Booze News

Booze News: New Menus at Hemingway’s, Michael’s, and Cana

Two new cocktail menus at two of our favorite local cocktail hubs and one night of female-powered mixology at Michael’s have us in the mood to do some more drinking. Or maybe it’s all Matt Biancaniello’s fault. In any case, Cana Rum Bar and Hemingway’s have launched new spring menus with original cocktails. If you know the menu at Cana, you already know that just even a perfunctory glance is a little like tucking into one of those romantic adventure novels with Fabio on the cover, dressed in this case like a pirate and armed with a sharp sense of humor. Allan Katz’s new drinks, some of which improve on old ones and legends like The Zombie do not disappoint, with recipes like a Don Q. anejo-made New West and a Guavacita made with Pisco, yellow Chartreuse, fresh sours, and guava. Then there’s the punch bowls. Want to see the menu?

Over at Hemingway’s, like some of Papa’s prose, the menu is short and tight, but engaging, with four original drinks that include the Mezcal Vida Smoke & Spice with bell peppers, jalapeno, lemon juice, Chartreuse, and agave and a Peruvian Sangria with Pisco, Chardonnay, St. Germain, red grapes, and lemon juice. We have Hemingway’s new menu down below for your enjoyment, as well, and have edited out the constant use of “and.” Sorry, Pa.

Over at Michael’s, the Santa Monica restaurant rolls out another night of its regular “farm-to-glass” Mixology at Michael’s series this coming Tuesday evening from 6:00-10:00 P.M. The restaurant’s featured bartenders will be Jaymee Mandeville of Drago Centro and Red Medicine mixer Cassie Sealing, who will make four different cocktails using Dimmi Liquore di Milano and hum Botanical Spirit. As a bonus, you’ll get a free hum and Dimmi-infused rum punch loaded with a ton of fruits just for showing up. We have Michael’s menu of drinks below to give you a preview of Tuesday’s night’s selection.

Have fun out there and be safe! Enjoy a look at the new cocktail offerings at Cana, Hemingway’s, and Michael’s, respectively, below.

CANA Menu

DAGGERS

Bad Passenger |12
If you’re lucky, there’s always someone to drive you home…
Especially after a few of these diabolically tasty Pimm’s Cup remixes.
Beefeater, Amaro Lucano, fresh citrus, strawberries, bitter lemon soda

Hard Eight |12
There’s no school like old school. Following that logic, this Dark ‘n’ Stormy variation from the modern mixologist is always a safe bet.
Rhum Barbancourt Réserve Spéciale, fresh ginger, lime, Peychaud’s bitters

Far West |12
First there was the JKO. Then came Camelot. Not unlike The Hold Steady, we’re suckers for self-reference… so long as it results in a refreshing cocktail.
Don Q Añejo, Amaro Montenegro, lime, Oro Blanco-thyme syrup,
and white pepper

Last Minute Fix|12
Even though the odds favor your first guess, sometimes it’s that
buzzer-beating idea that claims victory.
Tequila, house hibiscus-vanilla cordial, lime, sloe gin, Castillian bitters

PISTOLS

Arawack Cocktail |12
Originally fashioned for Trotter’s Bar in Trinidad by the gaz himself, this tropicalized Algonquin suits our mission perfectly, so we stole it just for you.
Buffalo Trace, dry vermouth, tamarind curaçao, pineapple, lemon, Angostura

Guavacita|13
There’s no denying how sexy a Pisco Sour can be when you fortify it
with guava and Chartreuse.
Campo de Encanto Pisco, yellow chartreuse, fresh sours, guava, bitters
*contains egg whites

Tennessee Isle |12
This is what a Sazerac would taste like if the wicked witch of the west overtook Kansas and sent Tennessee to the Caribbean via flying monkey.
Prichard’s Fine Rum, overripe mango-infused absinthe, coconut Peychaud’s

Expat Sour |12
If you find yourself drinking between a Frenchman and a Scot someplace Jimmy Buffet’s lost his salt shaker, don’t accept any bets and don’t skimp on the bitters.
Calvados, Islay Scotch, lemon, turbinado syrup, Tiki & Boston bitters

CANNONS

Brazilian Necktie |12
We wouldn’t dare take away the spicy Gordon’s Cup you’ve become addicted to. It’s just been freshened up for the season with cachaça.
Serrano & Anaheim infused Leblon, cucumber, lime, smoked salt ‘n’ pepper

Happiness [is a Warm Gun] |13
At the behest of a prolific imbiber Allan made this Old Fashioned riff based
on a drink from Red Feather Lounge. It features Luxardo’s fernet, which
beats up Fernet Branca and takes its lunch money.
Plantation Jamaica 2000, fernet, canela syrup, flamed grapefruit

Cat Juggler |13
“For one dollar I’ll guess your weight, your height, or your sex.”
How could a character like that not get their own cocktail?
Appleton Reserve, lime, our own jerk-spiced Ardbeg-based bitters, honey

Twenty Eight Days Later |16
As if the original-recipe Don the Beachcomber Zombie wasn’t evil enough.
Gosling’s 115.5, Don Q Añejo, reposado mezcal, Tuaca, Smith + Cross, pineapple, fresh citrus, passionfruit, pomegranate, bitters, absinthe, Don’s Mix… We forget something?

Punch Bowls
HERE we’ve taken some of our house favorites and given them
the “more is more” treatment. Each punch is lovingly prepared
just like any one of our cocktails; except the preparation involves
large measuring cups and small power tools.

Jitterbug Perfume
four six eight
50 77 100
Try as we might, we’re yet to develop a cocktail that results in everlasting life. That said we’re sure Dr. Robbins would approve of this attempt featuring jasmine all the way from the other side of Olympic Ave. and a beet-based amaro.
Jasmine-infused Bulleit 95 Rye, Meyer’s Legend 10 year, Luxardo Abano, grapefruit, lime, strawberry

Nui Nui
|48 |74 |96
Exhumed from the lost tiki taverns of Beverly Hills, this well-spiced bowl of Polynesian pleasure was originally called the Pupule. Donn Beach later decided that name was far too easy to pronounce when he exported it to Hawaii.
Aged island rum, a mélange of fresh citrus, Don’s #2 Spices, canela syrup

Crimean Punch
|52 |80 |114
Originally intended to honor an Italian war hero, Jerry Thomas himself prepared this punch to serve upwards of 30. Thankfully, no heroics are required to enjoy the aggression pairing Jamaican rum and fine Cognac.
Ferrand Cognac, Jamaican Rum, lemon, orgeat, maraschino, champagne

HEMINGWAY’S Spring Cocktails

Spring Rain
Nigori sake, vodka, pineapple juice, and lime juice

Smoke & Spice
Mezcal vida, Chartreuse, bell pepper, jalapeno, lemon juice, and agave

Peruvian Sangria
Pisco, chardonnay, St. Germain, lemon juice, red grapes

The Hunting Party
Scotch, hum, and Luxardo maraschino

Michael’s “All Women Guest Mixology Event”
April 26th
6:00-10:00 P.M.

Featured cocktails include ($12 each):

A Rose By Any Other Name - hum, White Rum, Velvet Falernum, Homemade Rose Water, Fresh Lime, Angostura Bitters, Fresh Rose Petals

Walking on Sunshine - Dimmi, Gin, Homemade Chamomile Syrup, Fresh Meyer Lemon

Bella Flore - Dimmi, Pisco, Elderflower, Fresh Orange, Lime, Topped with Soda

Hum-Dimmi of a Mojito - hum, Dimmi, Ginger Beer, Fresh Strawberry, Basil, Lemon

Complimentary Punch A La Michael’s - hum, Dimmi, Rare Tea Cellars Fields of France Rooibos, Melissa’s Seedless Lemons, Ojai Valley Pixie Tangerines, Organic Agave Nectar, Fresh, Young Thai Coconut Water, Adam’s Homemade Hedonistic Citrus Bitters, Thai Basil

Booze News: New Menus at Hemingway’s, Michael’s, and Cana