Old Crow.

An odd dream of mine is to one day open my own bar/jazz-club/speakeasy; clearly I haven’t fully fleshed out the idea. I just love the idea of providing a place for people to congregate, enjoy quality beverages, sophisticated music, and exchange pleasantries. The specifics of it all are difficult to narrow in on, most likely because the timing isn’t right. One thing I am sure of is that I have this weird fascination with finding unique “bars” that feature fancy cocktails, top shelf liquor, and a cozy atmosphere. Perhaps subconsciously I am collecting data to bring clarity to my ideas when the time is right, who knows.

In any case, fortunate for me, the town I live in is full of boutique cocktail bars, wine cellars, etc. I think my wife and I like going out for a drink in town equally as much as going out to eat, and I think it has everything to do with the experience. I’m not talking about going out to the local pub to drink a beer and watch the game (although I enjoy this as well). I am talking about going to a place that may not even offer food, a place that focuses on ambiance as much as the curation of their cocktails. These are the places that make me grin while mildly shaking my head. These are the places I get excited about sharing with other people.

Sounds simple enough, right? Imagine it's a Friday evening after a long week of work, you and your spouse enjoy a quick dinner, let the dog out, and take the short journey over to the local boutique cocktail bar (calling it a bar, but imagine most of their seating is cozy, like couches and small tables). After a short while you're sipping an old fashioned, conversing with your spouse about a long week of work, hearing the subtle clinking of the rocks in your glass as you take each sip, feeling your previously tight muscles relax into your chair, all while Frank Sinatra sings to you in the background. I wish I could spend every Friday night this way!

But why is it so magical? It can’t just be the high proof whiskey in your cocktail. It’s the mark of a job well done, an entrance to a weekend, an ambiance that promotes tranquility and easy flowing conversation, and a suggestion to practice mindfulness by being fully present with your company. I have a few favorite places in town that embody all of these qualities, which I expect to write about in future posts, but today I want to take you on a quick trip to Switzerland, where my wife and I experienced near perfection in all of these areas: an experience that lent itself to deeper reflection about being mindful, and the unforgettable experiences that arrive from noticing subtleties and resting in the present.

If you ever travel to Switzerland, spend any time in the city of Zurich, and have any interest in what I have been discussing thus far, you absolutely must visit Old Crow. Not only is the ambiance vintage and classy, they also offer an exhaustive cocktail list featuring some of the most interesting concoctions I have ever seen. What is even cooler is that the shelves behind the bar showcase over 1,600 rare spirits, all available by the glass, from the personal collection of the owner/barkeeper. The establishment is well known around Europe for the owner's ambitious cocktail list, and because he himself attends the bar, making just about every drink for each guest that walks through his doors. Absolute savage.

When my wife and I visited, we each had a couple drinks, she opted for the dessert-like cocktails that were essentially cake in a glass, and I experimented with something entirely different. I must have asked our waitress about the contents in about 5 different drinks, to ultimately land on a particular drink that contained something called KFMG. When I asked what this was (because I couldn’t find anything on the internet discussing it), our waitress giggled and said, “Oooooh, that’s an old Swiss German medicine”, and then something about it having strong medicinal properties (she had a strong accent). I said, “what the hey”, let's do it.

Sure enough, the drink tastes smoky and strong, but interestingly enjoyable. The evening carried on as we enjoyed each other's company and people watched until we decided to leave. As we were getting ready to go, I suddenly became aware of my mental state after finishing the medicinal cocktail. This wasn’t a typical buzz from alcohol, but something more. Now, I have never tried any sort of hallucinogenic drug, but this old Swiss medicine had me slightly trippin’ - don’t worry our hotel was within walking distance and we made it back safe and sound.

Although this story is rather silly, the reason I mention it is because of the lasting memory I will always have from our experience at Old Crow: one of the most eclectic bars I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting.

The point is this, no matter what it looks like for you personally, let's actively pursue cherished things in life that bring happiness to those around us. Let's choose to be mindful during every occasion no matter how big or small. Let’s seek out opportunities to create memories with company we enjoy in the simple experiences like grabbing a drink at a local cellar, exchanging laughs outside around a fire, or simply being mindful of where we are in the present with the people we love most.

Hope you enjoyed the week end read,

Dionisio III