mixin' it up on a Saturday night

Out on the town attending my friend's birthday! Bren was having birthday drinks at The Griffin in Los Feliz so I hopped in a cab to share a few drinks, laughs, and vegan cupcakes galore. Upon arriving at the bar we had to stand in line for a bit due to capacity levels. One of the bouncers (dressed to the nines, I might add, in a dapper suit and slick hat) was leafing through his copy of the American Bartender's Handbook. Rico is a bar-back on Friday nights at the Griffin and is studying up on his drinks. He tells me he even gets alot of practice in at home. He doesn't have a full bar set up, per se, but he does have all the accoutrements to get the job done. I had to ask if he has perfected the bottle slingin' and the like. He laughs after I attempt to retract my silly question but explains that bar fare is important. People like to see that stuff so it's definitely important to try to give people a bit of a show while you're behind the bar. Adds to the experience!


His favourite drink to mix? Simple. A Manhattan. He's a whiskey and scotch man himself and he thinks a Manhattan is hands down perfect for anyone who appreciates a good drink. In honour of one of my darlings, Bryan Barnett-Woods, I had to ask Rico if he's ever made a drink with egg in it. He hasn't come across that yet, 'tis a rare thing nowadays. And how about some of the top requests are here at The Griffin? This would have to be the "Adios M*therF*cker". "Unfortunately we stopped making those here but people still keep asking for it." Another fave is the Alabama Slammer shot. I asked if they got requests for Mind Erasers often. "Not quite but we make a few of them every now and then." (I didn't get one last night...still need some time off from it. But I did finally try a "Nuts & Berries". I am still not sure what's in it - chambord and half/half, for sure - but my friend Bren kept ordering them and after a few sips I realized it tasted like rocky road ice cream. Me likey!)



As we were entering the bar to finally meet up with the birthday girl I had to squeeze in one final question: Favourite book growing up? This was an easy one - Where The Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. Rico fondly remembers this as the first book the really move him and had meaning. He even shed a few tears whilst reading it. He definitely got a few "awwwws" out of my friend Erica and I.

Read another interview involving a bit of mixology

I've been reading some Seth Godin and Marketing/Advertising Agency books lately to "study up" on the work-related this and that. What was the last book you've read related to your field of work?