I know I have already blogged about The Patterson House, but this time was different. This time, I was the one holding the ticket to get behind that illustrious blue curtain. This time, we sat at the bar and watched with great intensity the artistry and alchemy that goes into creating each classic cocktail. (As a side note, are you aware that raw brown eggs go into many a cocktail? Am I the only one who thinks this is gross?)
Sitting at the bar allowed me to appreciate the hand-crafted, molded ice balls (created from a unique Japanese mold) that go into the double old fashioned glasses. The multitude of utensils, the many accoutrements, the fresh-cut fruit garnishes combine to make cocktails Fitzgerald would be proud of.
The quarterly menu will be changing in a couple of weeks to better reflect the flavors of the spring . As I cannot attend the Kentucky Derby this year, I do hope the next menu will offer an authentic Mint Julep. I was hoping for something reminiscent of this in the Whiskey Smash, created with Rebel Yell bourbon, lemon juice, and garnished with mint. It was good, but too lemony for my taste and not minty enough. I think it might be a better drink served on a hot summer's day and not a cool, rainy evening in early March.
One of the most unique and manly drinks on the menu is the Bacon Old Fashioned (dubbed "The Bacon" by the Patterson mixologists behind the bar). Made with their own recipe of bacon-infused whiskey and flavored with coffee and earthy maple notes, drinking this cocktail transported me into an old, dusty library with men smoking cigars and talking politics. (I felt a bit like I was recreating Anne Stanton drinking with Jack Burden in All the King's Men.)
All literary references aside, this drink tasted like a perfectly-cooked slice of thick-cut bacon coated with bits of caramelized brown sugar. My favorite part was watching the mixologist stir and sample the drink until it was just right. Who else puts that much effort into crafting your cocktail? Definitely a drink for slipping slowly, it was delicious. You must try this, regardless of your prejudices.
The End Notes:
- Patterson House is a must for Nashvillians with an adventurous spirit for creative spirits.
- If you're looking for your every day Vodka and Sprite or Jaeger Bombs, this is NOT the place for you.
- Channel your inner flapper and head to this hidden treasure as soon as you can.
