Whiskey Wednesday’s at the Next Door Lounge
Posted on Mar 03, 2012 under Uncategorized | No Comment
Inside Next Door Lounge
The Next Door Lounge would be an appropriate setting for the gangsters from the Prohibition era when speak-easies were the unlawful bars that sprang up across America.
It’s not really clear whether the owner’s want you to know it’s there. Don’t look for a sign, there isn’t one but there is a big key on the door and a doorman at the valet stand asking you for the secret password.
Outside Next Door Lounge
I, along with my friend Dalbert, visited the new 1920’s inspired bar and lounge to participate in one of their new “Whiskey Wednesday’s” tastings. Each Wednesday until April 11, a different collection of whiskey and scotch can be sampled. During the samplings, a particular spirit genre is showcased and explained. Flights of four pours are offered from some of the world’s most prominent distilleries including Bulleit Rye, Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal and Buchanans.
We entered through a velvet curtain to find a bunch of living room vignette seating areas with oversized leather couches, high back chairs and antique cocktail tables. A black and white film with subtitles projected along the dining room wall and diners sampled cocktails and small bites on two large communal dining tables.
Movie screen at Next Door Lounge
We were seated at one of the long tables for our tasting. We attended the North American Whiskey sampling, including Bulleit Bourbon, Bulleit Rye George Dickel and Crown Royal Cask. Each week varies with other tastings focusing on Blended Scotches, Whiskey’s of the World and Single Malt Scotches.
Whiskey
Our tasting and pouring guide Natalie informed us that although many believe that you shouldn’t mix whiskey with water, adding H20 actually enhances the flavor of whiskey. So we tried all flights first straight up and then with water.
She also informed us to keep the whiskey on our tongue for the number of seconds that each whiskey took to produce (10 year whiskey, don’t swallow for 10 seconds) to maximize the flavor of the spirit.
Our first sample was the Bulleit Bourbon, our fave of the night, a sweet 28% rye whiskey (rest is corn) with hints of vanilla.
Next came the Bulleit Rye, our least fave of the four, 95% rye very strong, spicy and peppery.
Third was the George Dickel smooth Tennessee Whiskey with a piney woody taste.
Last was Crown Royal Cask, a Canadian whiskey blend aged in Cognac barrels. This was the least strong and was our second fave of the night.
tasting guide Natalie, Dalbert and me
After the tasting, our group was able to enjoy a special cocktail created from each taster’s favorite scotch or whiskey. We also enjoyed South of the Border pizza – with grilled chicken, corn, green pepper, red onion, mozzarella, avocado and chipotle aioli and steak and arugula pizza with steak, arugula, herbs, sour cream and horseradish.
south of the border pizza
Steak and arugula pizza
We learned a lot about whiskey and scotch and got to sample a nice flight. I highly recommend visiting the Next Door Lounge for a step into the past, and a damn good cocktail, the next time you are in the Hollywood area. Whiskey Wednesday’s are $30, every Wednesday until April 11, call 323/465-5505 for reservations, located at 1154 North Highland in Hollywood.