Home Made Toasted Almond

Sometimes you have to go simple and make a drink at home.  It's not as pretty as if you were to go out and have a professional bartender make it, but it tastes the same.

I love making and drinking Toasted Almonds because it's like an alcoholic chocolate milk.  It's just three ingredients: Disaronno, Kahlua, and Cream.  When I'm at home I usually substitute the cream for milk.  I always vary the booze to the cream depending on how buzzed I'd like to be.  I tend to make it on the boozier side by pouring out while counting to three on the Disaronno and Kahlua, then filling the rest of the glass with the milk.

I think this one could be a real contender for state drink.  It's easy to make and is very tasty.  The only thing that holds it up is that none of the ingredients are really from Reno...although I do use Model Dairy!  Does that count at all?  Yeah, I didn't think so.  The search continues!

"Sazerac" at @ZBarReno

The Sazerac is the official cocktail of New Orleans, which does sort of take it out of the running for the official state drink of Nevada.  However, there is something so smooth and yummy about the Sazerac that I'd be willing to share.

Usually a Sazerac contains cognac or rye, absinthe, Peychaud's Bitters and sugar.  At Z Bar it is made with Rye, and is also made with Whiskey and Angostura Bitters.  That is a lot to put in one drink, but KJ the bartender/owner makes it so it tastes like it is just one ingredient.  One straight shot of the best cognac-flavored absinthe you've ever had in your life.

Next time you are at Z Bar, it is worth a shot.  You won't regret the amazingness that KJ pours out.  Also check out their patio.  Now that the weather is starting to warm up, it's the perfect place to hang out and make friends.  In fact, I made friends with Lancer and Melissa on my visit this time around.  In case you are reading, thanks for making that time fun!

Z Bar
1074 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502
(775) 348-1723

Monday	4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Tuesday	4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Wednesday	4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Thursday	4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Friday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday	Closed

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

Mudslide at the Fireside Lounge @RenoPeppermill

 

During a Staycation last month, Neon Beast and I decided to hit up the Fireside Lounge at the Peppermill before heading to our room in the West Wing.  Side Note: Beauty and the Beast?  He didn't want her to go to the West Wing because it was TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE CASINO/LOBBY!!!  Over 500 steps according to my Fitbit.  Don't let my Fitbit know that I had this drink please?

I was so tired after walking all over the casino, moving the car, and having a pretty terrible AYCE Sushi experience at Oceano (the quality of the fish was not sushi-grade, but everything else was good), that I just wanted to have a drink that would be dessert as well as booze to help me sleep through the construction of those new houses by Virginia Lake.  That being said, our room was very beautiful and comfy.  We almost left the TV on one of the channels where they show other places because the music was so soothing.

It was a pricey drink at $11.00, but it really was tasty.  I'd been waiting to go to the Fireside Lounge since I turned 21.  I had this big dream that I would have my 21st birthday celebration there, and imagined how cool it would be.  As it turns out my birthday fell on Spring Break so everyone was out of town and I ended up at a steakhouse with my parents and having a fishbowl drink with Neon Beast at the now defunct Trader Dicks.

I've had quite a few mudslides in my time, but I must say that this is the best I've ever had.  The fireside lounge has seen better days I'm sure, but it's still nice and cozy and looks like the old coffee shop, which is oddly comforting.  Even though it's a lot of money, I would come back here with a group of friends and pretend it was for my birthday.

Peppermill

2707 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502
1-866-821-9996
Open 24 Hours

The Heirloom Martini @ZBarReno

I ordered a dirty martini from KJ the other day, and he told me I didn't want it.  He told me I wanted an Heirloom Martini instead.

Maybe he was right, or maybe he was just out of olives that day.  I went along with it because I know better than to argue with KJ.  I want to be able to come back to Z Bar anytime I want.

Although what I was looking for was more briney, the savory flavors were totally amazing.

It reminded me of the time I went to Molto Vegas, now called Bet the Farm.  We picked up these amazing tomatoes that tasted like nothing else I've ever had.  This was totally the drink equivalent of that.  The only thing that sucks is that one of the garnishes, the basil leaf, isn't quite the snack that I'd like it to be.  Cherry tomatoes are the bomb though.

I think that the moral of the story here is to always listen to your bartender.  Especially if he is KJ.  No joke.

P.S. Try not to be too mean with your April Fools today.  Only fun things!

Z Bar
1074 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502
(775) 348-1723

Monday	4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Tuesday	4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Wednesday	4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Thursday	4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Friday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday	4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday	Closed

The "Herbal" at Jüs

I felt like I had to stir it a lot before drinking

An impromptu shopping trip lead my mother and I to Jüs on Damonte Ranch.  Because one of my rules is that it doesn't have to have alcoholic, I thought that we should give it a try.

 The location is really cute, with lots of (reclaimed looking) dark wood and fun furniture.  The employees were a couple of very nice girls that asked us if we had any questions about the menu.  They were super sweet the whole time we were there, great customer service.  I appreciate that, considering that in other establishments it is a dying art.

My mom got an Orangesicle smoothie, and I decided I should go for an original juice (jus?).  I'm not a big fan of kale or....well, other things on the menu.  I decided the safe bet was to go for the "Herbal" under the "For Your Brain" portion of the menu.  It stated there was apple, carrot, lemon, cilantro, parsley, and mint.

I'm a huge fan of lemon, cilantro, and mint.  However, these things just don't make me happy together.  It tasted like it was 50% carrot and 50% Cilantro.  If I concentrated really hard, I could taste the parsley a little.  I only got about 1/3 of the way down before I couldn't really take it anymore and I had to throw it away.

I guess I'm not quite made for clean living.  Now where did I put my double stuffed Oreos?

jüs

Damonte Ranch (South Reno)
Monday-Sunday 7am-7pm
191 Damonte Ranch Parkway, Unit B
Reno, Nevada 89521

775-852-1401

Bee's Knees @1864Tavern

Yes, this is my third drink at 1864 I've reviewed.  It really is my favorite place to drink.  If KJ from Z Bar worked there I wouldn't drink anywhere else again.

Not that the bartenders aren't super awesome at 1864, they are.  While I was there with Stand Up Comedian/BFF Amanda Alvey, she told me that he was in a conversation with some other patrons saying "Caaampo or Campo? Is the food good? Then who cares??"

In fact, I actually did a stupid thing and went to the bathroom instead of writing down what was in my Bee's Knees.  Since the drink isn't listed on their online menu, I sent them a tweet asking, but it looks like they don't check it that often so I ended up sending them an email to ask. Awesomely they answered right away, and the post was saved!

Shawn emailed "The "Bee's Knees" is a classic cocktail that dates back to prohibition. It consists of Gin, Honey, and Fresh Lemon Juice.  (2oz, 3/4oz, 3/4oz ratio). Sometimes, at the customers/bartenders preference, we will sometimes substitute Elderflower water for the honey.  It gives it a slightly different sweetness, but still super good."

It was a little thin but sweet. I love that it had crushed ice, almost as much as I love their old school square cubes.  I just love a bar with different kinds of ice. It came with an elegant lemon peel garnish, so no eating for me again.

In the end it wasn't my cup of tea, but I'll always come back to 1864 Tavern.

1864 Tavern
290 California Ave, Reno, NV 89509
(775) 329-1864

Monday	3:00 – 11:00 pm
Tuesday	3:00 – 11:00 pm
Wednesday	3:00 – 11:00 pm
Thursday	3:00 – 11:00 pm
Friday	3:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday	3:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday	3:00 – 11:00 pm