Tag: Speakeasy

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Eleven Twenty Two Speakeasy in Paso Robles

Even though Paso Robles is a wine town, there are some great cocktail options including the speakeasy Eleven Twenty Two Cocktail Lounge, located behind the rear patio of Pappy McGregor’s Pub. Entrance is on Railroad Street, with a convenient alley next to Pappy’s being a convenient cut-through. This small classic cocktail bar doesn’t take reservations, so we joined the line hoping to get in.

There are no cell phones allowed to be used inside, and once you step through front door into a library style foyer they drop the phone into a bag that you keep with you. Next, you enter the space and are seated at the bar or one of the cozy booths. Inside there are many bottles of whiskey in all forms, with just a few other spirits, so this is a great option for bourbon and scotch fans. Music was jazzy including a number of tunes from Nouvelle Vague, a French group that does Bossa Nova versions of New Wave tunes.

There’s a non-alcoholic Orange Julius on the menu, available optionally with spirit added. We opted for the straight version and while it was reminiscent of the real thing it wasn’t nearly cold or sweet enough.

For our two cocktails we were both completely blown away at the flavors and complexity on display from very different formats. I had the Strawberry Coconut Daiquiri that exploded with flavor even from a tiny sip. Not too much strawberry or coconut, but just enough to elevate this perfectly balanced cocktail.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Mai Tai had the Clarified Grasshopper with vodka, menthe pastille, creme de cacao, Coco Puff cereal milk, and ringed with a Chocolate Dipped Rim. This too had so many layers and the chocolate rim provided a long finish as well. I’m not always a fan of clarified cocktails but this would get me to switch teams, it was just that good. Mrs. Mai Tai was inspired and drew a photo since we couldn’t take photos.

The service inside was serious but with the requisite wink and nod to provide the indication to the customer that they are supposed to be here for a good time. Eleven Twenty Two is a must visit if you’re in the area and a perfect nightcap if you’re in town for the Cane Tiki Room like we were.

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Amazing Cocktails at the Blind Rabbit, Except One

We continue to enjoy visiting Anaheim’s speakeasy The Blind Rabbit. This was high on Mrs. Mai Tai’s wishlist and we secured a reservation for close to opening and were seated at the bar. In addition to a holiday cocktail list the standard menu had most of the drink names drawing seeming inspiration from the movie Beetlejuice or that film’s composer Danny Elfman’s band, Oingo Boingo. Is Tim Burton working for the Blind Rabbit?

The clarified It’s Showtime with notes of chocolate was perfect for Mrs. Mai Tai and I truly enjoyed the tropical and funky Dead Man’s Party served in a skull mug that featured two of Kuleana’s mixing rums in combo with the bartender’s secret weapon Smith & Cross Jamaica rum. In the next round, we did a combo of clarified drinks with similar names. I ordered the Turbo Man with rums and a hint of guava while Mrs. Mai Tai ordered the Come, Mister Tally Man with cachaca and sherry. I thought both were great, but Mrs. Mai Tai didn’t really like the sherry flavor and so we switched. For her last round, Mrs. Mai Tai ordered Otho’s Aura with cognac and spice, another killer cocktail.

For my last round I debated ordering the Mai Tai from their Classic Cocktails list. When I asked the bartender what rum was in the Mai Tai he said it was Kuleana Huihui, which is Kuleana’s blended white rum featuring three unaged rums from Papua New Guinea, Martinique, and Hawai’i. I’ve written previously that I didn’t think Huihui did that well in a Mai Tai or a Daiquiri but against better judgement I ordered the Mai Tai anyway and found to be good but simply doesn’t have enough flavor to sit alongside the rest of the Murderer’s Row at The Blind Rabbit. A little of that Smith & Cross would help immeasurably.

We enjoyed the holiday decor and the bartenders seemed a little more open and animated than in past visits where everyone seemed to be on hushed whisper mode. They’ve even relaxed the dress code here.

It’s Showtime / Dead Man’s Party
Come, Mister Tally Man / Turbo Man
Otho’s Aura
Mai Tai

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The Blind Rabbit: Speakeasy Cocktails in Anaheim

Mrs. Mai Tai suggested trying this speakeasy cocktail bar again, so we were pleased to score a last-minute reservation right for opening. The Blind Rabbit is located in the Anaheim Packing District venue, and seems to have relaxed a lot of the “rules” that previously were enforced. We had a lot of delays getting our Lyft and were stressed we might miss the 15 minute grace period.

In the end, we arrived right on time to find … ourselves as the only customers inside the bar! As such our server was quite attentive, even after other guests started to arrive. The hostess kept a tight ship, shooing out some guests who walked right into the bar without first checking in.

The Blind Rabbit’s menu is fairly small and features some cocktails with ingredients such as Mezcal that aren’t in my wheelhouse. While I know that the staff can go off-menu, we do like to try from the cocktail menu.

Icy Colors Change – Gin, Elderflower, Lemon, Pomegranate. I enjoyed this light cocktail, though my light did not change.

Ardbeg Your Pardon – I’m not a fan of peated Scotch, so I asked the server about this cocktail with Ardbeg Scotch, Rye, and spiced syrups. Ardbeg is indeed peated, but I took and chance and found that it didn’t overpower thanks to the Rye.

For my last drink I did go off menu to ask for a Rum Old Fashioned with Jamaica Rum. The bartender prepared this wonderfully and it’s always wonderful to savor my favorite style of rum.

Mrs. Mai Tai enjoyed a Zombie variant called Happier than Ever and served in a cool Viking skull mug. She also got an off-menu cocktail the server recommended for its similarity to a Pacific Cooler Capri Sun.

Icy Colors Change
Happier than Ever
Ardbeg Your Problem

After drinks, we ate dinner at The Iron Press upstairs where we had absolutely fabulous Pretzel Bites and a Simple Burger. So great.

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1923 Prohibition Bar: Speakeasy Bar in Las Vegas

We ran across the 1923 Prohibition Bar in the shopping complex between Mandalay Bay and Luxor, and once we entered through the “secret” entrance decided to take a load off with a cocktail.

As Prohibition style bars inside Casinos go, 1923 bar is pretty reasonable. Totally cut off from the shopping area and tourists, and a relaxing vibe with vintage touches inside. There are TV screens here showing period or venue-specific content (not sports/news, thankfully), plus music that is relaxing but isn’t period, so this is not 100% committed to the theme. They do however do burlesque here some nights and during mid-day when we went it was totally chill.

There’s a Mango Mai Tai on the menu, featuring Bacardi Mango Rum alongside Appleton Signature Rum and the standard 1944 ingredients. They also have Appleton Reserve and Rhum Barbancourt on their spirits list. I thought I got lucky to find a good 1944 Mai Tai in Vegas, and ordered one just with Appleton Reserve. Sadly, they said they were out of all of their rums except Myers’s.

Rather than fight a losing cause I ordered the Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned that was quite serviceable and set the mood for the venue quite well.

Check out 1923 Prohibition Bar the next time you’re in the area.