Drink Endorsements

(courtesy of girly drinks photos)

In continuation of my “How to have a totally awesome four years here” series, I’ve decided to make some bar endorsements. I’m not talking about the best place to chill with your favorite light domestic beer (for that I wholeheartedly recommend Our House West because it has great couches, a secret bar in the back, games to play, and it’s never crowded). I’m mean a place where you can get a well made cocktail and hang out.

East – Eastern Standard, Kenmore Square

(courtesy of esquire.com)

Right across from the CITGO sign in Kenmore Square sits this gem. A little on the pricey side, with cocktails running you about $10, you get everything you pay for. The drinks are fantastically mixed, the atmosphere classy, and the bartenders happy to see you. If you don’t know what you want, tell them what you like and they’ll make something for you. Eastern Standard also offers a great menu of classic cocktails dating to Prohibition and before. My favorite is the Jack Rose, but try a Frisco or a Sazerac and you won’t go wrong. Because Eastern Standard is expensive, it may not be the place to spend your night, but it’s perfect for starting it — or spending a Sunday evening preparing for the coming week. Drink to order now: Jack Rose (A cocktail from the 20’s, it’s made with Apple Jack which is the original American spirit. Legend has it Lairds still makes it with the original recipe, crafted by George Washington. It’s sour with a bite.)

West – Deep Ellum, Union Square

(courtesy of veganblarg.com)

Deep Ellum in Allston Proper, is the best drink destination if you’re out west. It’s also a little pricey when it comes to cocktails, $7-10, but they’re top notch drinks. You can also get a unique beer, too. With 22 drafts and 100 bottled beers, you’re bound to find something you’ve never had. They also import a cask beer from god knows where every month. They tap it ’til it’s done and then put something else new and strange in. Whether you like cocktails or beer, you won’t be disappointed.

The added bonus of Deep Ellum is the food. Decently priced and delicious, you can get the bar classics like an Angus burger for $8, and each morsel is worth the price. Definitely a place to get dinner, or get the evening started. Drink to order now: Deep Ellum Old Fashioned (It’s a house recipe and it’ll change your life. Even if you generally stay away from cocktails, this is one to try. It’s got an interesting citrus and spice taste that comes from the homemade bitters they make in-house. Plus it’s made with rye whiskey, always a win-win.)

In closing, I’d also like to endorse another practice: becoming a regular. Once you’re of drinking age, pick a bar by your house and go there on the reg. For my roommates and I, our destination is Harry’s. It’s nothing special, the food’s good enough, the brews are what you’d expect (cheapo lites to hoppy microbrews) and the music is never too loud, but it’s where my friends and I spend our weeknights. There’s something nice about having a local place where you always go, not too far from home, but just far enough that you don’t have to feel like a bum sitting on your couch sipping from countless bottles of Magic Hat. So, find a place like Harry’s. We’re not saving a stool for you.

So, while you’re here, and of age, enjoy the spots Boston has to offer, and find a few of your own.