Carmel Magazine

Summer/Fall 2020

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84 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 2 0 a renaissance and resurgence of new bars and restaurants offering superb quality liquor with classic ingredients showcased in their own soulful spin. Whiskey is back. Boosted by the influence of the "Roaring '20s," there is a re-discovery of artisanal drinks as a symbol of the art of imbibing with flair and a debonair air. The names are somewhat more forward-sounding with even the ice cubes being fascinating now. Either a big round ice ball or a modern cube cools the drinks down in a 2020s style. Discovered in a new trendy bar I visited last year in downtown Sacramento, I ordered the "Drunk by Noon" cocktail, which was com- prised of bourbon, Swedish Punsch, lemon, allspice and garnished with rosemary, artfully prepared by my bartender nephew Anthony, a well- admired mixologist in the area. Being a mixologist has evolved since I last tended bar in Southern California, which seems like a hundred years ago. Drenched in Mai Tai juice while donning an aloha dress, this popular weekend Polynesian restaurant was my nighttime job as I studied acting during the day. We did not free- pour. All spirits were poured from a shot glass. The elegance of our shot glass technique was a stark contrast against a frantic, packed bar spilling over with rum drinks. It's a lost art and sometimes I pull out a shot glass and practice that special motion, just to check if I still have that swagger. Since my feature is about "collecting," not drinking, I present to you a whimsical collection of bar accessories that are dear to my heart—vintage liquor pour spouts. Some were advertising giveaways to bars from suppli- ers such as Corby's whiskey or Gilbey's vodka, while others are just charmingly appealing to sit atop one's favorite bottle of liquor. I share these with you to enjoy. They are fun to collect and become a topic of conversation as you pour a hand-crafted drink for someone dear during this time of sheltering in. Cheers! Marjorie Snow is a published writer and photographer with a vast knowl- edge of antiques and their histor y. Snow was the owner of Terra Cotta in Las Vegas, an exclusive architectural vintage galler y, which has been featured in numerous West Coast magazines. A carved bird head spout, a knight's helmet that lifts back to expose its pour spout, and a Bacardi Rum bat pourer. Corby's Whiskey was famous for its colorful plastic parrots, which were given to bars as advertising for their liquors.

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