Intro

KEEP IN MIND :
that this is a BLOG about cocktails and its culture. Purpose of this blog is to give you an idea and a description, whether the place is good or not from the point of you of a customer as well as bartender.
This blog should show you a way how to appreciate the bar, cocktails and its way of preparation, if you are a tourist or a visitor searching for a good place.
If you are a Bartender, Barmaid or Barmanager, you may find some useful informations about the VALUES of bartender´s job.
However, keep on mind, that this is a blog and only one person is writing it. There are many places i haven´t visited (yet) or I visited only once. My experience may be different from yours.
Enjoy responsibly.

Tuesday, 27 August 2013

Door 74, Amsterdam


Just right before I left the Bols Experience, one guy from bar academy gave me the map of the city, where You could find better cocktail bars. Fortunately, I asked him some questions and he gave me few tips for some cocktail bars, which he prefers and he knows very well. For all of them I wouldn't have time, so I had to make a decision, where to go. When David told me about really good speakeasy bar, the choice has been made. Since I didn't go to any speakeasy before, it was like a MUST HAVE experience.  If You want to enter, You have to call there before to make a reservation. And even finding that bar by itself is not easy, because the map is not accurate. Which is good, because it is the only one ´´evidence´´ that this bar exists and if it would be accurate, it wouldn't be speakeasy. And You have to feel that mistery, if You are ringing the correct door bell or not...

I will honor this place, so I am not going to talk about that anymore. You have to ´´explore´´ that bar by yourself and after I passed through this bar, I can assure You, that You will not want to leave it, just like me.

Just one small note here : Unfortunately, when You will be reading this and You will decide to go there, You won't meet the bartender - which I´m honored to introduce to You by name  - Ben Warren.

Since I've been sitting on a bar, he was taking care of me. At the beginning we were chating a bit, then some other guests ordered some cocktails and then I was just silentely sitting and staring at him.  I can describe his way of work in 5 words. Exceptional speed, control and beauty (of work). Every single detail was on the highest level, being prepared in fantastic speed and very elegant way, making his work and cocktail itself, an art. If there would be a book describing, how good bartender should work, what he should know and how should he handle the customer service, I woud see this guy as an example.

I started with a gin cocktail from their menu, which I chose right after I arrived here, but I didn't tell it to him straight by name. I said that I have one cocktail on mind, but I wanted something refreshing, based on gin and not strong by alcohol. This guy read my mind and his first answer was my cocktail, which I chose from the menu. Even if this guy is not there anymore, You can ask in the same way any bartender, who is actually working there. I am sure, that You will get exactly, what You will ask for. As I could see Ben's collegue, I can say, that the bar manager (or maybe the owner) leads his team to a pure perfection.

There is one cocktail i want to share with You.

I took 3 cocktails in total, the first one was the one from the menu. Second was a High Society off the menu with a beautiful and great twist – because guys didn't have a peach liqueur. My last drink was the only exception for having a drink not based on gin, this evening. As I was chatting with this bartender through the evening, we found our passion. Blanton's bourbon.

The drink is called Boulevadier and it's made of :

 - Blanton's Original bourbon

- Campari

- Cocchi sweet vermouth

- Dash of orange bitters

Shaken and stirred into the tin coblet with a twist of orange peel.
Strong cocktail by taste with a lot of character, after You will breathe out. It doesn't matter how long You will drink it. Until it's fresh and very cold, You feel a bit more fruity taste and, as it's getting warm, the main word gets Blanton's together with campari with a orange touch oft aste at the end. With an amazing, bitter orange-like aroma it even looks absolutely phenomenal in its tin coblet in which it is served. At the end of my visit, I couldn't even wish better ending.

So my feelings about this bar? Of course it would be 5/5* and the coincidence, that led me into this bar, and the fact that I almost missed it, makes me really happy.


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