Glasgow Bars: The Blind Pig
April 25, 2010
The Blind Pig is a speakeasy-themed bar in Glasgow that I visited on a recent Saturday night while in town for a Bowmore/Auchentoshan press trip.
The venue is split into a restaurant and bar area. The bar was absolutely packed but I managed to squeeze my way up close to watch the action. The shakers were all metal (Alessi, I think) and they use those brushed aluminum jiggers to measure. The bartender had the old-time (white shirt and suspenders) look of American bars, but without the ironic mustache.
The cocktail menu that doesn't appear to be online consists of mostly floral drinks, so I was having trouble finding something I wanted to order. Naturally, my first choice they were out of- the Holland House made with Bols Genever, maraschino, lemon, and vermouth. (I was amazed not only at how many bars in Glasgow carry Bols Genever, but also how many of them have it in drinks on the menu.)
I opted for the Moonshine Martini instead, made with gin, dry vermouth, maraschino, and absinthe. It was pretty good, except for the garnish of bright red maraschino cherries sitting in the bottom of the glass.
This bar is open for brunch on Sundays and at happy hour has a special of martinis for two people at a discount, served in tea cups and coming with a tea pot for refills.
This was just one of the ways this bar has a strong Hendrick's Gin influence on it- you could see it named in the recipes, the floral drink style, and a few product placements around the bar.
(I like the glass lighting that doesn't look as nice in the picture as in real life- glassware hung over the bar with small lights shining on it to spray the light through the crystal designs.)
Wow - so many new bars. I'm having fun on google maps trying to work out what used to be in these locations…
Posted by: Ciaran | April 25, 2010 at 02:49 PM
delighted you like the HH - when I put it on the menu at the House of Bols about 3 years back, I thought no-one except hardcore drinks nerds would order it - lo and behold, it is ordered as often as any other drink, and apparently enjoyed as much too. Yay for low expectations!
Posted by: Philip Duff | April 25, 2010 at 03:06 PM
Nice looking place, kudos on your menus - they're quite sharp looking. If you've got absinthe at your disposal, try these recipes:
1 ounce gin
1 ounce sweet vermouth
1 ounce Campari
2 to 3 drops absinthe
Stir, serve on the rocks in a lowball.
2 ounces tequila
4 ounces orange juice
1 ounce pomegranate simple syrup (aka grenadine)
2 to 3 drops absinthe
Round orange slice
Fill a glass with ice, pour in tequila and orange juice. Add pomegranate simple and then garnish with a couple drops of absinthe and an orange round.
Both of these are guaranteed to put a smile on your face and erase your mind ;)
Cheers!
Chris Rich
Posted by: absinthe | May 19, 2010 at 04:57 PM
Thanks Chris for the recipe. I've located a place that has absinthe kits and I'm thinking of trying to make some myself. Would you happen to know if that works half decently?
Posted by: Vicbowling | June 10, 2010 at 04:18 PM