The Hillside Cocktail

1.5oz  Junipero Gin
.75oz  Amaro Nonino
.75oz  Dolin Dry Vermouth
2-3 dashes Elixir Vegetal de la Grande Chartreuse

Stir all ingredients with hand cracked ice.  Strain into chilled coupe and garnish with a lemon peel.

See how it’s done from the man himself!

Chris Bostick, General Manager, The Varnish

Mad Men bombshell Christina Hendricks told Men’s Health magazine that 213′s speakeasy The Varnish is her favorite bar.

“Sexy, sophisticated, quiet enough for intimate conversation,” she explained in the latest edition of Men’s Health.

She also mentioned that her favorite drink is Johnny Walker Black, thanks to her husband Geoffrey Arend.

“I always thought it was sexy when he ordered scotch and I’d take little sips of his drink.”

Tell us in a Facebook comment where you think this photo of Christina was taken and you could win a comp drink at that bar!

Jamie Elman plays it like it should be played. With style. That’s why Jamie Elman is your master keysman tonight at The Varnish. The music, the drinks, the vibe is all done with style. Elman plays the standards and it mixes perfectly with the cocktails you can only find at The Varnish. Treat yourself tonight to something special that can only be found at the “speakeasy” era bar in Downtown L.A.

Jamie Elman starts at 9:30P.
Seating is limited due to capacity so early arrival is encouraged.
No Cover.

http://213nightlife.com/thevarnish
Dave Freeman – Music Director for 213

Worship at a temple of spirits
By Sunset Magazine

Walk through Cole’s sandwich shop to a door at the back, marked only with a picture of a cocktail glass. That’s your entry to The Varnish (213/622-9999), the stylish standard-bearer for L.A.’s cocktail scene. Soft jazz drifts out of the sound system. The lights are low but not crepuscular, so you can still actually see. Bartenders wear vests and rolled-ups shirt-sleeves, a uniform that, somehow, instantly communicates competence. Fresh ingredients are on display—citrus, berries, herbs, and rows of flasks with carefully prepared syrups. The cocktail menu presents just a half-dozen excellent and serious cocktails, and when there’s ice, it’s hand cracked. Or opt for the bartender’s choice—actually more of a bartender-customer collaboration, with your pick of spirits and style—and you’ll learn about parts of the cocktail universe you hadn’t known existed.