Holiday doubleshot

Two cocktails to strike your fancy ... and conversation

By Ron Swarner on December 12, 2013

The holidays bring out the best in most. Of course, one must look beyond the wretched behavior of friends, family and those who feel entitled - at least from time to time. And when the going gets rough, with regards to coping, there is always booze, the great equalizer, the social and familial lubricant. With the capacity to drop the highbrows down and lift the lowbrows up, cocktails - particularly of the seasonally appropriate variety - during these trying times ease even the most knee-jerk, Grinch-like tendencies in all of us.

Enough previous bar conversation has led me to appreciate that some individuals dislike gin because it is supposed to taste like pine trees, particularly if the gin is mixed with tonic. Nothing hits the spot like Tanqueray with a few limes - a liquid Christmas tree. Even better, a French 75 at El Gaucho (2119 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) with Bulfinch gin, muddled lemon, simple syrup, sparkling wine with a lemon twist ($14) if for no other reason than the ease with which the cocktail moves conversation along. Momentarily, we are all friends at the bar; ‘tis the season, one must conclude.

>>> El Gaucho Tacoma's French 75

Across downtown and up, Maxwell's Speakeasy (454 St. Helens, Tacoma) keeps the conversation warm with a couple holiday cocktail options and Christmas music in the bar. And a glass of bartender Ryan's spiced rum and eggnog ($6) can be a downright delightful nightcap after an evening of downtown ice-skating festivities. Although Ryan prefers Wild Turkey Spiced in his holiday drink, the Captain Morgan Original Spiced manages to keep life wonderful. If that's not enough to shake the chills, chase it with Ryan's Hot Buttered Rum ($6), a heavenly mixture of dark rum and butter. 

See Also

More drinks in the South Sound Holiday Command Center

>>> A blurry photo of El Gaucho Tacoma's holiday splendor