Can you make black tater tots with squid ink? 100%. How do they taste? Actually, not too bad. Check out my recipe below.

On this date in 1970, the last tot of rum was issued to the sailors of the British Royal Navy. This day was known as Black Tot Day. It ended a nearly 325 year tradition of providing a ration of rum every day to sailors.

This was a dark day for sailors but is probably a necessary evil. Rum was issued as a source of water and even calories. Hundreds of years ago, it was tough to travel with potable water. It would spoil and could grow algae, YUCK! Prior to the start of issuing rum, sailors were provided with beer. As much as a gallon a day. That’s a lot of beer. Rum was more compact and with the exploration of the West Indies, plentiful.

Enter Admiral Edward Vernon who in 1740 decided that all this rum was making the sailors unproductive and even unsafe. He ordered to cut the ration with water, 4:1. Sailors, not happy about this, could exchange their bread and salt ration for limes and sugar. Mix that with the diluted rum and you have what the sailors called grog. This was one of the first cocktails.

Why was it called Grog? Admiral Vernon wore a weather-proof coat made of a fabric called grogram. Sailors, who were bitter about their new diluted rum, called their impromptu cocktail after the man that necessitated it.

1970 rolls around and the modern Royal Navy says this is a thing of that past. The House of Commons votes to stop the tradition and on July 31st, 1970 they stopped issuing rum. This day was called Black Tot Day.

50 years later in 2020 we are still talking about this event. Nick Drinks wanted to mark the occasion with an epic black tot. Tater Tots made with squid ink.

Squid ink is a natural food coloring that makes its way into pasta, bread and even ice cream. It tastes slightly like sea water and is bit salty. A little goes a long way and my two soy packet sized containers were enough to dye 2 lbs of potatoes.

Tonight, raise up your glass to the brave sailors around the world. Pick your favor rum, make some grog and honor the tradition of Black Tot Day. Cheers.

Black Tater Tots

• 2 lbs Russet Potatoes, peeled
• 2x 0.14oz packets of Cuttlefish Ink
• 1.5 tablespoons of all purpose flour
• Seasonings of your choice (I used garlic & onion powder as well as dried dill)
• Kosher Salt to taste
• Neutral oil for deep frying

Peel the potatoes and shred them with a box grader into a towel lined bowl. Gather the towel into a bundle and wring out the extra liquid over a sink.

Put all your ingredients into a bowl and mix. I used gloved hands as not to dye myself. You are looking for a consistency that will hold it’s shape when pressed into a ball. Add a bit more flour if it’s not sticking.

Form into tater tot shapes. I did this by rolling them into a small ball then squeezing into a log. Place on a plate.

Fry immediately at 350° until most of the bubbles have stopped. Make sure you are doing this in a well lit kitchen as the dark tots are hard to see when they are getting crispy.

Alternatively, you can refrigerate overnight and they should keep their shape a bit better when frying.

Grog

• 1oz Dark Rum
• 1oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1oz Demerara Simple Syrup (1:1)
• 4oz Cold Water

Add all the ingredients into an iced shaker and shake. Strain into a copper or stone mug filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.

The post Black Tater Tots & Rum appeared first on Nick Drinks.

Nick Drinks is pleased to announce the 2nd year of the Golden Jigger Awards. The mission of the awards is to recognize the great work done by Metro Detroit’s Bartenders, Locations, Events and Brands over 2019. It was a great year for the industry and there are far more people responsible for the success of the region. We thank everyone for their hard work.

This year, awards were nominated by Nick Drinks and public  based on capabilities, knowledge and service. To select the winners, a combination of public vote, Industry/Media panel and the Nick Drinks staff will make the final decision.  ​​Voting is live now and will remain open until December 1st, 2019 at midnight. Everyone is welcome to vote once in the public vote. The Industry/Media panel is a cross section of the leaders in the industry from food/beverage media and hospitality focused groups:

Better on Draft, Bitter Detroit, Brew Export, Chartreuse/Oakland, Cocktail Detroit, Daily Detroit, Detroit Cocktail Camp, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Detroit Optimist Society, Drinks with Destiny, Eater, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, Greater Detroit USBG Board, Grey Ghost/Second Best Bar, Hungry Dudes, Mabel Gray, Man Cave Happy Hour, Michigan Tea/Coffee Week, Michigan Craft Beverage Council, Royce/Marrow/Mink, Sazerac Company, Standby/Skip/Deluxx Fluxx, Tammy’s Tasting, William Grant and Sons, Willis Show Bar, Working Class Outlaws, & Yelp.

A number of sponsors have helped make this event possible:

• Autentico Nativo Rum sponsoring the Best Bartender Award
• Becherovka and JP Wisers sponsoring the Best Whiskey Program Award
• Coppercraft Distillery sponsoring the Best Retail Program Award
• Amaro Montenegro of E&J Gallo is sponsoring Best Wine Program Award
• Mover & Shaker Co is sponsoring, developed the logo, provided a custom pin and is presenting an award.
• Old Nation Brewing Company sponsoring the Best Beer Program Award.
• Watershed Distillery sponsoring the Best Non-Alcoholic Program Award
• Wheatly Vodka sponsoring the Best Bar Award

The categories and nominees are as follows:

• Best Bartender (presented by Autentico Nativo Rum) – Giancarlo Aversa, Jorge Cherriz, Roger Fruin, Tara Jagodinski, Bin Khulayf, Melissa Kim, Shelby Minnix, John Neely, Katrell Thomas, & Chas Williams
• Best Beer Program (presented by Old Nation Brewery) – Ale Mary’s Beer Hall, Clubhouse BFD, Grand Trunk Pub, Mudgie’s Deli & Wine Shop, and One Eyed Betty’s
• Best Beverage Event – Detroit Cocktail Camp, Detroit Cocktail Classic 2019, Detroit Whisky Festival IV 2019, Michigan Brewers Guild 11th Annual Fall Festival, and Miracle Pop-Up
• Brewery of the Year – Batch Brewing, Odd Side Ales, Old Nation Brewing Co, River’s Edge Brewing Co, & Royal Oak Brewery
• Best Cicerone – Peter Bruno, Annette May, Mike Turriff, Bobby Vedder, and Gregg Wilmes
• Best Bar (Presented by Wheatley Vodka) – Evening Bar, Hammer & Nail, Kiesling, The Last Word, The Library, Lost River, Monarch Club, Mutiny Bar, Standby, and The Sugar House
• Best Brand Support – Banhez Mezcal, Campari Group, Copper & Kings Distillery, Watershed Distillery, and William Grant & Sons
• Distillery of the Year (presented by Mover & Shaker Co) – Coppercraft Distillery, Detroit City Distillery, Long Road Distillers, Traverse City Whiskey Co, and Two James Spirits
• Best Brand Launch – Casamara Club, Copper Queen Whiskey, Eastern Kille, Glyph Molecular Whiskey and Lake Life
• Best Non-Alcoholic Program (presented by Watershed Distillery) – Castalia, Lost River, M Cantina, Smith & Co, and Standby
• Best Retail Venue (Presented by Coppercraft Distillery) – 8 Degrees Plato, Holiday Market, Kako’s Market, Motor City Wine and Tippins Market
• Best Sommelier – Caitlin Payne Buquet, Catherine Kurth, Gerry Baker, Michael “Mick” Descamps, and Liz Martinez.
• Best Tea or Coffee Program – Anthology Coffee, Astro Coffee, Eli Tea, Madcap Coffee and The Red Hook.
• Best Whiskey Program (Presented by JP Wisers & Bechervoka) – Butter Run Saloon, The Last Word, Standby, Sugar House & Thomas Magee’s
• Best Wine Program (Presented by Amaro Montenegro) – Michigan by the Bottle, Motor City Wine Bar, Paramita Sound, Prime & Proper, and The Royce
• Winery of the Year – Big Little Wines, Mari Vineyards, Mawby, St. Julian Winery and Youngblood Vineyard

On December 8th, 2018 at 7pm EST there will be a live awards ceremony at Detroit Shipping Company in Detroit. Buy tickets here.

Please contact me if you would like to get more information about the event or set-up an interview. nick@nickdrinks.com. Good luck everyone.

The post Golden Jigger Awards 2019 appeared first on Nick Drinks.

Nick Drinks is pleased to announce the launch of the Golden Jigger Awards. The mission of the awards is to recognize the great work done by Metro Detroit’s Bartenders, Locations, Events and Brands over 2018. It was a great year for the industry and there are far more people responsible for the success of the region. We thank everyone for their hard work.

The awards were nominated by Nick Drinks based on capabilities, knowledge and service. To select the winners, a combination of public vote, experts panel and the Nick Drinks staff will make the final decision.  ​​Voting is live now and will remain open until December 4th, 2018 at midnight. Everyone is welcome to vote once in the public vote. The expert panel is a cross section of the leaders in the industry from food/beverage media and hospitality focused groups:

Brew Export, Butter Run Saloon, Candy Bar, Chartreuse/Oakland, Cocktail Detroit, Daily Detroit, Detour, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Detroit Optimist Society, Eater, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, Greater Detroit USBG Board, Grey Ghost, Hungry Dudes, Mabel Gray, Michigan by the Bottle, Michigan Spirits Association, RNDC, Royce, Standby, Take Detroit, Teeqlife, Willis Show Bar & Yelp.

A number of sponsors have helped make this event possible:

• Copper & Kings American Brandy Company is the title sponsor and will be providing both cocktails and presenting the Best Bartender award.
• Käter Wingman Water, a new Michigan company, is sponsoring and will be providing both non-alcoholic refreshments and presenting the Best Craft Cocktail Bar award.
• Chaser Products, a Michigan company, is sponsoring and will be presenting the Best Wine Program award.
• Mover & Shaker Co is sponsoring, developed the logo, provided a custom pin and is presenting an award.
• Willis Show Bar is hosting the event at their beautiful space in Detroit.
• BarProducts.com is providing the Golden Jiggers for the award plaques.
• Men’s Wearhouse is clothing the hosts and has graciously provided a discount for anyone interested in purchasing new suits or renting tuxes.

The categories and nominees are as follows:

• Best Bartender (presented by Copper & Kings American Brandy Company) – Brent Foster, Paul Fradeneck, Yani Moraitis Frye, Tara Jagodinski, Marlowe Johnson, Will Lee, David Miles-Cole Martinez, Kaytee Querro, Katrell Thomas, and Chas Williams
• Best Beer Program – Ale Mary’s Beer Hall, Clubhouse BFD, Hop Cat Detroit, Mudgie’s Deli & Wine Shop, and One Eyed Betty’s
• Best Beverage Rep – Jaclyn R. Birkholz, Kelly Miller, Laura O’Reilly, Trisha Patterson, and Adil Yamin
• Best Beverage Event – Detroit Cocktail Classic 2018, Detroit Whisky Festival 2018, Pig & Whiskey 2018, Vodka Vodka, and Whisky Experience 2018
• Best Cicerone – Alyson Schramm Naeger, Annette May, Mike Turriff, Zach Typinski, and Bobby Vedder
• Best Craft Cocktail Bar (Presented by Käter Wingman Water) – Bad Luck Bar, Candy Bar, Grey Ghost Detroit, Lady of the House, Mabel Gray, Standby, Sugar House, Takoi, The Oakland, and Willis Show Bar
• Distillery of the Year (presented by Mover & Shaker Co) – Detroit City Distillery, Long Road Distillers, Motor City Gas – Whiskey, Two James Spirits, and Valentine Distilling Co.
• Best High Volume Bar – Second Best Bar, Honest Johns Detroit, The Skip, Mudgie’s Deli & Wine Shop, and Otus Supply
• Best International/National Brand Launch – Glenfiddich Fire & Cane, Letherbee Line, Maker’s Mark Private Select Program, Treaty Oaks Line, and White Walker by Johnnie Walker
• Best Michigan Brand Launch – DCD Bespoke Bourbon Series, Grey Skies – Straight Bourbon #1, Long Road Distillers Nocino – Batch #2, Norden Aquavit, and Rusted Crow Greystache Liqueur
• Best Retail Venue – 8 Degrees Plato, Holiday Market, Kako’s Market, Red Wagon Wine Shoppe, and The Wine Garden
• Best Sommelier – Gerry Baker, Michael “Mick” Descamps, Mindy Betts Lopus, Liz Martinez, and Madeline Triffon
• Best Whiskey Program – Butter Run Saloon, One Eyed Betty’s, Sugar House, The Oakland, and Townhouse Detroit
• Best Wine Program (Presented by Chaser Products) – Lady of the House, Motor City Wine Bar, Prime & Proper, Shewolf Pastificio & Bar, and The Royce

On December 9th, 2018 at 7pm EST there will be a live awards ceremony at Willis Show Bar in Detroit. Buy tickets here.

Please contact me if you would like to get more information about the event or set-up an interview. nick@nickdrinks.com. Good luck everyone.

The post Golden Jigger Awards 2018 appeared first on Nick Drinks.

This year, I’m teaming up with the two other cocktail power house content creators in Metro Detroit, Teeqlife and Cocktail Detroit. We will be providing live coverage of the Grand Tasting event on Friday on Facebook Live. We’ll be reviewing the cocktails and chatting with the bartenders at the event. More on that to come.

Below is a list of all the events. They are already starting to sell out, so get your tickets now. Nick Drinks at Night is also doing a special show on Monday night. Grab a ticket to be in the audience.

Monday, October 1st:

• Detroit Cocktail Week: Industry Seminars
  • Detroit Foundation Hotel
  • 10am – 4:30pm
  • Tickets – $40
• Heaven Hill Brands Cocktail Dinner
  • Detroit Foundation Hotel (Chef’s Table)
  • 6pm – 8pm
  • Tickets TBD
• Woodford Reserve Cocktail Dinner *SOLD OUT*
  • Mabel Grey
  • 6:30pm – 8:30pm
  • Tickets – SOLD OUT
• Nick Drinks at Night, Detroit Cocktail Week Show
  • CMN TV Studios
  • 6:30-8pm
  • Audience Tickets – FREE 

Tuesday, October 2nd:

• DCD Talon Gin Release
  • Otus Supply
  • 6pm – 11pm
  • Free Admission
• Maker’s Mark Cocktail Dinner
  • The Peterboro
  • 6pm – 8pm
  • Tickets – $44.95
• Rhum Clément Late Night Happy Hour
  • Second Best Detroit
  • 10pm – 2am
  • Free Admission

Wednesday, October 3rd:

• Two James Spirits Happy Hour
  • Two James Tasting Room
  • 4pm – 6pm
  • Free Admission
• Plantation Rum Cocktail Dinner
  • Takoi
  • 5pm – 10pm
  • Tickets – $85
• Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Collection Steak & Whiskey Dinner
  • frame
  • 7pm – 9pm
  • Tickets – $75
• An Extraordinary Age: Curious Capers in a Whimsical World
  • The Sugar House
  • 8pm – 11pm
  • Free Admission
• Norden Aquavit x Last Word x Detroit City Distillery
  • Detroit City Distillery
  • 8pm – 11pm
  • Free Admission

Thursday, October 4th

• Diageo Happy Hour
  • Willis Show Bar
  • 4pm – 6pm
  • Free Admission, Dress to Impress
• Norden Aquavit Cocktail Dinner
  • Grey Ghost Detroit
  • 6pm – 8pm
  • Tickets – $120
• The Kraken Karaoke
  • Mutiny Bar
  • 8pm – 2am
  • Free Admission

Friday, October 5th – THE BIG DAY

• DETROIT COCKTAIL CLASSIC – THE GRAND TASTING
  • Eastern Market Shed 3 & 5
  • 6pm – 10pm
  • Tickets – $40
  • Live Video Coverage by Nick Drinks, Teeqlife & Cocktail Detroit
• Cocktail Classic After Party
  • Deluxx Fluxx
  • 10pm – 2am
  • Free Admission

Saturday, October 6th

• Valentine Distilling Hangover Brunch
  • Honest ? Johns
  • 7am – 2pm
  • Free Admission
• Whiskey Factory Tour
  • Whiskey Factory Detroit
  • 12pm – 7pm
  • Tickets – $20

Sunday, October 7th

• Deep Eddy Hangover Brunch
  • Detroit Shipping Company
  • 1pm – 4pm
  • Free Admission

The post Detroit Cocktail Week 2018 appeared first on Nick Drinks.

Like all good classic cocktails, the history is murky. It appears to have been invented sometime in the 1870s. References in the US and Peru are both noted in the decade.

You can make a variation on the drink by floating some red wine on top to make a New York Sour.

Recipe for a Proper Whiskey Sour:

• 2 oz good Whiskey (often bourbon but I used Cask & Crew Rye)
• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup (I used gomme syrup for a fun spin)
• 1 egg white
• Dry shake everything in a shaker. A dry shake is without ice and optionally can include the spring from a Hawthrone strainer. This increases the air whipped into the egg white and makes for a better drink. Remove the spring, add ice and shake again. Strain this into a coupe glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry. I can also add an orange slice too.

The post National Whiskey Sour Day – August 25th appeared first on Nick Drinks.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has been doing a series of concerts called Rush Hour Recitals. These are remote concerts in unique venues.

The most recent one was at The Skip in Detroit’s The Belt alley. They vary in instruments and this one happened to be percussion. 

Principle Joseph Becker and Assistant Principle Andres Pichardo-Rosenthal played 6 pieces of music ranging in instruments from keyboards to toms to just clapping. 

Ian Ross held down the bar with Skips trademark assortment of frozen cocktails, craft drinks and premium beers. 

He made me the Tera’s Fountain. A delicious combo of Gin, Green Chartreuse, Cascara (aka Coffee Cherry Tea), Lime, Sugar, Absinthe, Egg and Orange Bitters.

The abundance of flavors mingled well together while remaining light with the egg white and gin.

Make sure to check out the next Rush Hour Recital and the Summer cocktails available at The Skip. Until next time, Budmo!

The post Marimbas And Cocktails appeared first on Nick Drinks.

The Midwest regionals were hosted this week in Las Vegas for the USBG World Class bartender competition. Michigan had a strong showing by sending not one but two bartenders out of the 12 slots. That there is news alone. Casey Miller, of The Last Word, and Shelby Minnix, of Sugar House Detroit both gave it their all at the event.

In the end, Casey Miller was selected with two others in the regional competition and is heading to finals in Louisville, KY June 4th-6th. He will compete to head to the world competition in Berlin. This is the 4th time in 5 years that The Last Word has been represented in Nationals. That bar certainly has the secret sauce when it comes to training amazing talent.

I spoke to Casey as he was flying home from the competition to get his take on the event. The challenge was grueling consisting of 3 challenges over 6 hours.

For the Speed Round he created The Harajuku consisting of Ciroc French Vanilia Vodka, Black Pepper, Pear Liqueur, Lemon, Honey and Egg White. This was inspired by a recent trip he took to Toyko and he tried a locally made infused aquavit.

For the Culinary Pairing Round he made a drink that paid tribute to one of the judges. The Meltzer’s Skye Seltzer (based on famed bartender & judge Andrew Meltzer) was a play on Andrew’s Scottish heritage and of course the rhyme. It included; Talisker Single Malt Whisky, Poblano pepper, lemon peel, sea salt, basil, brown sugar, honey and seltzer water. “It was clever of him to incorporate those personal details into a unique and flavorful drink.” said Andrew Meltzer when I reached out to him for comment. “My favorite thing about the cocktail was the element of surprise: I’ve never had a Scotch cocktail that was so damn refreshing.”

Finally for the Story Round (this is the big one), Casey made the Positivitea. You can actually go sample it now as they are bottling it at The Last Word to celebrate Casey’s win. The cocktail has the following ingredients; Bulleit Rye Whiskey, Cynar, Cold-Brewed Oolong Tea and Demerara Syrup.

It’s challenging to prepare for these events. “Honestly, since this competition tests all aspects of a well-rounded bartender, preparation started last year.” comments Casey. “I’d attend USBG knowledge and training seminars, browse articles from PUNCH, Liquor.com, and Imbibe, and worked on my application for over a month. Specifically, in the weeks leading up to competition day, I’d test my cocktails with our talented staff and some of our more adventurous patrons, and run through my speed round a couple times a night at the end of the shift or on my days off.” Now he gets to do it all over again for the Nationals. Wish him luck.

This is not the first time he tried to get into this competition and he tried last year. While he didn’t get to go to Nationals initially, he did get asked to compete as an alternate and ended up attending when someone couldn’t make it. “It was my first competition, and I was nervous as hell. Where I once had a stomach, I now had a bag of ill-tempered eels.” he said. Great practice indeed.

I also asked if he got to see Las Vegas at all. Unfortunately not much. However, he did get to go to a well-known West Coast institution for some grub. “Smashing on some In-N-Out animal style fries for the first time in over a decade.” he said is one of the many highlights in the trip.

Please join me in congratulating him and cheering him on for his National trip. You can find him on Facebook @caseymiller, on Instagram @caseyquicksilver and working at The Last Word in Ann Arbor.

Budmo!

The post Michigan to be represented at USBG World Class Nationals Competition appeared first on Nick Drinks.

St. Patrick’s Day really is a drinking holiday. While some people are amateurs when it comes to celebrating, Nick Drinks can help you find the tastiest drink for home or the the best event for the educated individual.

WXYZ Appearance on 3/10/18

Drinking at Home

Traditional Irish Coffee

Gin Rocket

There are many ways to make cocktails green some of them are spirits based and some are based on non-alcoholic ingredients. Using vegetables is a fun way to sneak a teeny tiny bit of nutrition in those drinks and be creative. I love what Maggie Hoffman did in her One-Bottle Cocktail book. HEre is the Gin Rocket. Very tasty.

We are spoiled with the amount of straight spirits that are available to sip on these days, even in Michigan. On St. Patrick’s Day, Motor City Gas is releasing their 2018 Barley Legal. A bold Irish Whiskey with lots of kick.

Also check out some of my favorite products from overseas such as; Writer’s Tears, Redbreast and Green Spot.

Recently brands have been getting more experimental. Jameson released their IPA Edition and Tullamore DEW released a Caribbean Cask. It is a great time to be alive.

Drinking on the Town

Nearly every bar in the US will do some sort of event for St. Patrick’s Day. Here are a few I was alerted to and might be worth your time.

The City

• The Handlebar Pub – 3/17/18 – St. Patrick’s Day Upgrade – Get a front row ticket to all the events in the city and transportation in style with the Handlebar Pub.
• Sugar House – 3/17/18: 11:30-2:30p – Barley Brother’s St. Paddy’s Day Extravaganza – Enjoy fine drinks in historic Corktown while being serenaded by distinguished drunks.
• Thomas Mcgees – 3/17/18: 9p – 2a – Turntables & Bagpipes – Modern music and traditional bagpipe music paired with classic Irish drinks.

Suburbs:

• Ann Arbor Brewing – 3/17/18: 10a – 1a – St. Patrick’s Day at the Brewpub – Special beer, special food and special music. What more could you ask for?
• Ann Arbor Distilling – 3/17/18: 7p-9p – St. Patrick’s Day at A2 Distilling with the Whiskey Charmers
• Detroit Fleat – 3/17/18: 11a – 12a – St. Patrick’s Day at the Fleat – DJs, special food and special drinks.
• Downtown Wyandotte – 3/16/18: 5p-11p, 3/17/18: 9a-11p – St. Patrick’s Day Party & Leprechaun Crawl – the largest St. Patrick’s Day Party and Bar Crawl in Metro Detroit.
• Motor City Gas – 3/17/18: 11a -12a – 3 Year Anniversary Shenanigans – Cider Barrel Aged Irish-Style Whiskey Release, corned beef sliders, cupcakes, drink specials and extended hours.

Thanks for reading. Hope you have a safe and fun St. Patrick’s Day. Share your stories in the comments below. Budmo!

The post St. Patrick’s Day Round Up appeared first on Nick Drinks.

Still haven’t made your Valentine’s Day plans and looking for something with a boozy spin? Check out the Nick Drinks round-up of events both downtown and in the burbs. There are dessert charcuterie plates, two spirits releases and one secret dinner.

In the City:

1. Briggs Detroit – 2nd Annual Single Forever
   • Celebrate your bachelorhood or bachelorettehood with 50% off your bill. You just have to be single to get the offer, obviously.
   • Hours: 7p – 11p
   • More details on Facebook
2. Coriander Kitchen & Farm – A Heart’s Desire
   • Check out a unique dining opportunity with special guest Lynne Savino of i-lixir wines. Each course is paired with a special romantic wine and perfect for date night. The dining location is secret and revealed when you get your ticket. Pre-purchase tickets on the website ($85)
   • Start: 6:30p
   • More details on Website
3. Gather – Chinese New Year Menu
   • Not exactly Valentine’s Day themed but incredibly interesting. Power house chef Sarah Welch and wine super star Ping Ho partner up to bring an impressive Chinese feast complete with wine pairings and maybe my most favorite fortified wine…MADEIRA.
   • Details are slim. Call the restaurant for more info – 586.850.0205
4. Grey Ghost Detroit – Roses X Rosé Dinner
   • Check-out the special menu featuring paired cocktails, wine or beer paired with each course. 5 courses with an amuse bouche mean you should come hungry
   • Hours: 4p-12p (call for reservations – 313.262.6534)
   • a few more details on Facebook
5. Standby – Grown & Sexy: A Valentine’s Day Party
   • Check out the special Valentine’s Day cocktail menu for one night only.
   • Hours: 10p – 2a
   • More details on Facebook
6. The Sugar House – Valentine’s Day
   • Bring your sweetie for a special menu of cocktails AND DESSERTS! Enlisting the help of pastry chef Corinna Collins, check out special sorbet, chocolates and event dessert charcuterie.
   • Hours: 5p – 2a
   • More details on Facebook
7. Two James – Valentine’s Day
   • Specialty cocktails served with Mel’s Toffee, live music from DJ Chris Wilson and delicious Mexican food from Racquel’s Cocina. No cover charge or reservations.
   • Hours: Noon-11p (Food at 5p-9, Music 7:30-11p)
   • More details on Facebook

In the Burbs:

1. Ann Arbor Distilling Company – A Sexy Valentine’s Day with Abigail Stauffer and Jamie Register
   • Sip on amazing cocktails, listing to smooth music (from Abigail and Jamie) and eat chocolate truffles. What could be better? No cover charge!
   • Hours: 7p – 9p
   • More details on Facebook
2. Clubhouse BFD – 6th Birthday Party
   • One of my favorite beer bars is turning 6 years old. Join them to celebrate on Valentine’s Day. The tap list proves to be epic.
   • Hours: Noon – 11p
   • More details on Facebook
3. Long Road Distillers (Grand Rapids) – Raspberry Liqueur Release & Chocolate Pairing
   • Get your hands on the newest product from Long Road’s their Michigan Raspberry Liqueur. I got a sneak peek bottle and am thrilled with the results. While it is sweetened it is quite dry and bursting with raspberry flavor. If this sells like their Nocino, it will go fast.
   • Hours: 4p – Midnight
   • More details on Facebook
4. Motor City Gas – Valentine’s Day Soiree
   • All day Happy Hour for single ladies, chocolate strawberry whiskey craft cocktails and release of Cabernet Wine Barrel Finished Bourbon
   • Hours: Noon to 10p
   • More details on Facebook
5. Oakland Art & Novelty – Valentine’s Day
   • Skip the fancy dinner and drink with Oakland. Featured cocktails include; Tinder Toddy and “U up” Flip as well as some special surprises. They even have roses…Four Roses Bourbon that is.
   • Hours: 5p – 12:30a

The post Where to Find Boozy Events for Valentine’s Day appeared first on Nick Drinks.

After all that walking, Instagraming and dreaming, it’s time for a cocktail. NickDrinks.com is here to help with 17 bars, in walking distance, from Cobo Center.

Map Legend = Green Zone is under 1,000 ft and Yellow Zone is under half a mile. Red is one mile.

1. Apparatus Room
   • Cross the street and you are at the Apparatus Room. You can get a World-Class meal and cocktails to match. Grab a table or sit in the luxurious bar with decorative touches of a ski chalet. Check out their special Auto Show food menu too.
   • Hours: SSMTWTF – 6:30am – 2am, After 1/21 – 6:30am – 12am
   • Closures: 1/15 (closed for private party), 1/19 (dining room closed, but bar open to public)
2. Cobo Joe’s BBQ Smokehouse
   • I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t been to this bar. Yet, it is so close to Cobo Center, I couldn’t leave it off the list. It’s worth a visit for proximity alone.
   • Hours: S-MTWTF – 11a – 10p (closed Sundays)
3. Anchor Bar
   • A no-frills neighborhood bar with the self-proclaimed coldest beer in Detroit. This hangout for local professionals offers comfy furniture, plenty of TVs and even a few pool tables. You can eat and drink for a few bucks and won’t be disappointed.
   • Hours: SSMTWTF – 10a – 2a (except Sundays 12p – 2a)
4. London Chophouse
   • For years I heard stories from my Dad of the classic Detroit venue where he would drink martinis after his shifts at Hudson’s Department Store. The 2.0 version of the bar still exists downstairs and is just as classy, often has live music and just makes you feel cool just sitting inside it. Bring your car club friends, grab a Sidecar and soak up the history.
   • Hours: Sat – 5p-11p, Sun – Closed, MTWT – 11a-10p, Fri – 11a-11p
5. Caucus Club
   • Plush tables in the front and swanky bar in the back. I was pleasantly surprised by the staff, food and cocktail offering at the space. Well worth a visit but call ahead before you do. Friday, January 19th is booked solid and other days are filling-up fast.
   • Hours: Sat – 5p-11p, Sun – 4p-9p, MTWT – 11a-10p, Fri – 11a-11p
6. Buhl Bar
   • All folks are welcome at this local bar both blue, white or no collars alike. Dark woods, fancy tile and well-made drinks total up to a perfect stop on your night.
   • Hours: Sat – 4p-12a, Sun – Closed, MTWT – 4p-10p, Fri – 4p-12a
7. Dime Store
   • One of my favorite spots for brunch is made only better with booze. Looking for something different? Try a Beermosa which takes a craft beer and pours a shot of OJ in for a breakfast treat.
   • Hours: SS – 8a-3p, MTWTF – 8a – 4p
8. Grand Trunk Pub
   • One of the originals and still one of the best places to find a diverse selection of Michigan craft beers. The building was once the ticket counter for the Grand Trunk train line and now serves an extensive food and full bar menu. Check out their Happy Hour (4p-7p) featuring $2 Well Drinks and $1 off Regular Michigan Draft Beers.
   • Hours: SS – 10a-2a, MTWTF – 8a – 2a
9. Whisky Parlor
   • Located right above Grand Trunk Pub, the whisky parlor is a boozy oasis in the city. The comfortable lounge offers a wide range of whiskys and other craft spirits (wine and beer too).
   • Hours: SS – 5p-2a, MTWTF – 5p – 12a
10. Parc
    • If you are a wine fan, check out Parc in Campus Martius. Their deep list includes some select pours by the glass and fits all price points. Don’t forget to grab a snack at the bar or a top notch meal in the dining room.
    • Hours: Sat – 10:30a-2a, Sun – 10:30a-9p, MTW – 11a-11p, TF – 11a-2a
11. Central Kitchen
    • Early 2017, I was underwhelmed with the cocktail and food offering at Central Kitchen. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t memorable. However, there are big changes happening thanks to new beverage manager Lance Sigler. Not only did he manage the hugely successful Cadillac Square Pop-Up Village but he is revising the offering at the brick-and-mortar too. Certainly worth a second chance.
    • Hours: Sat – 10a-1a, Sun – 10a-3p, MTWT – 11a-11p, Fri – 11a-1a
12. Townhouse
    • Nothing makes me happier than a giant menu of spirits by the pour and Townhouse has one of the best whiskey lists in the area. In addition to that, check out their selection of creative cocktails, extensive food menu and gorgeous seating areas. While I wouldn’t recommend opening it during the winter, the retractable glass roof reminds me of a major league baseball stadium.
    • Hours: Sat – 10a-2a, Sun – 10a-11p, MT – 11a-11p, WT – 11a-12a, Fri – 11a-2a
13. Checker Bar & Offworld Arcade
    • Nothing beats a simple burger and a cold beer. Checker has this concept on lock and excels at this order. The food is simple, fast and inexpensive. Partner that with an extensive selection of arcade games and you might have found your new favorite hangout.
    • Hours: SSMTWTF: 11a-2a (both floors)
14. The Keep
    • Descend into one of the coolest (both figuratively and literally) underground bars in Detroit. The full bar gives the aura of drinking in a secret 1920s speakeasy. I recommend one of their draft cocktails.
    • Hours: SSMTWTF: 5p-2a
15. Prime & Proper
    • There was some serious coin dropped on this restaurant and the decor does not disappoint. A full meal will happily part you with a few of your American dollars but I recommend a trip to the bar. The team puts on an impressive show utilizing some tricky ingredients in well balanced drinks.
    • Hours: Sat 5p – 11p, SMT – 5p-10p, WTF – 5p – 11p
16. Eatori
    • I love this concept and want to see more of them in the city. Part market and part restaurant, Eatori allows you to shop for Italian groceries, grab prepared food to go or sit-down for a full-service meal. The cocktails are solid and the food is tasty.
    • Hours: Sat 8a-2a, SMTW 8a-12a, TF 8a-2a
17. Bad Luck Bar
    • Bad Luck is the bar that everyone in the industry watches. They pull no punches and push all the limits when it comes to cocktails. You’ll dish out a bit more cash but you’ll get a superior product. The menu often changes but the constant is a tiny welcome cocktail you get on the house to center your body and mind for a proper night of drinking.
    • Hours: Sat 5p – 2a, Sun-Mon Closed, TWTF 5p-2a
    • Closures: 1/16 (closed for private party)

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