40 replies to this topic

[bolognium]

Tino, trade you an Aviation for a couple Galley Boy cheeseburgers from Swenson's Drive-In! And thanks again for the "vintage" Campari Tino!

The most recent debate at the VTR: The continuing lemon or lime dilema and gin ratio in "The Last Word". Toby?

[LuckyGirl]

I am ALL about the Moscow Mule right now, at least I was when we were having summer weather.

On a hot and humid day its such a pleasure knowing I can go have a copper cup of that amazing, spicy ginger beer with a little Stoly.

I would like to do a side by side taste test of the MM in a copper cup and in a regular glass. I am certain that the slight metallic taste the copper leaves on the lips is an integral part of the drink.

Actually what I would like is to have a supply of that ginger bear so that when I want a glass of spiciness without the sprits I can indulge at home.

Edited by LuckyGirl, 30 June 2008 - 12:25 PM.

[tino27]

Tino, trade you an Aviation for a couple Galley Boy cheeseburgers from Swenson's Drive-In!  And thanks again for the "vintage" Campari Tino!

Sure! But somehow I think I'd be making out better on that deal than you (plus they probably wouldn't be very hot by the time I got to Cleveland).

[jsmeeker]

I was in Cleveland last Friday night and after a nice dinner at Lola, my friends and I headed over to the VTR for a drink. This is the third time I've been there. It's always great. This time, just one cocktail. I had a Bourbon Daisy. very tasty. I am a bit curious about what method they use to make their house made grenadine. Does anyone know?

[Alchemist]

I hope that it is not hubris that I think that you are talking to me. Seriously, I just saw this, but I will guess that the debate is still raging. As far as I know it is a-Shudder- equal parts drink. That shudder is purely subjective. I don't make anything equal parts except a 50-50. My negronis are boozy, my 20th centuarys lead lean and stiff. So for a Last Word, and I serve it in the spirit not to the letter of the law.

2.0 oz Tanq
.75 oz Lime
.75 oz Luxardo Maraschino
.75 oz Green

It looks way out of wack but it works. Sorry it took so long to get back.

Cheers,

Toby

[LuckyGirl]

Fun times last night at the Velvet Tango Room.

Paulius of VTR and Brad of Bar Deville came up with the great idea to do a bartender swap. Last night Brad and Eric from Bar Deville were mixing up their sublime drinks at VTR here in the CLE and will be doing so again tonight. Carol and Julie from the VTR will be in Chicago mixing up VTR specialties at Bar Deville 9 & 10 November.

Fun times and GREAT cocktails!

[ronnie_suburban]

Fun times last night at the Velvet Tango Room.

Paulius of VTR and Brad of Bar Deville came up with the great idea to do a bartender swap. Last night Brad and Eric from Bar Deville were mixing up their sublime drinks at VTR here in the CLE and will be doing so again tonight. Carol and Julie from the VTR will be in Chicago mixing up VTR specialties at Bar Deville 9 & 10 November.

Fun times and GREAT cocktails!

A couple of my Chicago friends were also at this event and I'm sorry I couldn't be there. I do plan to be at the flipside, though, at Bar DeVille in Chicago on 11/9 and 11/10 and I'm really looking forward to it!

I think about the VTR all the time, especially when I use those house bitters Paulius gave us at the eG Heartland Gathering back in 2007. I've been nursing them and still have a few drops left.

=R=

Bar DeVille
701 N. Damen
Chicago, IL

Edited by ronnie_suburban, 29 October 2009 - 10:13 PM.

[edsel]

VTR got some publicity courtesy of Michael Symon. "The Best Thing I Ever Drank" includes a segment shot at VTR last Spring. Symon does a great job describing the drink. The episode re-airs this afternoon at 2:00 Eastern Time on the Food Channel.

[JAZ]

I had a chance to visit the Velvet Tango Room while in Cleveland for the Heartland Gathering and was very favorably impressed. The room was great -- I liked the juxtaposition of the "dive" exterior and the beautiful interior. Considering the size of our group, the bartenders did an amazing job with the cocktails, which were almost without exception very good. If I had one complaint, it would be that the written drink menu was so quirky that I sometimes had a hard time even figuring out what base spirit was in a particular drink. That would have been fine had it been possible to engage the bartenders in a conversation about the menu, but of course with a large group, that can't happen.

Still, the drinks I tasted were all great, with the exception of their "Hemingway Daiquiri," which was both odd and boring. Odd because it had no Maraschino and seemed to have no grapefruit juice; plus it was shaken with an egg white, which I've never encountered in any other Hemingway Daiquiri I've had. Boring because it was just sweet and frothy -- no bite of lime to temper the drink. But overall, it was a very good experience.

[jsmeeker]

I just love, love, love that place. Glad I finaly got into the back room. I found that the bartenders were a little bit less overwhelmed later in the evening. It certainly was a bit busy early on with everyone arriving at the same time and ordering drinks.

[edsel]

VTR was named one of the "Best Bars in America" by Esquire.

A baby grand piano provides the background to the low din of conversation. A tiny black-and-white TV plays old movies on mute. The lighting is like looking through the amber haze of a whiskey bottle. The meticulously created scene is meant to bring the focus back to the booze, which is why decorum is as important to Nasvytis as the homemade bitters are.