The Driftwood Room, a Portland landmark serving thirsty revelers since the cocktail lounge heyday of the 1950s, is launching an exciting new absinthe program this Saturday, April 27th! Their absinthe program features a selection of traditional and modern absinthes highly curated in partnership with Ted Breaux, Master Distiller and Absinthe Historian. Guests at The Driftwood Room can now experience this unique spirit in the form of classic and seasonal absinthe cocktails, in an absinthe flight, or with a mesmerizing tableside French fountain service.
A highlight of their new program is the unique tableside experience of an elegant French fountain dripping ice water into the glass of absinthe in the classic “Louche” process – i.e. adding ice water two-drips-per-second to aerate and bring out the unique botanical flavors of the spirit. This dripping continues until it’s approximately 4 parts water to 1 part absinthe – guests are encouraged to taste their absinthe throughout the dripping process until it reaches their preferred ratio. This experience can be enjoyed with a single order of absinthe in a “balancier” dripper or with the grand multi-spout fountain for groups.
Located inside the beautiful Hotel deLuxe, The Driftwood Room serves legendary cocktails in a setting reminiscent of a Hollywood movie. Absinthe was the spirit of choice for artists, writers and bohemians in the late 19th- and early 20th-century including Hemingway (his favorite cocktail was a “Death in the Afternoon”, now on Driftwood Room’s menu), Joyce, Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Toulouse Lautrec, Modigliani, Picasso, Van Gogh, Wilde, Proust, Poe, Byron and others. This new absinthe program is a fitting addition to The Driftwood Room’s romantic and historically inspired space, especially as the Driftwood Room approaches its milestone 65th anniversary this fall!
Details: Come drift away with expert mixologist and absinthe brand master, Milo Rodriguez, and the Driftwood Room team as they take you on a journey through the history of absinthe and launch of The Driftwood Room’s new Absinthe program and menu. Milo will be mixing a special Champagne Absinthe Julep – rosé champagne, fresh mint, lucid absinthe – on special for $8 that night. The Driftwood Room’s new absinthe program also features classic and seasonal absinthe cocktails, flights of four unique absinthes (two French, one Oregonian, one Californian) served in a driftwood taster tray for $25, as well as the mesmerizing and memorable table side absinthe fountain service.