Like millennia of craftsmen before them, bartenders aspiring to a higher standard have the opportunity to join a confraternity of their fellows in the form of the United States Bartenders’ Guild.
In the interest of advancing members’ collective skill sets as well as making merry, the Philadelphia chapter will host The Lost Weekend, a compact festival of events celebrating the cocktail from Feb. 5 through Feb. 8. “I wanted our gatherings to be more educational,” says chapter president Phoebe Esmon, who works at Noble and Kennett, “rather than us just getting drunk.” Below, our picks for mindful imbibing.
Saturday
Kennett (848 S. Second St.) is the 11 a.m. rally point for a bus jaunt sure to get brains a-bubbling. First up is Philadelphia Distilling — maker of Bluecoat Gin, Penn 1861 Vodka and Vieux Carre Absinthe — for a talk with master distiller Robert Cassell. Then it’s on to Yards Brewing for a special tour from Lab Quality Control expert Frank Winslow, who will share his expertise on working with yeast.
Your $20 bus ticket includes your first cocktail upon return to Kennett for Beer Cocktail Happy Hour. RSVP for the tour to: usbgpa@gmail.com.
Monday
Portuguese fare will be paired with Pernod and Beefeater gin tipples at Phoebe Esmon and Christian Gaal’s Cocktail Pairing Dinner at Koo Zee Doo (614 N. Second St., $120 per couple, RSVP to 215-923-8080).
Tuesday
Soak up the benefits of patronizing overachieving barkeeps with a closing-night bash at Noble (2025 Sansom St.), featuring guest ‘tenders, discounted concoctions and free treats from 10 p.m. to midnight.
