Karen Grill, formerly of Bestia and The Churchill, is now the new Beverage Program Director of Sassafras Saloon in Hollywood and she's kicking things off with a new and improved cocktail menu. Sassafrass is a Southern-themed Saloon loaded with character; a ring of barrel-aged cocktails rotate above the bar and eclectic details along with antique embellishments are a reminder that you're not in Hollywood anymore. Karen's new specialty cocktail menu helps set the scene too with a focus on barrels-aged drinks, homemade shrub and jam elements and a heavy dose of New Orleans classics.
On a nightly basis, enjoy your libation at the bar while listening to the jazz band du jour or escape to an adjacent room for some seclusion with your date. Select from "House Cocktails" or "Bottled, Barreled and Jarred" options. Build your own drink, "Build a Buck" for $12 by choosing your spirit of choice and they'll add some fresh citrus and a classic or seasonal house-made ginger beer. At Sassafras, they even make their own bottled Sarsparilla…and it's fantastic. Here are some of the cocktails that stood out to me on the launch night of their new cocktail roster.
Bright, tangy and alive. The combination of the Aloe Liquor and house-made strawberry cucumber shrub was a winner for me. (Pimms, Chareau Aloe Liquor, Strawberry Cucumber Shrub, Lemon, Ginger)
A True Detective reference (as mentioned by my boyfriend), this Bourbon-based drink got my full attention with the clever addition of Pecan Bitters. (Bourbon, Chicory, Toasted Pecan Bitters, Angostura)
Storyville Shandy: For the palate that prefers something a little of the sweeter side, this Fall-style Shandy drink could be the one for you. (St. George Gin, Pear Cider, Cinnamon, Lemon Juice)
Unfortunately I wasn't able to try her Garden District #13 cocktail, but Karen was nice enough to send me home with some of her homemade tomato jam and the recipe to make it…how Southern of her! She was inspired to include the tomato jam in one of her drinks after coping with a terrible hangover. The cure? A delicious egg sandwich made with the tomato jam and later, a little hair of the dog with a tequila/jam combo. Genius.
The Garden District
Add all ingredients to a shaker tin and shake with a pinch of crushed ice.
Pour ingredients into a tall glass or mason jar and top with crushed ice.
Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme and a striped paper straw.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 467-2800
