Toast! by The Source Weekly

If you’ve been doing “Dry January,” then this edition of our cocktail guide, Toast, is coming just in time!

We’ll get you inspired to try some new things — breakfast cocktails, anyone?

We’ll also and introduce you to local mixologists who share their thoughts on what makes a cocktail great. For those who like to entertain at home, read our story on some new and classic cocktail (and mocktail) books. We toast you, readers — now go out and enjoy the end of that dry spell!

3rd Street Beverage NAME 740 NE 3rd St. #5, Bend 541-797-0028 3rdstreetbeverage.com Follow us on Facebook & Instagram Quenching central Oregon’s array of thirsts since 2018 and voted The Source’s Best Liquor Store for 4 years in a row! We provide some of the largest selections of spirits, wine, craft beer and ciders, produced locally and from around the world. Our non-alcoholic mixer and beverage options are unique and plentiful for those that want the fun, with or without “the sauce”. We have all the ingredients and supplies to make your cocktails one of a kind, stunning and oh so tasty! We have an abundance of gift items and hosting essentials from elegant, to funky and even a little bit sassy that are perfect for any occasion. And, all the barware you need to complete your home cocktail corner! Thank you to our customers and community for choosing 3rd Street Beverage.

Bar Rio Cocktails & Tapas NAME 915 NW Wall Street, Bend barriobend.com @barriobend Great sips, small plates, long nights—a mosaic of flavors await you at Bar Rio. Downtown Bend’s newest cocktail and tapas bar features a long and colorful cocktail list inspired by the indelible beaches of Mexico and South America to the Mediterranean. Sip cava, pisco, gin, tequila, smoky mezcal, and more. With daily happy hour, seasonal specials, live music, and an “OG menu” homage to locals, Bar Rio captures Bend spirits like no other. Open daily 3pm - 10pm and until 11pm Thursday through Saturday. Daily happy hour from 3pm - 5pm and 9pm to close. No minors permitted.

Boss Rambler NAME 1009 NW Galveston Ave., Bend bossrambler.com @bossramblerbeerclub Welcome to Boss Rambler, Oregon’s Best New Brewery (2020 Oregon Beer Awards) and Top 3 Best New Brewery in the US (USA Today 2021), your ultimate Good Times getaway. Located smack dab in the middle of Bend’s Westside, we’re open daily 7am-Close featuring our locally roasted Coffee in the mornings, plus an eclectic tap list of Cold Beers, handcrafted Hard Seltz Cocktails, and our world famous Boozy Slushies! Hungry? We’ve got our friends Bend Breakfast Burrito Wednesday-Sunday and our resident food cart Blue Eyes Burgers + Fries ThursdaySunday (don’t miss out on our Thursday $12 Smashie Burger + Beer special). Catch ya at The Club!

You Can’t Drink Cocktails All Day if You Don’t Start at Breakfast Can we stop calling it brunch if we haven’t had breakfast already? By Brian Yaeger Photos by Brian Yaeger

get that brunch is a portmanteau of breakfast and lunch, but breakfast is a compound word, meaning any meal in which you break your (typically overnight) fast. So, feel free to stop pretending you need to wait til 10 am to order a bloody Mary or mimosa and do what the crowds at any of downtown’s greasy spoons-slash-dive bars do and order a shot of tequila or whiskey, coffee back optional, even if you stumble in for some hair of the dog before the “Democracy Now” broadcasts on KPOV. As such, it’s only proper to start with some of those spots for this truncated list of Bend’s best breakfast cocktails.

Dub-Mosa at J-Dub

Bloody Maria

Bailey’s Comet at D&D Bar and Grill The D doesn’t do frou frou; but it does do strong. This is essentially an Irish coffee with the addition of Bailey’s Irish Cream. Just like its early-bird specials that put any three various b-fast faves on one plate, this cocktail puts three perfect partners—coffee, Irish whiskey and Bailey’s—in your glass. Oh wait, if you do wanna do frou frou, they’ll happily top it with whipped cream.

Bloody Maria at Cafe Sintra

Pickle Bloody at The Hideaway Tavern

To go gangbusters on that breakfast crawl, finish with your pinkies up at this Portuguese-American cafe (no European cafes serve American-sized portions!). The omelets, bennies and anything served with linguiça (Portuguese sausage) are delish, but any possible hangover cares more about booze than food, so order a couple of the house specialty pastry, pastel de nata, and an Iberian twist on a Bloody Mary. A normie Bloody Maria subs tequila for vodka, but Sintra’s house bloody mix mixed with house-made pineapple and serrano tequila makes for a restorative elixir that’s spicy, savory, and ever so slightly sweet.

Whether you’re closer to the Eastside Hideaway or Westside Vic(torian Café), there’s no proper discussion of Bend’s best bloodies without one of these two sister spots vying to be our spicy, tomato-y paragon of morning medicaments. There are five bloody offerings, including the Proud Mary, that’s 24 ounces of pureed salad with vodka vinaigrette topped with a smorgasbord’s worth of garnishment. Yet it’s the Pickle Bloody— yes there’s a pickle sliver among the garnish, but that’s not the star here— made with pickle-infused vodka it's for all of us who love pickle-backs but are too exhausted to shoot that separately. Advertisement

Canteen at Campfire Hotel NAME 721 NE 3rd St., Bend 541-668-6904 canteenbend.com @canteen_bend Canteen is a campy cocktail lounge located inside the Campfire Hotel operated by the owners of The Dogwood Cocktail Cabin. The Campfire compound includes a year-round heated saltwater swimming pool and hot tub with weekend poolside cocktail service and DJ parties in the summer and a strum-along fire pit perfect for a boozy coffee cocktail and s’mores. Aside from their award-winning cocktails, Canteen hosts Live DJs, Karaoke nights, and more. Happy Camper Hour weekdays 4 pm-6 pm.

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Directly across the street from the D, hit J-Dub for a second breakfast and second breakfast cocktail and call it a crawl. This riff on a mimosa, dubbed Dub-Mosa, takes the OJ and bubbly combo and spiffs it up with some peach schnapps and blood orange syrup. It also prudently swaps the dainty flute for a proper pint glass. Wash it down with the Doughnut Breakfast Sando—which is of course a breakfast sando served on a glazed doughnut.

Bailey's Comet

Pickle Bloody

Dub-Mosa

Cascade NAME Lakes Brewing Co. 21175 SE Reed Market Rd, Bend 855 SW 7th St, Redmond cascadelakes.com INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST SEASONAL BREW: RED THUMP At 5.9% ABV and 30 IBU, this masterpiece entices with a blend of malts, revealing delightful toasted biscuit undertones and a subtle toffee finish. Amarillo and Altus hops infuse to create intense flavors and aromatics. Join us for a pint at the Pub on Reed Market in Bend or Pub at 7th Street in Redmond. Drink beer & do good at Central Oregon’s first and only not-forprofit brewery, Cascade Lakes Brewing Company. Join us for $5 Pints during Happy Hour. All day Monday and 3-6 PM Tues-Fri at 7th Street, or 2-5 PM on Reed Market.

Cellar 65 NAME 65 NW Newport Ave, Bend 541-323-0765 cellar65.com Welcome to Cellar 65 -- an intimate, underground restaurant and bar in Bend’s downtown. Specializing in traditional Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine, beautiful craft cocktails and specialty wines, Cellar 65 is the perfect place when you are looking for a special evening out on the town. A great ambiance with a speakeasy vibe, the restaurant is hidden beneath Blissful Spoon at 65 NW Newport Ave in Bend, Oregon -- look for the door at the top of the ramp. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 5:00-9:00pm only. Reservations are recommended, walk-ins welcome.

Crux Fermentation Project NAME 50 SW Division St, Bend Cruxfermentation.com @cruxfermentationproject The Crux Tasting Room is more than a place for beer – it’s a place for connection, fresh air and good times. Come grab one of our specialty beers, on-tap cocktails, wine, whiskey or latest non-alcoholic beers from NØMØ. Grab a bite from the Crux kitchen or our food cart partners, El Sancho and The Tin Pig. Relax on our grass lawn with mountain views or warm up by our toasty fire pit while enjoying a beer. Crux also has live music so be sure to follow us on Instagram to catch our upcoming music & events.

Making Pour Decisions

Photos courtesy Elixir Wine Group and Elixir Wine Group Facebook

Wine importer Kirk Ermisch of Elixir Wine Group calls from Europe to talk the origins of his wineries and keeping up in the evolving world of wine By Armando Borrego

believe it was Ernest Hemingway who said that wine is one of the most civilized things in the world. From the vineyard grounds where grape varieties grow to the cascading effects of barrel aging, millions of wineries keep a watchful eye on the entire lee-filled process to ensure that each Cabernet, Pinot and Riesling delivers a complex and distinct flavor. Elixir Wine Group, here in Bend, imports award-winning wines from South America, France, Italy, Portugal and more of western Europe while hosting an impressive wine bar/retail shop that is open six days a week. The Source Weekly spoke with owner and CEO of Elixir Wine Group, Kirk Ermisch, to get perspective on what it takes to keep the grapes growing and the glasses full. *This interview has been edited for clarity*

SW: Are there any challenges to being a winery in the Central Oregon/Deschutes area?

Kirk Ermisch: We’re the oldest wine company in Bend, we’ve been here since 2000. I worked for a big Australian company and then worked for Kendall Jackson, a California wine company, and they sent me to Argentina where I built the first American winery in the country, that was owned by Kendall Jackson, so I started my own winery in Argentina before moving to Bend. I started importing wine from South America, Argentina first and then started importing from Europe. We've been doing that for 22 years now and 10 years ago we started an Oregon winery and now we’re Deschutes County’s only winery, not just a tasting room. It wasn’t anything I fell into; it was a long story of 30 years.

KE: This won’t sound very nice but when a tasting room calls itself a winery and it's actually just a tasting room, that can be misleading to people. Other than that, no, there's no challenge being a winery in Oregon. Of course, you have to go through the correct processes and get all the approvals and that's not easy, but we make wine from all over Central Oregon and a few from Northern Washington, we bring the grapes in and the wine turns out really good — no challenges.

SW: Having been in the wine industry for this long (30 years), how have you noticed the wine market evolve?

KE: Has it evolved? Sure, it’s evolved... in recent years, there have been more and more wine/wineries and we’ve kind of been at this production peak and that's a good thing. But, it’s no longer a time of extreme growth with new labels, so for the small labels that are still around, all I can say is, hopefully,w they’ll be around for a while.

SW: How does your company stay tuned to consumer tastes and evolutions? KE: We’re also a hotel importer and we own the winery in Argentina, we built this entire business from Bend and because of that we’re constantly traveling countries and traveling the U.S. We have salespeople that are selling our wine on the East and the West Coast, in almost all 50 states. We’ve got two warehouses;

Dear Irene NAME 926 NW Brooks St, Bend 541-253-7523 dearirenebend.com @dearirenebend Our mission is to provide a dining experience that delights and surprises from the first visit to the final bite. There is an energy here that will draw you in and keep you coming back to explore endlessly creative & everchanging innovative offerings. Here at Dear Irene you will find our hospitality timelessly elegant & upscale with a uniquely personalized approach in an intimate & vibrant setting. Whether you are celebrating a milestone or just looking for a fun night out, we encourage our guests to experiment and indulge in our curated bar and modern dining setting and, in doing so, to discover new things about themselves and their tastes.

we work very hard and we are in a lot of small high-quality wine shops and restaurants with chef-driven wine programs and we’re constantly in communication with those people to stay up to date on trends and tastes.

SW: Last question, do you have a personal favorite on your label? KE: No. We only buy wines that we really truly love and we only make wines that we think can compete with the best that we can buy. If we hold everything to that level, then we don’t have a favorite because every wine we buy or make needs to be absolutely perfect.

THE SOURCE WEEKLY

SW: Starting off with Elixir Wine, what inspired you to jump into the wine industry?

During his three decades in the industry, Kirk Ermisch has been importing wines from afar, and has established Deschutes County's only winery.

Join us for drinks, food and sunset happy hour!

Everything you need for an evening of merrymaking... award winning beer, handcrafted cocktails, toasty fires and plenty to entertain you

PICK UP SOME BEERS & CIDERS TO GO!

Where passion for the craft intersects with uncompromising quality. Brewer owned and operated. 50 SW Division St, Bend 541-385-3333 @cruxfermentationproject cruxfermentation.com

700 NW Bond St • Bend • (541) 382-5174 • mcmenamins.com

WE LOVE PROVIDING YOU WITH

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A WHOLE LOT M ORE I N

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740 NE 3RD ST SUITE 5, BEND • (541) 797-0028 3RDSTREETBEVERAGE.COM

Can You Match the Drink?

HOW TO PLAY:

Draw a line to match the photo of the drink with the correct description.

Test your cocktail knowlege with this drink matching game Compiled by Richard Sitts

A B

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Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill:

Canteen at the Campfire Motel:

ELMER THE MULE

JUAN CONNERY Dewar’s Scotch, Pimm’s No. 1, chipotle piloncillo syrup, burnt orange peel -- cube

Cascade Potato Vodka, Cock & Bull ginger beer, fresh lime juice, rotating kombucha, served on ice with a lime

Velvet:

BAJA MARRO’N Ancho Reyes chili liqueur, hot chocolate, whipped cream, cinnamon, orange

River Pig Saloon:

RED-HEADED STRANGER Vodka, grapefruit, ginger, pear cider

Spork:

MAUI Z Pepper-infused vodka, rum, fresh lime, cilantro, mint, pineapple juice

Photos courtesy of each business

ANSWER KEY: A: Spork/Maui Z B: Velvet/Baja Marro'n C: River Pig Saloon/Red-Headed Stranger D: Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill/Elmer the Mule E: Canteen at the Campfire Hotel/Juan Connery Advertisement

Elixir Wine NAME 11 NW Lava Rd, Bend 541-388-5330 tastingroom@elixirwinegroup.com Discover the hidden gem for wine enthusiasts at Elixir Wine’s cozy and laid-back Tasting Room. This spot is a well-kept secret where the magic of artisanal Oregon wines comes to life under the Ermisch Cellars label. For a decade, Elixir has been Bend’s sole operating winery. Kirk Ermisch, owner and winemaker, not only crafts exceptional Oregon wines but also curates a selection of fine wines from around the world—all at unbeatable value. The Tasting Room is a haven for those seeking a delightful escape, offering a light tapas menu and charcuterie to complement your wine journey.

Open Monday - Thursday 9 - 5pm Friday and Saturday until 9pm Bend’s friendliest Open Mic Night Every Monday 6 - 9pm

Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards NAME 70450 NW Lower Valley Dr, Terrebonne 541-526-5075 faithhopeandcharityevents.com Elevate your wine experience at our winery, nestled amidst breathtaking mountain views. Sip on our award-winning wines, a testament to the artistry of our winemakers and the excellence of cold-hardy grapes thriving in this unique terroir. Indulge in the symphony of flavors, complemented by the warmth of wood-fired pizzas, skillfully crafted for a perfect pairing. Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of our surroundings as you savor each sip and bite. Join us in celebrating the fusion of nature’s beauty, culinary mastery, and the essence of exceptional winemaking. Cheers to unforgettable moments at our winery!

Feast Food Co. NAME 546 NW 7th St., Redmond 541-923-0170 feastfoodco.com @feastxfoodco Feast Food Co. focuses on sourcing our ingredients from local farms and ranches here in Central Oregon. We take pride in bringing in the freshest products to give our guests a delicious meal they can feel good about, by supporting our small business, you also help support the small farms in the area! We offer an eclectic variety of different food options, as well as, cocktail and mocktail options! We invite you to come check us out here in Midtown Redmond! Open Thursday-Monday for lunch and dinner, and brunch on Sundays! Happy Hour everyday from 2-5 and 2-close on Mondays!

McMenamins Old St. Francis School NAME 700 NW Bond St, Bend 541-382-5174 mcmenamins.com Located just blocks from the Deschutes River in downtown Bend, McMenamins Old St. Francis School is the perfect retreat from the ordinary. This historic schoolhouse-turned-playground has everything you need for an evening of merrymaking: award winning beer, handcrafted cocktails, crackling fires and plenty to entertain you. Cozy bars abound with plenty of delicious drinks to suit your mood, like dark and indulgent coffee cocktails, delightfully fruity drinks made with fresh squeezed juices and plenty of tried and true ales to choose from. Come explore, imbibe and enjoy!

So Fresh, Dark and Inviting

Kayla Mollo

San Simón has a Ph.D. in vibes

By Jared Rasic

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here’s a reason why San Simón has won And figure them out they did. The drink selection the Best Bar in Bend award from readers of (specifically at San Simón) is deceptively simple. the Source Weekly for the last two years in They don’t overdo the ingredients and instead just a row and why its sister bar, The Flamingo Room, focus on crafting something delicious that doesn’t took the runner-up prize in 2023. They’re both spe- reek of the desperation some bars have of bougie cifically cocktail bars that, while both having deep decadence. The Trottiers’ menu quietly innovates benches of flavors with their drinks, specifically cu- without bringing attention to itself. rate the entire experience… not just the alcohol. “If you use good ingredients, you really don't Owned and operated by Brian and Ashley need a PhD in mixology to make a good cocktail,” Trottier, the vibe at both bars is timeless and im- says Trottier. “Our thing is, everything we use, we peccable, from the staff that always exudes a de- juice fresh every day. We juice grapefruit, lemon, lightful balance of warmth and playfulness, to the lime, orange, ginger…some other stuff. Then we Bohemian, candlelit ambience that thankfully use good spirits. So like a month before we forgoes the glow of a dozen televisions opened, I didn't have a cocktail list ready, for the way the easy light plays off and I wasn't the kind of person who your companion’s eyes. had an arsenal waiting, ready to go. But those drinks, though. Around Then in that last month, we're like, San Simón 75% of San Simón’s drink sales OK, we need two gin drinks and 845 Tin Pan Alley are their signature cocktails off their we're like, ‘what goes well with gin?’ 541-323-0235 menu. In a town/country where evAnd we're like, ‘we need two mezeryone has a drink of choice, while cal drinks, with what goes well with it’s not unheard of, it’s certainly a rarity. mezcal.’ So, the cocktail part of it is “I've been a bartender for over 20 really important for us, but it was never years, but I only had like a year and a half the lead-off.” of mixology experience,” says Brian Trottier. “The I’d be hard pressed to find a signature drink I other bars that I worked at were like corner taps like more in town than San Simón’s “When Icarus or dive bars, so New Orleans was my only real Strikes” with Plantation Pineapple Rum, Wray & mixology experience. So, when we decided to Nephew Overproof Rum, Luxardo maraschino, open San Simón, we were 100% about the at- salers, pineapple and fresh lime. But with their mosphere. The most important thing is finding the Jalapeno-infused tequila, their homemade tonic, right location, setting it up in the right way, like their insanely good mocktails… it’s always been making it beautiful, hiring and training the best pretty hard to decide what to drink. I guess I’ll staff, having it be dark, having no TVs, and then have to go back and try something new. What are we'll figure out the drinks.” you doing later?

Owner Brian Trottier has found his happy place in San Simón.

Good Times

Cold Beers

IN THE AM

Boss Coffee and Bend Breakfast Burrito

IN THE PM

Boss Beer and Blue Eye Burgers + Fries

@bossramblerbeerclub

A Spirited Library

Photos by Alyson Brown

*This article has been shortened to reserve space, please visit Bendsource.com to read the full article.

Mixology books to add to your home bar this year By Alyson Brown

“Fireside Warmers” by Emily Vikre

“Friday Night Cocktails” by AJ Dean

There are so many delicious recipes in “Fireside Warmers.” But this book isn’t just about the cocktails – it also features sweets and sharable meals to enjoy around the fire. From Campfire Monkey Bread and Pie Iron Chicken Pot Pie to Marshmallow Mules and Jungle Bird Punch, there’s a little something for everyone. And did someone say Sangria? Tinto De Verano is the laid-back friend of Sangria – and this one’s made with Oregon Pinot Noir!

"Friday Night Cocktails" is the weekly cocktail planner you didn’t know you needed. There are 52 cocktails to welcome the weekend — one for each week of the year. The chapters are divided monthly with seasonally appropriate drinks. Classic cocktails and new riffs fill the book, made with easy to find ingredients. Favorite classics featured in the book include the Penicillin, Aviation and Paper Plane.

“Slow Drinks” by Danny Childs A fan of foraging? This cocktail book is for you. “Slow Drinks” teaches the reader how to transform botanical ingredients into beverages and cocktails. It’s broken down by season which makes for easy planning. The book is just as the title states, slow. So if you’re looking for quick ingredients you can purchase at the liquor store, move along. But for diehard fans of DIY, this book is for you. I’m excited to try the Alpine Amaro, Tomato Leaf Oil Washed Vodka and the Dandelion Mead.

“What We Drink in the Shadows” by Sara Weimers “What We Drink in the Shadows” is a cocktail dream for fans of the cult TV show, “What We Do In The Shadows!” Local Bend author and WWDITS fan, Sara Weimers, leads us through character snippets and easy-to-follow cocktail recipes for Marwa, Guillermo, Colin Robinson and more. The cocktails are a fan’s way of having a drink at Nadja’s, without all the mess.

“Sip Me Baby, One More Time” by Ashley Gibson “Sip Me Baby, One More Time” is filled with cocktails inspired by women in pop music. Think Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, The Spice Girls and many more. Each chapter syncs with a playlist for the emotion – from Heartbreak to Celebration, and each cocktail is thoughtfully crafted with inspiration from the songs. Favorites include a Gummy Worm Sour matched with Olivia Rodrigo’s Favorite Crime and the Dragonfruit Margarita to pair with BLACKPINK’S Pink Venom. My thirstiness is killing me... How about you?

“The Botanical Cocktail Deck” by Elouise Anders Can’t decide what to make tonight? Or finding yourself wanting to try a new drink but aren’t sure where to start? A cocktail deck serves as an entertaining way to determine the next cocktail you’ll imbibe. Featuring botanical spirits, as well as twists on classics, The Botanical Cocktail Deck is a great way to discover new possibilities in home mixology. Plus, the illustrations are gorgeous!

“Mocktails: A Collection of LowProof, No-Proof Cocktails” from Cider Mill Press If the beautiful silver cover doesn’t grab your attention, the 75+ craft mocktails certainly should. Each drink is packed with flavor and perfect for any occasion. Just because you’re abstaining from booze doesn’t mean you should sacrifice taste and experience.

“The Mocktail Club” by Derick Santiago My favorite thing about this book is how the chapters are broken down. Gin-inspired cocktails, rum-inspired cocktails, etc. It makes finding an alcohol-free alternative very easy! Looking to cut back on margaritas? There are six zero-proof recipes in the book to choose from!

“Good Drinks” by Julia Bainbridge This book was published in 2020 but deserves a shout-out since it’s quite possibly the most complex and layered alcohol-free book that I’ve laid eyes on. The recipes acknowledge that a spirit-free drink doesn’t always need to fit into the same boxes as a spirited one. There’s a certain commitment level to the drinks, calling for N/A Spirits to be purchased or creating DIY syrups and ingredients to stock your spiritless pantry. But definitely worth the effort. —Alyson Brown is a beverage photographer and drink stylist with an appreciation for a well-built cocktail. To see more of her work, visit alysonbrown.com

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ntroducing the craft of mixology in your home bar is exciting – and even better when paired with a good book. Thankfully there is an abundance of captivating mixology books, aka tomes of tipples, that have graced the shelves for us libation enthusiasts. Get ready to shake, stir, and sip your way through a spectrum of flavors as these literary gems provide a spirited adventure for anyone eager to amp up their cocktail game.

Noi Thai Cuisine NAME 550 NW Franklin Ave, Suite 148 Bend 541-647-6904 noithaicuisine.com At Noi Thai Cuisine, we pride ourselves on making high-quality food and giving our guests a real authentic Thai taste. We strive to bring our guests the best in Thai cuisine as our food is authentically prepared and beautifully presented. Here you will find your familiar favorites but even more dishes you may not be familiar with yet. Each dish on our menu is prepared to order using the freshest and highest quality ingredients. All our dishes are prepared by our Executive Chef and his Thai culinary team with care to ensure our guests enjoy the best dining experience, so you can trust that every little detail has been taken care of. Whether you have a special event or looking for a romantic evening out, we are dedicated to making your experience a memorable one. We invite you to come and experience the exquisite setting and authentic food at Noi Thai Cuisine.

Van Henion Brewing Company NAME 63067 Plateau Dr, Bend 541-323-3764 @vanhenionbrewing

Van Henion Brewing is located in Bend Oregon and specializes in making the types of beers that brewer’s love to drink: clean lagers and bright IPAs. Van Henion’s focus on German-style beer comes from a passion for clean traditional lagers. The owners and brewers at Van Henion are committed to making beers that they are proud to drink. You can enjoy their beers at the Van Henion tasting room. It’s a cozy little oasis from the bustle of Bend. Velvet wallpaper, cuckoo clocks and comfy leather chairs make one feel right at home while enjoying a pint or two.

Viaggio Wine Merchant NAME 210 SW Century Drive, Ste 160 541-299-5060 www.viaggiowine.com @viaggio_wine Discover Viaggio, a sophisticated European-inspired wine bar and upscale wine shop showcasing a curated selection of over 500 handpicked wines by Advanced Sommelier/Owner Benjamin Richardson. Immerse yourself in the inviting ambiance, where the knowledgeable and approachable staff ensures a welcoming experience devoid of pretension. Savor a glass of wine paired with European-style light fare in the elegantly appointed wine bar or find a bottle to enjoy or add to your collection. Join their monthly events, including Meet the Winemaker, Bubble Bar (celebrating Champagne), and First Friday Oysters. Viaggio stands as Bend’s premier destination, offering a dynamic menu of classics and new discoveries. Explore wine classes, a wine club, cellar consultations, and versatile event spaces.

Mixologist Profile: Zack Ottesen of Five Fusion This wunderkind mix-master splashes his spin on a new cocktail menu By Brian Yaeger

Photos by Brian Yaeger

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Scarlett Kiss

“Within (my) first month, I took everything off the (cocktail) menu,” says Ottesen. “And that made me one of the least popular people for a while. But then I won that cocktail award. That was a seven-month rollercoaster ride…So once people gave this a shot and they see, ‘Oh, he kinda knows what he’s doing,’ they’re into this sophisticated approach that’s without pretense.” Ottesen also credits executive chef and co-proprietor, Sascha Lyon, for having him “suit up” and recognizing that the Bend market is receptive to — and actually clamoring for —creative, intentional cocktails even before the competition for such elevated programs began to kick in. That said, Ottesen isn’t driven by re-inventing the wheel so much as finding innovative ways to spiff up some classics. His Clarified Paper Plane uses whole milk as part of the process — even if it’s not listed as an ingredient — because it leaves no milky trace and tastes more like a buttery Chardonnay than an oaky bourbon. Putting a finer point on that notion, his Browned Butter Old Fashioned made with brown butter washed bourbon for added nuttiness and richness is, in this Old Fashioned devotee’s opinion, the new paragon in town.

Five Fusion Modern Japanese Bar & Restaurant Zach Ottesen relishes the challenge of crafting delicious cocktails.

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Volcanic NAME Theatre Pub 70 SW Century Dr, Bend 541-788-5925 volcanictheatre.com @volcanictheatrepub Volcanic Theatre Pub’s renovations are complete! New year, new stage, new bar, new restrooms, new cocktails, more artists, all for the same great venue! We are committed to enhancing Central Oregon’s cultural environment by providing a unique artistic venue and making an essential contribution to the High Desert community. Our respect for artistic expression holds us to the highest standards possible, presenting plays, acting, films, comedy and live music. All of this in one cozy intimate black box warehouse furnished with comfortable sofas, recliners, four-tops, and bar tops, and equipped with state of the art projection and sound, while serving many of the best local and regional spirits, beers and wine. We provide some of the best live music, live theatre, and special events in Central, Oregon.

821 NW Wall St. #100, Bend 541-323-2328 5fusion.com Open daily 4-9pm

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ack Ottesen may have only been tending Five Fusion’s bar for just over a year, but he’s transitioned the Japanese-centric resto into one of Bend’s most destination-worthy bars, as evidenced by one of his earliest concoctions, The Botanist, being selected as Central Oregon’s best specialty cocktail in our Best of Central Oregon reader’s poll. And that’s even before Five Fusion launches its new izakaya menu coming soon. The cocktail menu rotates seasonally, which means Ottesen has sent scores of inventive cocktails across the bar. All the major categories of spirits, from Kentucky bourbon to Oaxacan mezcal, to Italian amaro, to, naturally, Japanese whiskey, get their shake as foundations to fresh fruits and herbs borrowed from the kitchen. Accents include a spate of housemade syrups (like the rosemary one the herbaceous Negroni), shrubs (like the strawberry one in the Scarlett Kiss, which is a Bauhaus riff on a paloma) and infusions (like the kiwi-infused Japanese vodka that grounds the Zen Garden, which ought to be a contender for 2024’s poll). Zen Garden is one of those cocktails that pairs perfectly with many of Five Fusion’s signature rolls or virtually any of its salad plates but can draw the spotlight all on its own for the hotspot’s burgeoning number of barflies. After the Haku brand vodka gets its kiwi smack, it sees a healthy splash of shochu, citrusy yuzu extract and an additional kiwi syrup, all shaken together with the Japanese herb, shiso, which deserves a larger supporting roll in any fusion-style cuisine. A fresh shiso leaf doubles as garnish — perfect for anyone unfamiliar with the herb that tastes like a cross between Thai basil and tongue-tingling spearmint.

Voted

BEST INDOOR MUSIC VENUE 10 Years Running!

Volcanic Theatre Pub’s renovations are complete! New year, new stage, new bar, new restrooms, new cocktails, more artists, all for the same great venue! The pub is now open 7 days a week 5 PM-11 PM. Every Sunday night is Open Mic at 7 PM* Every Monday night is Karaoke at 7 PM* Live concerts & comedy almost every night in the pub *when the main room doesn’t have a concert

Check our calendar for all the info!

www.volcanictheatre.com | 541-788-5925 | 70 SW Century Dr., Bend