Andy has never been a big drinker, but every once in a while he enjoys a good cocktail. A Bombay gin and Fevertree tonic with a lemon twist or a glass of shiraz are his usual go-to’s, but last year he tried a Hemingway daquiri at Hawthorne, and was immediately enamored of it. Since that time he’s been on the hunt for another establishment that approximated the glory of that original Hawthorne experience, but most have failed (including yours truly, who followed the online recipe to the drop but still couldn’t quite replicate the magic of that first experience).
This year, I incorporated a stop at the Hawthorne before dinner (which was conveniently right next door) so he could get his Hemingway, and while it was no longer a listed feature on their cocktail menu, they were happy to oblige with this old-fashioned cocktail classic. I opted for the ‘Swan Song’ ~ with gin, rose vermouth, honey and bitters. (We will come back this summer to try the ‘Myra Breckinridge Swizzle’ ~ it’s got absinthe, which will go beautifully with the next show.)
Next door, the Island Creek Oyster Bar was where I’d made dinner reservations. I’ve been trying to get us reservations for the past several years, but always waited until the last minute to book a weekend night and it never worked out. Happily, the wait was worth it for the oysters and calamari alone.
Sated by the dinner and drinks, we climbed into an Uber and headed home. The next day was the traditional washing of the rings and we needed our rest…
