The Tasting Panel magazine

June 2013

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ON THE SCENE Sizzling Oahu HAWAII'S MOST POPULOUS ISLAND HAS A SPIRITED COCKTAIL SCENE by Blaine Ashley / photos by Tracy Chan H awaii nei (beloved Hawaii), oh how I love thee! As a Hawaii native, now a transplanted New Yorker, each trip back to the islands displays a significant boom in cocktail culture, resulting in bars and restaurants that rival the best of Manhattan, Los Angeles and Miami. Oahu's Chinatown still reigns supreme, but the spirited scene is certainly spreading from kitschy Kaimuki to the opposite side of the island in notoriously more affordable and affably dubbed "new city" Kapolei. Craving a cocktail served up with a slice of paradise and an aloha twist? Check out this notable selection of top spots on Oahu to satisfy the acme of craft-cocktail cravings. Okole maluna! (Bottoms up!) MANIFEST Manifest's menu is refreshingly forward-thinking but especially heavy on the gin. Juniper drinkers can choose from an array of signature sips like the Hotel St. Sour, a pseudocreamy blend of gin, coconut milk, lime juice, spiced lemongrass, ginger beer and Angostura or The Fredos Whiskers Bartender Justin Park with three of Gin, made with Manifest cocktails: a Pisco Sour, Luxardo, Amaro, Maraschino, the Hakushu-based J. P. Collins pineapple and and the complex Bitter & Then Carpano Antica. Some: Campari, Flor de Caña Manifesting Rum, Bénédictine, Waialua cocktail dreams Espressoinfused Dolin Rouge, fresh orange juice and Yamazaki much? www.manifest12 Year Old. hawaii.com SALT The Eastside neighborhood of Kaimuki delivers the epitome of kitsch in Honolulu. SALT, however, is small-plate and craft cocktail heaven, from duck confit potstickers with smoked ponzu to the Deep Six, SALT's signature Bartender Julian Walstrom cocktail that combines pours SALT's signature a well-balanced mix of Deep Six cocktail. Campari, lemon, salt and mint. Another hit is the Smoking Goat blended with rye, Aperol, Luxardo, mole bitters and a Lagavulin 16 rinse. www.salthonolulu.com PINT & JIGGER Whatever tickles your taste-bud fancy, beverage industry vets Dave Newman and Kyle Reutner have got you covered here. Newman, formerly of Nobu A selection of cocktails at Pint Waikiki, and & Jigger includes a Russian Reutner formerly Standard Moscow Mule. of Town, know how to make a mean cocktail. Order the Sous Vide Boulevardier made with Old Overholt rye whisky, Carpano Antica and Campari toasted Jack Daniel's barrel chips. If that's too bold for your taste-buds, sample The Smoking Gun, the island-flavor friendly Margarita variation that won Hawaii's Best Margarita in 2011. www.pintandjigger.com 92  /  the tasting panel  /  june 2013 TP0613_080-119.indd 92 5/23/13 5:30 PM

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