Travels With Robin: San Diego Spirits Festival 2012

Mayan Liquer

For many people the year 2012 is all about the ending of the Mayan Calendar and end of the world in the Mayan people’s eyes. I say forget the end of the world fears and consider a Mayan Sacrifice. Just add a little tequila, some Xtabentun, a Mayan liquer of honey anisette and rum and a maraschino cherry. Yes, you can just shoot ‘em! Or make them into a Mayan Margarita. They go down smoothly!

Twisted Shotz

Crater Lake Vodka

I experienced the San Diego Spirits Festival on August 25 on Broadway pier. came alive with food trucks, music and spirits vendors at the second annual 2-day.

Jack N Box

Food trucks:

Ms. Patty Melt & OB Seafood

Gourmet food trucks are taking the world by storm. Restaurants, instead of waiting for people to come to them, are taking their food to the streets. Combining the convenience of walking up to a food truck ordering and eating right there, you get almost the same gourmet artistry of the chef in the actual restaurant. Chef Deborah Scott has made her name well known in the San Diego Food scene, with the Cohn Restaurant Group, so when I saw her truck, Ms. Patty Melt, I knew that was where I was having lunch. Oh sure I had a couple other fabulous choices: Jack in the Box or Ocean Beach Seafood Truck, dubbed the Pearl. I’m not much of a seafooder, but the owners are from Seattle and bringing Pacific Northwest Seafood to San Diego. Definitely worth a try for all you seafood people.

Spirits:

Tequila Alquimia

Pink Pigeon

Conjure Cognac

The pier was full of spirits vendors; some highlights for me

were Pisco Porton from Chile, Bolivian Coca Leaf Liquer, Pink Pigeon Rum from the Mauritius Islands as well as Conjure Cognac, a cognac brand of liquer (owned by the Rap Singer Ludacris). I love a nice sipping tequila, so imagine my joy at all the varieties I got to taste. My favorite was Tequila Alquimia who had a side-by-side tasting of four tequilas, each aged differently. These 100% estate grown blue Agave, certified organic tequilas were a show stopper for me. My favorite was the Reposada, aged for 6 months in white oak barrels, light gold in color its nose was mild, yet had a warm finish.

Bolivian Herbal Liquer

Joia mixers

Not to be outdone, the Quint Sangria ladies made a red Sangria and white Sangria very cold and filled with a variety of fruits.

Quint Red and White Sangria

Cigars:

The Macanudo cigar lounge outside had a cast of groupies hanging around and relaxing in the plush sofas. I left my cigar days behind me with college, but I’m told that these cigars are from the Dominican Republic, light in flavor and short in finish.

Cooking demonstrations

Strawberry &
Chocolate demonstration

Empirehouse urban palate’s chef made red miso BBQ wings that I enjoyed. The restaurant, in central San Diego, demonstrated their passion for quality food. I love their mission statement: “To be a destination where our customer are our friends, to be a location where the food is always delicious, and go be where you want to return day after day.”

Bartender Battle

Oscar

The competition

Oscar creating

Oscar Takahashi won the contest this year. It was nerve wracking to watch the competition because Oscar had to go find his glasses and returned with about 2 minutes used up from the 10 minute competition. But he worked swiftly and adeptly and created the winning cocktail.

Being a wine lover at heart, it was fun to attend this event; change it up a bit and taste some cocktails, and enjoy new flavors. I love to meet people in a different avenue than where I live and see their passions. Try their libations and experience their talent and years of hard work in their professions.