New Cocktail List, New Bar Manager at Big Bar

Big Bar recently celebrated its first anniversary.  The cocktail bar within Alcove Cafe has generated a devoted following for its unpretentious atmosphere, quality cocktails, knowledgeable staff and fun vibe.  Signature events include a weekly mixtape mixology series and a Monday movie night in which movies are projected outside.

The new fall cocktail list debuted earlier this month at Big Bar and it includes twelve selections.  The Lonsdale (below) is made with Beefeater Gin, lemon juice, honey, apple juice and basil.  The apple juice holds all the elements of the cocktail together and binds them without too much sweetness or tartness.  The Lonsdale is a well balanced shaken fall gin cocktail that is more on the refreshing side.

The Night Nurse is a take on the rum old fashioned with Sailor Jerry rum, Smith & Cross rum, grenadine, velvet falernum and absinthe.  When I sampled it Appleton's Rum was substituted for the Sailor Jerry as they were out of it.  The Night Nurse is more spiritous and would be equally wonderful to enjoy in front of a fireplace or a porch on a cool Southern California evening.  The twist of lime peel brings out citrus notes.

The Iron and Wine is made with Zaya Rum, Benedictine, Dry Vermouth, Fernet Branca, and Angostura bitters.  This stirred cocktail has a very strong mouthfeel from the Benedictine and Fernet and is on the aromatic side.

The Harvest Moon tastes like the essence of Autumn.  The apple flavor is pronounced in the cocktail made with Laird's Applejack, Amaro Nonino, Lillet, apple juice, and Angostura bitters.  Think changing leaves, pumpkin pie and a sip of the Harvest Moon as Halloween and Thanksgiving season approaches.

In a changing of the guard, bar manager Juan Sevilla is departing the bar to move to New York and work at SoHo House.  The cocktail program will be managed by Dan Long and Eugene Lee (below), who have both worked under since the bar opened, so I anticipate that the momentum that Big Bar has been building will continue.

Tonight is Sevilla's final night and it coincides with a Screening of the 80s classic movie The Lost Boys.  So come to watch the movie, say goodbye to Juan and to try the drinks on the new cocktail list.  Sevilla assures me that he will be back in LA as the New York move is not permanent.  The full cocktail list is below the movie poster:

Big Bar Fall Cocktails:

Mamie Taylor: Famous Grouse Scotch, lime juice, ginger syrup, soda, Angostura bitters

Army & Navy: Bols Genever, Orgeat, lemon juice, nutmeg

Canela Sour: El Jimador Reposado Tequila, cinnamon syrup, lime juice, chocolate chili bitters, Angostura bitters

Remember the Maine: Old Overholt Rye Whiskey, Carpano Antica. Cherry Heering, Absinthe

Cinnamon Girl: Woodford Reserve Bourbon, St. Germain, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, cinnamon syrup, Angostura bitters, sparkling wine

Paloma: El Jimador Tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup, tonic water

Rum Diary: Bacardi 8 Rum, Del Maguey Mezcal Vida, agave, lime juice

Bo Diddley: Old Overholt Whiskey, Kings Ginger Liqueur, lime juice, honey, Angostura bitters, cucumber

Big Bar at Alcove Cafe: 1929 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Feliz.  Phone: (323) 644-0100.  www.alcovecafe.com/bigbar

A Juniper Scented Ride to the City by the Bay: Big Bar Tonight

Tonight Erick Castro, the West Coast brand ambassador for Plymouth Gin, will be guest bartending at Big Bar in Los Feliz.  He will be representing SF in a LA vs SF mix event, with Big Bar head bartender Juan Sevilla representing the City of Angels.  During this LA Loves SF event, bartenders will be crafting cocktails inspired by both cities featuring Plymouth Gin.

Big Bar Bartender and DJ Eugene Lee will be spinning tunes in keeping with the theme as part of his Mixtape Mixology series.  Song groups will include LA v SF:Battling Bands, Best Songs About LA, Best Song About SF.

The music and the fun all start at 7 pm and go until 1 am, so get ready for a juniper scented ride to the City by the Bay.

Big Bar: 1927 Hillhurst Avenue (Los Feliz). Phone: (323) 644-0100. Website: alcovecafe.com/bigbar

Cocktail All Stars: Farmers Market Edition - What You Missed

Monday evening, First & Hope Supper Club was the host to a crew of half a dozen of the best bartenders in Los Angeles, working with farmers market fresh ingredients to create cocktails for a thirsty crew of enthusiasts and fellow bartenders at the Cocktail All Stars: Farmers Market Edition.  Matthew Biancaniello welcomed guests with an amuse cocktail with fresh pomegranate (pictured above).

The bar was literally a cornucopia of ingredients that could be combined in any form to create a drink in a collaboration between guest and bartender.  This creativity and the enthusiasm in the crowd made for a great night, both for the bartenders and the lucky customers.  Naomi Schimek (pictured below with Juan Sevilla of Big Bar) smoked her own vermouth and the other bartenders brought homemade syrups and infusions, to provide a truly custom experience.

If you missed out on this one, stay tuned for updates on the next Cocktail All Stars.

East Coast Happy Hour at Big Bar

It's hard living here in Los Angeles when 2 pm rolls around. Lunch is in the rearview mirror and happy hour is hours away. You may get a call from a friend back East headed home from the office while you head to the office kitchen to scrounge around for something to tide you over. No more. Now Big Bar in Los Feliz has an Eastern Standard Happy Hour beginning at 2 pm and running til 7 pm, Monday - Friday. Your choice of 2-3 cocktails are available for $7, draft beer for $5, wine $6 and food specials too.

So take the afternoon off and enjoy the fresh market beverages of bartender Juan Sevilla and his crew while your friends in New York or Boston trudge through the sleet and snow. The gentle prices will enable you to while away the afternoon as you think, "Who's laughing now?"

Big Bar: 1927 Hillhurst Avenue (Los Feliz). Phone: (323) 644-0100. Website: alcovecafe.com/bigbar

Cocktail All Stars: Farmer's Market Edition

Fresh off his win as LA's Best Bartender at the Table 20 competition, Matt Biancaniello of the Library Bar at the Hollywood Roosevelt will join Juan Sevilla of Big Bar, Naomi Schimek, Aidan Demarest, Dan Long and Brent Falco, all of First & Hope at the Cocktail All Stars: Farmer's Market Edition at First & Hope on Monday evening (October 25).

The party begins at 6 pm, and in addition to their own signature recipes, this party is a Choose Your Own Adventure in which Demarest and his merry crew of foragers cover the bar with a bountiful array of produce, fruits, vegetables, and herbs and guests will be provided a basket and "harvest" any ingredients they wish. Attendees then hand their selections to the dream team of market driven bartenders who will whip up a handcrafted one of a kind cocktail. Choose wisely because all combinations are not created equally.

For those who would like to experience some of these bartenders signature cocktails, each will be making one specialty, including Sevilla's Vermont Log Cabin made with Scotch, Smoke and Maple Syrup and Schimek's George Burns with Chivas 12, Cigar Smoked sweet vermouth and a dash of Averna and Luxardo maraschino.

Matt Biancaniello and his Library Bar team and Vincenzo Marianella and his Copa d'Oro team have both raised the profile and quality of market driven cocktails in Los Angeles. Monday night should be a great event and a wonderful opportunity to try six of the top practitioners of the Art of the Shaker work with all the fall fruits and vegetables on offer in Southern California.

First & Hope is located in the corner of the plaza at the Southwest corner of 1st and Hope Sts. Phone: (213) 617-8555 Website: firstandhope.com

First Impression: Big Bar

The deceptively named Big Bar (its actually quite small) opened this past weekend inside Alcove Cafe on Hillhurst in Los Feliz.  The bar focuses on modern interpretations of classic drinks, made with fresh juices and house made syrups.  The cocktail program is the product of Juan Sevilla, formerly of SoHo House, who is the head bartender and manager.

I sampled one of Sevilla's creations, La Tercera, on opening night.  It is a take on the Corpse Reviver #2, using tequila and mezcal in place of the Gin and Absinthe.  The mezcal is spritzed from an atomizer to complete the drink, which also includes El Jimador Tequila, Martini & Rossi  Bianco and Creole Shrub.  It is a refreshing both as a cocktail and as an interpretation of the classic.

Big Bar is accessed through the front patio of Alcove and it is the enclosed room to the left.  There are wide doors open to the patio, which make the small bar feel more spacious.  The vibe is mellow: this is not a temple of the cocktail but they also produce quality beverages - you can have it all!  There was a punch bowl out on the night I was there and Sevilla mentioned that for parties or other large groups, customers can arrange punch service by prior arrangement.

The cocktail list is 14 drinks strong and I am looking forward to the Applejack Old Fashioned in particular. There is a happy hour Monday - Fridays from 4 - 7 pm, in which the cocktails are $8, vs the $12 normally. $5 draft beer is also available during the three hour long happy hour.

Big Bar: 1927 Hillhurst Avenue (Los Feliz). Phone: (323) 644-0100.  Website: alcovecafe.com/bigbar