I have a confession: I hate tequila. Ever since a spring break trip to Puerto Vallarta went bad during my freshman year of college, I can barely stand the smell of the wretched stuff. But I love all other things south of the border, and I can’t resist the lure of Asado’s bar, Sixth Avenue’s hippest cantina. While the Argentine-inspired restaurant’s tiny bar stocks quality versions of my nemesis, it also serves some seriously tasty cocktails that are tequila-free, specifically the Cachaça Side Car. 

Basically the Brazilian version of rhum agricole, cachaça is distilled from sugarcane juice. Add triple sec, muddled oranges, sweet and sour, and an orange peel hanging off of a cinnamon sugar rim. Oh, it might sound like it’s for softies, but it’s macho enough even for a man like me.
Asado is always packed, so thank your lucky stars if you manage to snag a bar table, which is the perfect spot to spend an evening riding this car.

[Asado, 2810 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.7770]