Paulius Musteikis
The Carlos Castaneda may provide shamanic revelation. Or not.
With football season in full swing, it’s time to explore cocktail bar options that include big screens. Madison’s, 119 King St., offers a lengthy list of drinks for anyone with one eye on the big game.
Much of the menu is light and fruit-forward, with raspberry, peach, strawberry and even huckleberry playing supporting roles. There’s a Stoli blueberry drink with a bit of gomme syrup for body. Once common in the 19th century (and again today, thanks to the craft cocktail craze), the syrup made from gum arabic (natural gum made from tree sap) is used to make spirits-heavy drinks silky.
Among the lighter drinks, the Hop o’ Nade employs house-made raspberry lemonade along with St. George citrus vodka and India Pale Ale. The beer adds just a touch of bitterness (although the drink remains quite sweet) for balance.
At the more complex end of the spectrum, the Carlos Castaneda features Chartreuse (an herbaceous green liqueur), Punt e Mes (an extra-bitter amaro-like vermouth), with mezcal (a smoky liquor made from the maguey plant, cousin to tequila). Named after the famous anthropologist and author, it may not lead to a deeper shamanic understanding of your inner self — but then again, it just might. Not bad for passing the time while watching a football game.
