Blind Beer Tasting
Think you know your beer? PROVE IT! Stop by Wisdom August 16, 17, and 18 for a blind beer tasting during D.C. Beer Week. The winner of this noble contest will receive a $40 Wisdom tab…not to mention beer tasting glory. Afterwards, enjoy the epic motion picture Beerfest on the blueray projector. Only $25 a [...]
How to Drink Absinthe…Savage Chicken Style
Check out David Savage’s clever take on the best way to drink absinthe. And frankly, who’s to say he is wrong? See full cartoon
The GINtender: Liquor Deity
The GINtender was voted Mixologist of the Year by Modern Luxury (DC)! “Erik Holzherr is like a liquor deity. His Atlas District eden, Church & State (1236 H St. NE, dcfruitbat.com)—decked in stained glass and church pews—pours heavenly rebooted classics like a Sazerac with hibiscus liqueur. “I don’t think of myself as a provocateur, but [...]
Wealthy Missionary Makes Cocktail of the Month
The Wealthy Missionary, one of Wisdom’s most popular libations, mingles peach and ginger with just a hint of tea leaf bitterness. Check out Kelly A. Magyarics’ take on this great summer cocktail in the Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
Yelp’s Loungin’ Wisdom Shout Out
Yelp gave Wisdom’s “Pears of Wisdom” a shout out this week. The Pears of Wisdom cocktail at Wisdom was the highlight of Ruth C‘s visit: A slice of Anjou pear, Belle de Brillet, Absolut pear and Elderflower – “it single-handedly convinced me that I must try their other concoctions.” Check out the full article here.
WE’RE HIRING!!!
ATTENTION ALL D.C. MIXOLOGISTS!!!! Wisdom and Church & State are looking for new bartenders to become a part of our family. The requirements are simple. You must have past bartending experience. You must have (or be willing to get) your ABC liquor license. Applicants should be good with people. Assholes generally don’t make very good [...]
Home Bar Essentials
Below, the Gintender has compiled a list of home bar essentials. If you’ve taken one of the mixology classes at Wisdom or Church & State, this list should be familiar to you! Essential Base spirits: 1. Vodka — Smirnoff 2. Gin — Beefeater 3. Rum — Bacardi 4. Whiskey — Blantons 5. Triple sec 6. [...]
Ingredient of the Month: Tequila
In honor of Cinco de Mayo, this month’s ingredient is Tequila! The GINtender’s favorite tequila definition: “Tequila is the secret weapon invented by Mexicans to reduce productivity in other economies.” – Richard Neill Tequila is made by distilling the fermented juice of the blue agave plant. The most important thing to take away from the Gintender [...]
WaPo’s latest review of Church & State
Church & State recently garnered another review by the Washington Post’s Fritz Hahn. Check it out in the Going out Guide section of the Post’s website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/bars-clubs/church-and-state,1180472/critic-review.html **Special thanks to Fritz Hahn for writing such a great review and for having a true appreciation for genuine American cocktails. **
Home Bar Basics Classes
Learn the basics of a well-stocked home bar! These classes are great for the novice and intermediate home mixologist. You’ll learn everything you need to know from how to use the proper, basic bar utensils to which staple liquors and liqueurs are necessary for home bar tending. Sign up for classes at Wisdom or [...]
The Source of Domaine de Canton
Several months ago, the GINtender featured Domaine de Canton as the ingredient of the month. It is an amazing new product that is standard in almost any new cocktail bar. A beautiful unique product that is fun and exciting to mix…it is a crucial ingredient in the Eminent Domaine at Wisdom and one that is [...]
New Infusions at Fruit Bat
Fruit Bat introduced its new Spring menu last week and here are just a few of the refreshing concoctions available. The Mexican Showdown The Mexican Showdown is Milagro silver Tequila and blackberry liqueur infused with Habaneros. The spicy concoction is infused for a minimum of a 7 days. It is shaken with fresh pomegranate juice [...]
New Spring Fruit Bat Menu!!!
Great news! Fruit Bat has a new spring menu starting Wednesday, April 6th. Check it out! Spring Fruit Bat
Ingredient of the Month: Qi Black Tea Liqueur
Pronounced “chee”, Qi Black tea is an ingredient we immediately latched onto due to its uniqueness. It is made in small batches in California. It has the alcohol proof of a typical vodka, the smokiness of a scotch and it is defined as a liqueur. The smokiness is particularly striking and is obtained from infusing [...]
Lucid Absinthe Tasting at Wisdom — April 13
Great news for all you absinthe lovers out there. Wisdom will play host to a Lucid tasting and mixology class on Wednesday, April 13. Whether you are an absinthe connoisseur or just looking to try it for the first time, this will be a great place to learn and experiment. After over 95 years of [...]
Catoctin Creek Tasting. Success!
It was an evening filled with fun, food, people and prizes. Josh was slinging drinks like a mad man and lighting citrus peels on fire – he knows all the tricks. All in all everyone had a fabulous time…and we have photos to prove it. A special thanks to Smorgie for both their support and [...]
Full Page Spread in Modern Luxury Mag
Ok, so this is the first time I’ve been referred to as Yankee Dude-ly, but in this case I’ll consider it an honor. Modern Luxury Magazine penned a couple of lines in their most recent edition boasting the bodaciousness of our newest venture Church and State. Check out the full article here.
Ingredient of the month: Lucid Absinthe
This month, the GINtender would like to celebrate the four year anniversary of absinthe becoming legal once again. After over 95 years of an absinthe ban here in the United States, on March 5, 2007, Lucid was finally given the “OK” by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. It was the first genuine [...]
How To Order A Martini
HOW TO ORDER A MARTINI: A Simple Guide 1. Choose your favorite brand of gin or vodka (obviously we recommend gin). 2. Choose your gin/vodka to vermouth ratio: Bone Dry= No Vermouth Dry= 11/1 Regular= 5/1 Wet=3/1 Dirty= Add olive brine Perfect= Sweet and dry vermouth 3. Garnish None Olives Lemon twist Onion 4. [...]
Upcoming Mixology Classes
Church & State Classes (All classes start at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Limited to to 5 people per class) See our new event calendar on the right for all the dates and classes at a glance. Manhattan Class – April 5, 2011: SOLD OUT Manhattan Class – April 12, 2011: SOLD OUT Manhattan Class [...]
Help the Bat Support Local Artists
The Fruit Bat will participate in a H Street Art Walk and Dine Around on February 24th. The event, ARTventures on H, is the brain child of CHAMPS– Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce– and H Street Main Street. Here’s how it works: From 5:30-8pm, enjoy local art galleries open along the H street corridor. With [...]
Triple C Event at Church&State (March 1)
The latest edition to the Wisdom/Fruit Bat family is gearing up for its first ever event. Holding true to its all-American roots, Church & State will play host to a Catoctin Creek Cocktail tasting (thus the Triple C). Catoctin Creek, a small batch organic spirits distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia, will graciously supply three [...]
Drinking can save a Life
A friend of the GINtender is an aspiring animal trainer. He came across this pup at a shelter and is trying to raise enough money for her surgery. She was hit by a car and needs $6000 worth of surgery. A local vet is offering to do it for $2500, but her family couldn’t afford [...]
