Mezze Restaurant Group

This holiday season I’ll be harkening back to the past for inspiration. I’ve always loved clothing and furniture from distant ages, spending years sorting through piles at antique malls, charming vintage boutiques and garage sales. Objects designed and constructed in the past usually have far more staying power than modern-day products. I love the concept of giving new life to something that was created long ago, and the simplicity of passing well-made items down throughout generations. With so many beautiful old things in the world, it’s hard to rationalize always purchasing the brand new. The appeal of vintage style absolutely translates to the bar. Classic cocktails offer a connection to history and highlight well-made ingredients. Also, who wouldn’t want to fantasize about the glamour of days gone by? The music was lively, the drinks were strong and the ladies looked great!  This year, I’ll be serving the Hemingway Daiquiri to anyone who will let me get near them with a cocktail shaker. Here’s how you can follow suit:

The Hemingway Daiquiri

2 oz. White Rum

3/4 oz. Lime Juice

1/2 oz. Grapefruit Juice

1/2 oz. Maraschino Liqueur

1/2 oz. Simple Syrup

Shake and strain over ice into a rocks glass.

The Hemingway Daiquiri. Photo by Angela Cardinali.

If you’re a vintage fan like myself, visit allium restaurant + bar (42 Railroad St., Great Barrington) this Wednesday for a special cocktail party. We’ve teamed up with two amazing local shops, griffinGB (177 Main St., Great Barrington) and VINTAGE (1695 North Main St. Route 7, Sheffield), who have decked out the allium lounge area with beautiful vintage furniture and goods.

Decked out lounge at Allium Restaurant + Bar, thanks to GriffinGB and VINTAGE

Come for the classic cocktails and stay for a vintage fashion show (featuring clothing from both stores and fabulous models from our local community) and retro tunes from DJs Adam Post and Scott Clark. Here are all the details: VINTAGE: A Cocktail Party Inspired by Vintage Style + Vintage Cocktails Wednesday, December 19th at 7:30pm at allium restaurant + bar (42 Railroad St., Great Barrington) with special thanks to…

that coat!- at griffinGB

• Tulips

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  at VINTAGE

• A scene from VINTAGE

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  Leather jackets, shoes and bags... oh my.

• Perfect for wintery days.

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  at VINTAGE

• Deidre (of VINTAGE), Connie (of griffinGB) and Emma (of Vintage)

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  Enjoying the lounge at allium after their favorite kale salad!

• Gorgeous vintage coat

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  at griffinGB

• Join us!

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  for classic cocktails and vintage fashion- at allium restaurant + bar, wednesday 12/19 7:30pm

• Bright blue chair

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  at VINTAGE

• griffinGB

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  a cute street view!

As more people become curious about the food on their plates (where it comes from, how it’s prepared and why), curiosity naturally spreads to the contents of their glass. Enter the craft cocktail. Beautifully constructed and drinkable, a classic cocktail honors the integrity of its ingredients while providing a connection to history and a sense of ritual.

Take the Negroni, for instance. Bitter and aromatic, the cocktail made its debut in 1919 when Count Negroni (an Italian nobleman) requested gin in his Americano instead of the standard club soda. Mary, bartender here at Mezze Bistro + Bar, counts the Negroni as one of her favorites to make (and drink). “The campari brings out the bitterness of the citrus, but the sweeter aroma stays… it actually smells like a big glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice,” she explains. Refreshing and perfectly balanced.

Negroni
1 oz. gin
1 oz. campari
1 oz. sweet vermouth

Stir, pour over a chunk of ice + garnish with orange peel. It’s that simple!

With simple techniques and a small collection of essential ingredients, dynamic cocktails like the Negroni are within reach for even the most amateur mixologists.

We’re offering a chance to become a master of the classic cocktail, just in time for holiday party season! Join us for Behind the Bar: Shake, Stir, Classics, Sours – a small, hands-on cocktail class at allium restaurant + bar in Great Barrington — on Wednesday, December 12th at 7:30 pm.

We’ll advise on how to stock your bar with booze, mixers and garnishes for entertaining at home. We’ll suggest the essential tools to make great cocktails and will demonstrate mixing with different methodologies — stir/shake classics, sours, fizz, rocks or up. The class will whet the palate with aperitifs and aperitif-based drinks and will be followed by recipes and hands-on mixing of six delicious cocktails.

The cost is $40 per person, with limited space available. Reservations are required by phone or email. We hope to see you there!

42 Railroad Street, Great Barrington
413.528.2118
allium@mezzeinc.com