Photo by Jen Morrissey.
Drink of the Week: Bourbon
Where: Acadiana, Bourbon, Jack Rose, Smoke and Barrel
Don’t say Congress never did anything for you. September is National Bourbon Heritage Month, a designation brought to you by Jim Bunning, the former Senator from Kentucky. His resolution passed unanimously in 2007 and proves that maybe our lawmakers do have our best interests at heart.
So what makes bourbon different from other types of whiskey? The simplest distinction is that it must be made in America and be distilled from grains that are primarily corn. No wonder Congress loves bourbon.
It’s not surprising that the aptly named Bourbon (2321 18th Street NW or 2348 Wisconsin Avenue NW) and Smoke and Barrel (2471 18th Street NW) both have nicely curated collections of bourbon. If the straight stuff is a little too intense, Smoke and Barrel also has a selection of classic and original bourbon-based cocktails. And if you’re looking to learn more about the spirit, try a bourbon flight at Acadiana (901 New York Avenue NW). For $13, you can sample three different varieties to see what suits your fancy.
Last but certainly not least, Jack Rose (2007 18th Street NW) is famous for their formidable collection of nearly 2,000 whiskeys, including plenty of bourbon. This month they’ll be celebrating bourbon by showcasing a different distillery each Thursday night in September. Hit up their Balcony Room between 6 and 11 p.m. for a a sweet taste.
Small Bites
The booziest brunch
If you love a spicy tomato, be sure to hit up the U.S. Bartenders Guild’s first annual Bloody Mary Brunch this Sunday at noon at the St. Regis (923 16th Street NW). Learn about the history of this storied mid-day cocktail and sample renditions by 15 local bartenders. Tickets are $40 and include brunch hors d’oeurves.
Beer-swilling sea monster washes up near Anacostia waterfront
Snallygaster, a celebration of all things craft beer, returns for their third annual fete on September 13th. Named after a mythical sea creature, the event features 250 craft beers curated by Greg Engert, the man behind beer-centric Churchkey and the new Bluejacket brewery. This year’s event will take place at Yards Park and will feature live music, contests, and food trucks to keep your tummy happy. Tickets are $30 in advance and benefit Arcadia.
Golden brown delicious
Bonchon, the famed Korean fried chicken chain, is finally setting down roots in D.C. According to Washingtonian, Bonchon will be opening their latest outpost—a 200 seat operation featuring an outdoor patio—in Navy Yard this spring. Aside from the classic spicy, garlicky wings, the new location will also serve pork buns, bulgogi, and beer and cocktails.
Balls, balls, balls
Get ready for what some might call the nuttiest festival of this fall: the Festicle, a celebration of all things testicle. This carnival of live music, circus performers, micro-wrestling, and balls is brought to you by the mind of chef Spike Mendelsohn. Festicle-goers can delight in a testicle cook-off between Chef Spike, Toki Underground’s Erik Bruner-Yang, and Water and Wall’s Tim Ma. The Festicle will be held on September 21 from 1-9 p.m. at the Half Street Fairgrounds (1299 Half Street SE). Tickets are $20 in advance.
Are you ready for some day drinking?
Black Jack (1612 14th Street NW) has got you covered for football season. The bar’s Sunday hours will follow the Washington football team’s game schedule, opening early for any game that start at 1 p.m. Fans can also get in on 25 cent wings and $1 shots during any early game. For pigskin action happening later in the day, there’s always Black Jack’s extended Sunday happy hour, featuring half price mussels, burgers, and pizza and $5 wine from 3-10 p.m.
