Cucumber Chili Drop at Silver Peak Brewery

"This looks right up your alley for the blog" my best friend said, and I didn't bother looking at the rest of the menu.  I ordered the Cucumber Chili Drop because it had two kinds of vodka, lemon juice, and super syrup...pretty much all my favorite things.

I had high hopes for it, and sadly I was a little disappointed.  It tasted like a watered down ghost of a gimlet, and I didn't really get the cucumber or chili flavor out of it, although it had a smoky chili after burn.  I really wanted more flavor out of it, so I was a little let down.  Of course I'm always willing to give a place another chance.  Maybe it was an off day for the bartender, or just not a well thought out drink.  Either way, I'll be back for happy hour trying something else out for $6.

Silver Peak Grill and Taproom
135 N Sierra St, Reno, NV 89501
Monday-Sunday 11AM-1AM

Hot Toddy at Red Rock Bar

Although Bourbon is usually used, Red Rock gave me a Whiskey Hot Toddy a few months ago.  The snow was just over Mt. Rose and headed our way, and that bite was in the air.  We were at the bar and I just couldn't bring myself to have a cold drink and go back out there.

I'd never had a hot toddy before, but my friend insisted that I'd like it, and that it was made with local honey, which would be in one of my rules for the official state drink!  I was excited for my prospects before I took my first sip.

I'm not gonna lie, this is not my kind of drink.  It just tasted like hot Whiskey.  I didn't taste the lemon I clearly saw in there, I didn't taste any honey, and I had to constantly sir it so I didn't get a mouthful of....spice?  Nutmeg?  Something floating in it.

As I continued to muscle my way through it, I found the hot was really warming me up, and the whiskey was rather nice.  By the time I finished, it made me warm and drunk enough that I liked it.  Once I sobered up though, I knew it was a drink I'd never order again, unless I moved to Alaska.

Red Rock Bar
241 S Sierra St, Reno, NV 89501
(775) 324-2468

Monday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Tuesday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Wednesday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Thursday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Friday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am

Cardamon Pisco Sour at Centro

I can't help but think of Iliza Shlesinger's stand up whenever someone wants to go to a tapas place.  I can't stop saying "It's small plates" lately.  

That's the thought I had when we decided to hit up Centro, is that 30 of us are going to share a flatbread and leave hungry.

But then I saw their drink menu and I could care less about hunger.  I had such a hard time deciding, but eventually I decided on the Cardamon Pisco Sour.  We'd recently made cardamon cookies at home for a Indian BBQ we were attending, and I really loved the smell.

The bartender was also our waiter, and he was really nice.  He asked if this was my first time trying the drink, and checked in with me afterwards.  I love anything with citrus, and the cardamon and lemon juice was just amazing together.  In fact all the ingredients complimented each other wonderfully.  I wanted to chuck my evening plans and just try all their drinks.  Alas, real life was calling, and I figured they'll be around for a long time.  The tapas were amazing as well, and I actually was full enough for it to take me long into the night without being hungry again.  I can't wait to go back and try something else out.

Centro

236 California Ave, Reno, NV 89509

(775) 737-9062

Mon	11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Tue	11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Wed	11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Thu	11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Fri	11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sat	11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sun	11:00 am - 11:00 pm

Whisky Sour at The Nugget

A friend was in town a few weeks ago and staying at The Nugget.  Hilariously enough, there was also a Clown Convention there.  No joke.

So amongst the colorful folk in the casino, we decided to stop in for a drink after showing him around downtown.  Because the bars are obviously not the craft-cocktail sort, I went ahead and ordered a Whiskey Sour to be safe.

Neon Beast ordered it for me, so I guess the bartender thought it was for him instead of the 5'2" chick waiting for him.  He made it really, really strong.  It was tasty, but I was also flat out buzzed by the end of the drink.  I'm not sure what kind of Whiskey was used, I really should have asked.

All in all not really a good enough drink to be considered, but I did find it funny that as Americans it is spelled correctly as Whiskey and Whisky.  Z Bar actually spells it "Whisk(e)y" in their menu.


The Nugget
1100 Nugget Avenue, Sparks, Nevada 89431
800-648-1177
Open 24 Hours