Sambar

My standard experience with “mixed drinks” is asking a bartender to add ice cubes to my bourbon, so at first I was like a fish out of whiskey at this fancy-cocktail establishment. Having no idea what to order (nor what many of the ingredients were on their descriptive menu), I took a shot in the dark with the Fontlesomethingfrench Sidecar. It was delicious, clearly very well made, and a bit too sweet for someone who generally prefers drinks instead of dessert. Wanting a change of pace and knowing that the staff would be knowledgeable, I made the mistake of explaining my preference for drier drinks to the waitress, who made the mistake of explaining my preference for drier drinks to the bartender, who made the mistake of introducing the Vesper into my life. Vesper is named after a femme fatale in an old James Bond book. She’s three parts gin, one part vodka, a half part lillet, and a twist of lemon peel. I like her name and I like her drink and I do not like being hungover at work. A two martini dinner with a couple of beers and a sidecar appetizer does not make for a pleasant morning at the office. So I have mixed feelings about the Sambar after my first visit. And I’m totally going back. Soon.