Town Bar and Lounge Wins the Music and Mixology Competition

 

Oakland’s Town Bar & Lounge was the winner of the 2024 Oakland Style cocktail competition held on October 9 at Oakland’s historic Rotunda Building. At the event, Town Bar & Lounge mixologist Kyle J. McDaniel described to the judges how the drink came about:

“The Town Sun Drop was inspired by Oakland’s last drop of sun during the season in October we know in the Bay Area as our second summer. I wanted to create something that paired well with the intense heat that everyone in Oakland was feeling at the time, and an iced tea was a choice I hoped everyone would appreciate.

“The cocktail is an elevated iced tea with mezcal and tea three ways: an Assam black tea with Siete Misterios mezcal, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto liqueur, and an Earl Grey–infused simple syrup. It’s topped with a mezcal- and Earl Grey–infused foam and garnished with a glassed pear that’s also infused with Siete Misterios and butterfly pea flower tea.

“I chose to bring in the Earl Grey with its bergamot oil to compliment the bergamot citrus, which is the base in Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto. The word ‘Rosolio’ stems from ‘ros solis,’ which can be translated as morning dew. Pairing all of these ingredients felt right and lent itself to the cocktail’s name.”

Many thanks to Town Bar & Lounge for sharing this recipe.

 

For the cocktail base

• 4 ounces Assam black tea
• 1.5 ounces Siete Misterios mezcal
• 0.5 ounces Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto
• 0.5 ounces Earl Grey–infused simple syrup

For the cocktail foam

• ½ cup egg whites
• 2 teaspoons Siete Misterios mezcal
• 8 tablespoons Earl Grey–infused simple syrup
• Garnish
• Glassed pear infused with Siete Misterios

Blend all ingredients finely before pouring into a 0.5 I iSi Gourmet Whip. Screw on the charger, shake again, and add two N20 chargers into the mix before using. Keep refrigerated when not in use. You’ll want this cold.

To make the glassed pear garnish: Boil a pear with sugar, whole vanilla bean, Siete Misterios, and butterfly pea flower tea for 20 minutes. Let cool and slice thin. Dehydrate the pear slices at 160°F for 5 hours. Glass-coat* the slices.

*Editor’s note: Glass coating is done with a sugar and water mixture cooked to a hard-crack stage.

 

The Town Bar & Lounge at 2001 Broadway Ste 100C, Oakland, is a QPOC-owned Art Deco bar and lounge inspired by the iconic I. Magnin & Co. building located in the heart of Uptown Oakland. “Our colorful handcrafted cocktails were created to reflect the vibrance of our community and city we love,” writes Town Bar & Lounge founder Joshua Huynh. “Town Bar & Lounge is devoted to creating a supportive and inclusive space for everyone. Our design, combined with gold accents and cushy velvet seating, invites you to unwind with our signature cocktails and experience a touch of sophistication, elegance, and most importantly, belonging.”