DC “DCocktail” Series: The Gibson

Speakeasies, which are typically veiled and often exclusive bars, are a historical nod to the prohibition era, where the unspeakable tragedy of alcohol being illegal was real. Touted as D.C.’s largest speakeasy, The Gibson has rolled out their fun, new spring cocktail menu.

The Gibson offers pre-prohibition era drinks; think classic cocktails like a Sazerac or a Manhattan. Along with its dimly-lit cozy atmosphere, the bar also features a covert patio area where patrons can enjoy the new cocktail menu.

Here at Will Drink For Travel, we do the dirty work so you don’t have to! We tried all 9 cocktails created for the season, and in true pre-prohibition cocktails fashion, they’re not for the faint-of-heart. Here’s the rundown:

Favorites: 

Lust #1: As a self proclaimed 'brown liquor lover,' there’s no surprise that I would like this drink. I believe it’s the first time I’ve tasted orgeat (syrup made from almonds, sugar & rose water) and allspice dram together. Two thumbs up!

Gurl’ That’s One Fierce Beet: This cocktail actually has a beet in it! I’ve never been to a bar that pairs veggies so well with alcohol but The Gibson nails it. Honorable mention goes to The Resolve which includes Kale syrup.

Stand outs:

B2 H M2: The drink was good but I was mainly excited about its name, which I ended up guessing correctly. Hint: it’s a Rihanna song…

A Letter from the ABM to the GOP: This cocktail definitely requires slow sipping and a side of water. The Gibson’s housemade hell-fire bitters are appropriately named. In case you were wondering, ABM stands for Angry Black Man.  How appropriate.

If anything, the staff at The Gibson, specifically bartender extraordinaire Frank Jones, are always down to tell you the funny stories of how each cocktail got its name, and will introduce you to ingredients you’ve probably never heard of. For more information on all things The Gibson please visit thegibsondc.com.  Happy sipping!

- Nyasha Chikowore 

Photo Credit: Ronan Jenkins

Tea Time at Taste By Rootz in Lusaka, Zambia

Over the weekend, I had an opportunity to do a different kind of drinking and traveling...tea time in Lusaka! Ever since I experienced high tea in Dubai, I've been a huge fan of tea time. It's a nice way to enjoy an afternoon with friends, hold your pinkies in the air while drinking tea, eating sandwiches with the crusts cut off, and feel like proper ladies.  

Upon arrival, I was very impressed with the ambiance of Taste By Rootz. They have a fabric and wallpaper library, an adjacent shop with various household wares and jewelry, an outside patio area, and even a small pool for an afternoon swim.  The grounds were green with trees and flowers, giving it a nice garden flair.  It was a nice escape from the bustling Lusaka streets. 

Once we sat down, our waitress passed around and explained some of the teas available to drink. We smelled each tea and were able to choose our favorite to enjoy for the table, in addition to others available on the menu. 

We enjoyed the Moroccan Mint, Winter Almond, Rooibos Vanilla, Pomegranate Citrus, Love Me Tender and a few others.  All were delicious and true to their names.  

Our waitress then brought out our individual platters for lunch.  On the menu was egg salad, chicken salad, cucumber and salmon sandwiches.  The tiers above had our desserts for the day, including a lemon tart, mixed fruit tart, peanut butter and chocolate scone, lemon cupcake, chocolate cake, and two scones with homemade apple and tomatillo jams as accompaniments. 

What I loved about tea time at Rootz was that we all received individual servings, which is different than other teas I've attended.  We weren't forced to share or play Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide who got the last chicken sandwich.  And because the food was bite sized, we had a chance to taste everything and even traded amongst ourselves for our personal favorites.

I highly recommend tea time at Taste By Rootz.  At K175 (about $18), you can't beat a quality afternoon spent with friends, enjoying delicious food and sipping scrumptious teas.