A Little History On Whiskey
THE WHISKEY AND BOURBON EXPERIENCE AT A & O KITCHEN + BAR GOES TO A NEW LEVEL
BY AMANDA DUDLEY
The beautiful amber tones of a well-aged whiskey warm the heart and palate for many of us , especially as the nights
get colder and we are snuggling up to our fire pits and / or fireplaces with our sweaters fresh from the back of the closet . At A & O Kitchen + Bar we have found a way to elevate your whiskey & bourbon experience to the next level !
But first a few fun facts , is it spelled “ whiskey ” or “ whisky ” as we have all seen it both ways . History tells us that it was the Irish , and a good part of the rest of the world , that used the “ e .” Their Scottish counterparts , along with Canada , India , Japan and many others , generally leave out the controversial letter . However much to the bane of proofreaders , either way is correct . But for the whiskey / whisky drinkers it is about taste , spell it however you like !
To enhance our cocktail offerings , we now have a bonafide “ Smoked Whiskey Cocktail Concierge Cart ” complete with an attendant and several choices of “ smokes .” So what is a smoked whiskey , a garnish ? A seasoning ? Where did this trend start ? There are conflicting reports , but it is generally attributed to a New York barkeep , when in 2007 “… barkeep Eben Freeman , then working at Manhattan ’ s Tailor , infused smoked cherry and alder wood into a house-made Coca- Cola syrup to create an updated Jack and Coke . The idea was to quickly inject flavor into a familiar , often two-dimensional drink , and it didn ’ t take long for smoked cocktails to find favor with a bro-y crowd through their inherent showiness : a rubber smoking gun tube pumping white billows around a rocks glass covered by a cloche ” ( Punch Magazine | Aaron Goldfarb , October 21 , 2019 )
Stop by A & O Kitchen + Bar Thursday through Sunday nights , meet your Smoked Whiskey Concierge Cart attendant , Bella , and prepare yourself for a lovely smoked whiskey experience sure to warm you up on a chilly Newport Beach night . Cheers !
62 BAY WINDOW