 5th Street N.E.; March 14 at 6:30 p.m.

That’s all for this month.  As always, let me know if you think there is another event that should be included here!

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Of course, February means the Super Bowl, Mardi Gras, and Valentine’s Day.  We’ve got events that cover all three, and more besides.  So make yourself a Mexican Candy Soda and pull out your calendar.  Here’s what looks interesting to me next month:

Super “Chili” Bowl at Jack Rose.  Okay, okay, this isn’t really a cocktail-themed event.  But I came up short looking for a truly cocktail-focused Super Bowl party (ahem, cocktail entrepreneurs), and you can at least get great whiskey at Jack Rose.  Also, the event promises five chilis and fifteen beer choices (ten on draft, five in cans) on a heated rooftop terrace.  Tickets are $50 (all you can eat and drink – the latter referring to the beer only, presumably) and available here.  2007 18th Street N.W.; February 4 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

La Soirée Champagne at the Residence of France.  The focus here is likely to be on Champagne rather than cocktails but the online description promises both.  In any event you should need little excuse to get dressed up for a boozy gala at the French Ambassador’s residence.  Tickets are $199 or $259 (depending on whether your French-American Chamber of Commerce membership has lapsed) and available here.  2221 Kalorama Road N.W.; February 6 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Cocktail Class: Master Cocktail Class: Champagne Cocktails at the St. Regis.  The St. Regis has entered the cocktail-class game.  It had a Bloody Mary class in January and will offer a beginner’s course in March.  For February, it offers to teach you “how to master the art of the Champagne cocktail, just in time for Valentine’s Day.”  (Pregame with my Fireside Fizz recipe and impress your classmates when you get there.)  The hotel’s head bartender, Andrew Cassedy, will lead the class, which will include snacks, tastings and a gift.  Reservations are $85 and made here.  923 16th Street N.W.; February 9 and 16 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Cocktail Class: Mardi Gras and New Orleans Cocktails at barmini.  It barely needs mention that I’m a fan of the #barmini101 classes at barmini.  The barmini team greets you with a cocktail and then shows you how to make three more.  Classes are usually organized around a theme; this month it’s Mardi Gras.  That seems like a winning combination to me.  Tickets are $145 and available here.  501 9th Street N.W.; February 13 at 5:30 p.m.

Cocktail Class: Share the Love at Via Umbria.  Via Umbria is hosting its own Valentine’s-themed cocktail class.  It offers to “teach you how to craft three outstanding Valentine’s Day themed cocktails” – the Valentino, Cupid’s Cup, and Love Potion.  Tickets are $38.50 and available here.  1525 Wisconsin Avenue N.W.; February 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Home Bartending Class: Home Is Where the Bar Is at Columbia Room.  Columbia Room is also hosting a class this month.  They promise to teach essential bartending techniques and to offer some “useful tricks to elevate your game such as easy clarification, rapid infusions, making ice, and even how to make homemade amaro.”  The class also includes three drinks and snacks.  Tickets are $85 and available here.  124 Blagden Alley N.W.; February 17 at 3 p.m.

That’s it for February.  Let me know if there are any events you think should be listed here or in future round-ups!

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