Earls Kitchen + Bar is a large independent restaurant group in North America, with 63 restaurants – 58 of those in Canada and 5 in the United States  (Denver, Colorado; Bellevue, Washington; Miami, Florida; Boston, Massachusetts). Earls main office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Earls Restaurants Ltd. and the Fuller Group is a family owned operation. Featuring fresh, made from scratch, often local ingredients, food lovers are in for a unique culinary experience.  This fall, Tysons Corner will welcome Earls Kitchen + Bar which is sure to be central attraction in Virginia.

Cameron Bogue, Image Courtesy of Earls Kitchen Bar.

For this review, I had the pleasure of acquainting myself with Earls’ cocktail program run by Beverage Director Cameron Bogue. Cameron, a Portland, Oregon native, has a commitment to using only 100% fresh squeezed in-house juices and handmade syrups when conjuring up craft cocktails throughout Earls Kitchen + Bar locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Cameron’s main goal to blend Earls’ philosophy of using only fresh ingredients made with passion with popular trends in modern mixology has garnered much recognition among his peers within the hospitality and spirit industry. To that degree, after attending the cocktail tasting, I now understand why.

Bees Knees

A twist on a classic cocktail, this sparkling, summer drink will leave you thirsting for more! The Bees Knees cocktail is made with Aviation Gin, Cointreau, with 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters, a burst of house made honey syrup, and finished with fresh squeezed lemon juice. The pure and simple flavor of the honey syrup paired with the brightness of the lemon juice compliments the depth of the Gin and undertone of the Angostura bitters is an ideal summertime cocktail.

Once served to you over ice in a Honey Bear Jar garnished with Lemon Zest and a wooden honey dipper, the Bees Knees leaves an indelible impression. Crisp, clean, and refreshing, you’ll definitely be coming back for more of this summer solstice nectar.

Cabin Fever

What a drink! I may be impartial to this due to the fact that I’m from the Midwest and recall having cabin fever when blizzards forced us to stay inside for days at a time! Sure wish we had this to enjoy while inside. Either way, this spicy, smoky whiskey sour is in a league all on its own.

Drink ingredients include Crown Royal, Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Tawny Port, paired with Bittered Sling Moondog bitters, Earls homemade Ginger syrup, sweet Pineapple juice, and  fresh lemon juice, you’ll wish you were stranded in a cabin. Once packed into a stainless steel shaking tin, it’s shaken 12 times and strained over fresh ice in a classic blue Camping Mug with a small amount of Soda water. And now the best part – the garnishes, which include an organic, food safe pine cone and mint sprayed with Bowmore 12 Year using an atomizer, transporting you to a cabin in woods. By far, one of the most unique and creative drinks I’ve ever encountered.

Old Fashioned

A classic, whiskey cocktail, the Old Fashioned is always a timeless treasure. Featuring Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Bittered Sling Root beer Bitters, and Demerara syrup, this drink is gently stirred to perfection. The brand recognition of Maker’s Mark wheat Bourbon combined with the plum and root beer flavored bitters and caramel-like taste of the Demerara syrup blend to create a smooth yet spicy libation. Served in a classic old fashion glass, this drink is garnished to perfection with an orange peel and cherry. Once you sip on this, you’ll be ready to take on anything that comes your way as you’re ignited from the inside out by this delicate, but strong and ageless drink.

-Guest Blogger, Micaela (MAC)

Editor’s Notes:

“Fladgate” is not a typo. Also, we have the recipes for these three cocktails. Comment if you want us to share them.