This Week’s Tasting Notes

I usually don’t kick things off with cocktails (and sweet cocktails at that), but here we go.

Pisco Punch
I’ve been trying to dial in my recipe for Pisco Sours, and thought I’d change gears a little bit by ordering a Pisco Punch at Las Primas on North Williams (they seem to have no web site). The Pisco Punch (or this Pisco Punch) was just way too sweet, and I’m guessing that it was the sugar or a sugary syrup mix or possibly sweetened pineapple juice. It’s supposed to be a sweet drink, but this was so sweet that I just didn’t like it. Finishing it was work. The food at Las Primas is well worth exploring and the sangria is a nice balance of flavors and sweetness. I recommend the Butifarra sandwich, and a churro (or two). I’m not sure how Las Primas stacks up to real Peruvian street food, but we’ll be finding out in September.

Springtime in Paris
St. Germain, rhubarb bitters and champagne. I’m always game to try anybody’s play on the French ‘75 despite the fact that it can be quite the gamble. Extra Special KDB and I tucked ourselves into The Driftwood Room after seeing a show at Artists Repertory Theatre. The main note in this cocktail was the St. Germain with the effervescence of the champagne making for easy drinking. Good stuff, but I would have liked the rhubarb bitters to be cranked just another dash for just a touch more complexity. Still, a great drink, and I was reminded of The Stones in Paris ‘76, a spin on this cocktail that I had at Beaker and Flask or Pix Patisserie…I don’t recall. I want that one again.

Portland ‘85
Another champagne cocktail with Clear Creek Pear Brandy and their Pear Liqueur. It was just too sweet and a little overwhelming on the palate. I don’t know what the ratio of ingredients was, but reducing the liquor by half and letting a little more brandy come to the front would be nice. It’s not a bad drink, but side-by-side with the Springtime in Paris, it was just too sweet.1

And on to the beer…

Southern Oregon Brewing Na Zdravi Pils
A very light bodied pilsner with almost no sign of hoppiness until it slowly makes its presence known way in the back of the mouth. Really, really good stuff, but it looks like they’re not bottling it. Oh, and Na Zdravi is apparently Czech for Cheers!
ABV: 4.8%

  1. We actually shared two more cocktails (the Mallory Manhattan and another that slips my mind), but service at The Driftwood Room seemed to take a real nose-dive and crashed into the mountain. We weren’t sure if it was a shift change, confusion in the kitchen, a lost food order or what, but it was hard to enjoy those drinks as we slipped off the radar. ↩