August 16, 2017 Santa Fe Reporter

2017

DRINKS GUIDE

Good Food & Good Drinks at Good Prices...

Open Late!

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you!

2017 Best of Santa Fe AwardS: best bar 1st place best hotel bar 3RD place best margaritas 1st place

— Santa Fe’s Watering Hole — 101 w Alameda • AT inn of the governors • santa fe • 954-0320 • delcharro.com

Contents

WINE

BEER

DRIVE SAFE

LUCKY 7

4 19 20 22

PHOTOGRAPHER JOY GODFREY EDITOR AND PUBLISHER JULIE ANN GRIMM

COPY EDITOR CHARLOTTE JUSINSKI

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER AND AD DIRECTOR ANNA MAGGIORE

PRINT MANAGER AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER SUZANNE S KLAPMEIER

DRINKS GUIDE WRITERS MARY FRANCIS CHEESEMAN, ALEX DE VORE, JULIE ANN GRIMM, MATT GRUBS

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES JAYDE SWARTS MICHELLE RIBEIRO GAYE ROTH

ART DIRECTOR ANSON STEVENS-BOLLEN

CIRCULATION MANAGER ANDY BRAMBLE

THOUGH THE SANTA FE REPORTER IS FREE, PLEASE TAKE JUST ONE COPY. ANYONE REMOVING PAPERS IN BULK FROM OUR DISTRIBUTION POINTS WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW. SANTA FE REPORTER, ISSN #0744-477X, IS PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY, 52 WEEKS EACH YEAR. DIGITAL EDITIONS ARE FREE AT SFREPORTER.COM. CONTENTS © 2017 SANTA FE REPORTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. MATERIAL MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION.

DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

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THIRSTY IN THE CITY DIFFERENT

The Railyard’s favorite gathering place Derailed is the perfect spot for gathering with family, friends, or colleagues.

have you heard?

Derailed at the Sage Inn is rocking, the patio is warming up and we hear it may NOT be the best kept secret in the neighborhood anymore!

Stop by to try our new menu, featuring some classic New Mexican dishes, to go along with our great Beer, Wine and Margarita offerings.

Drink·Dine·Unwind

Open every evening • Happy hour 4–6 pm • Specials • Live Music

Best Lodging

In the Heart of Santa Fe

derailedsantafe.com 725 CERRILLOS RD • SANTA FE 505-982-5952

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DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

In the Heart of Santa Fe

Sometimes, when the weekend is growing near and the world is moving way too fast or much too slow, we pack up our day planners and our notebooks and head to the place we euphemistically call the “library.” What’s waiting there on those shelves, however, is not a long line of the spines of books—but fluted glasses. A few words spoken, and they’re filled about halfway with sparkling wine, light bouncing off the tiny bubbles and the white walls. When we’re feeling zany, we order a cocktail that’s garnished with an edible hibiscus.

We’re beginning to read the sentences of relaxation.

Gruet’s downtown tasting room is, of course, not really a library. That has not stopped us from getting membership cards. And it’s just one of the places we like to stage a little getaway. Tourism officials say Santa Fe boasts more than 40 bars and 400 restaurants, so whether you are on vacation or you’re a year-round local, finding a place that suits your fancy isn’t hard. But narrowing it down to a list of just seven surefire beverages is another story. Luckily, we were up to the task.

We chugged a few misfires and we paid dearly for some run-of-the-mill muddling at joints that should know better. The joys far outweigh the pains. What follows are lip-smacking tastes from the hands of mixologists and brewers and vintners who want to quench your thirst. Get the lowdown on beer scene on page 20 and look for the best wine deals on page 22.

As always, we encourage you to imbibe responsibly. Please don’t drink and drive.

We love you too much.

LUCKY INTRODUCING

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Chillcano It’s frozen, it’s fruity, it has a rum base. From your perch near the rooftop, you’ll see the rest of the world speed up while you slow down.

Get pink guava and a hint of cinnamon with, yes, more rum. $12

There’s perhaps no better rite of passage for patio season in Santa Fe than the first sip at the rooftop cantina.

A recent renovation means spray-paint art on the adobe walls and a VIP seating area with bottle service. Our staff argued about which cocktail to mention, so know this: You can still order a Brazilian—it’s just not on the menu. The Thai Kamikaze with coconut milk, vodka and kefir lime was a strong second, just a hair ahead of the delightfully bitter and foamy lychee and watermelon Pink Geisha.

Nothing on the $12 craft list disappoints.

Coyote Cantina 132 W Water St., 983-1615 coyotecafe.com

@CoyoteCafeNM @coyotecafeandcantina

DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

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LOCATED ON THE ROOFTOP LUNCH: 11:30AM-2:30PM, SUN-FRI DINNER: 5:30PM-10PM, EVERYDAY

4 : 0 0 P M - 1 0 : 0 0 P M , E V E R Y D AY HAPPY HOUR: 4:00PM-6:30PM, MON-FRI

505.982.0883 | ELOISASANTAFE.COM 228 E PALACE AVE, SANTA FE, NM| INSIDE THE DRURY PLAZA HOTEL

LUCKY

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Gruet Gilbert Grande Reserve A creamy sparkling wine with a crispy, grapey flavor and a clean finish, it’s the top of the line for this local maker. $13

The Gruet family has been growing grapes and refining their methode Champagne on New Mexico soil since 1983. A tasting room in the Hotel St. Francis is stiff competition for the adjacent Secreto Lounge. And not just bubbly, but a robust line of still wines means this hidden hangout could be your secret date weapon. Our pick is named for daddy Gilbert Gruet, whose son Laurent is keeping up the family tradition by producing grapes not just from the original estate, but from properties all over New Mexico.

Gruet Tasting Room Hotel St. Francis, 210 Don Gaspar Ave., 989-9463 gruetwinery.com

@GruetWinery @gruetwinery

DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

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LUCKY

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Rod’s Best Bitter A balanced beer that’s interesting without being overpowering; malty up front but with enough hops to create a clean finish. $5, 16 oz.

Back in the day, we used to try to name the one beer we’d drink if we could only drink one beer for the rest of our lives.

It was a needlessly cruel exercise, but it had a certain zen.

Rod’s is one of those beers (the “bitter” in the name refers to the style, not the taste). Plus, Second Street removes all the gluten. There’s so much great beer around town that you don’t have to limit your experience. But, if you did …

Second Street Brewery Original: 1814 Second St., 982-3030 Railyard: 1607 Paseo de Peralta, 988-3278 secondstreetbrewery.com

@2ndstbrewery @secondstreetbrewery

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DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

THE SPIRIT

OF NEW MEXICO MADE FROM THE BOUNTY OF NEW MEXICO

INCLUDING CHOLLA CACTUS BLOSSOM,

LOCAL JUNIPER, DESERT SAGE, OSHA ROOT AND HOPS, WHEELER’S EVOKES THE FLAVORS AND SMELLS

OF THE HIGH DESERT AFTER A RAINSTORM.

DISTILLED AND BOTTLED WITH LOVE IN SANTA FE.

GRAB A BOTTLE FROM KOKOMAN I SUSAN’S I WHOLE FOODS I LIQUOR BARN I ALBERTSONS GRAB A COCKTAIL AT GEORGIA I ANASAZI I SANTACAFE I EL NIDO I DEL CHARRO

TAKE A TOUR AT OUR DISTILLERY 7505 Mallard Way Thurs-Sat 1-6 PM

AND HAVE AN AMAZING COCKTAIL AT OUR COZY DOWNTOWN TASTING ROOM 308 Read Street Mon–Sat 3-10 PM | Sun 11 AM-5 PM SAN TAFESPIRI T S.COM

PL E ASE DRINK RESP ONSIBLY

SANTA FE’S

Historic Dining Venue

Tuesday thru Saturday 5 pm – 1 am | Full service and Menu til 1am sunday brunch 11 Am – 4 pm

Secret Garden Patio

the

alace

restaurant & saloon

Live Entertainment in a Historical Intimate Setting

142 W Palace Ave | 505-428-0690 | palacesantafe.com

LUCKY

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Diva Blood orange juice with vodka and a sugar-citrus rim, served ice-cold in a martini glass. $8

Who says happy hour has to be downtown? Join the gang for a lively scene with indoor and outdoor seating options and a full bar menu that’s half-price during happy hour. We also spotted a grapefruit concoction with a citrus twists that’s worth a sip.

With a movie theater and four other restaurants a stone’s throw away, this Southside spot is a destination.

Santa Fe Capitol Grill 3462 Zafarano Drive, 471-6800

@ sfcapitolgrill

DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

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DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

LUCKY

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Purple Bunny Sip a fermented carrot drink with lingering flavor of just a hint of what Bugs craves. Local and loco. $4.50, 10 oz.

What’s up, doc? While one guy at the bar recently told us the Purple Bunny beverage reminds him of a veggie burger, we taste an earthy, slightly tart cider that’s the very definition of home-grown. You’ll find a great selection of regional brews and other handcrafted local cider from too many fruits to name, limited by just the imagination of brewer Craig Moya. Think rhubarb, granny apple and apricot for starters. Get a $6 Chicago dog or one with chile, and don’t miss the patio.

New Mexico Hard Cider Taproom 505 Cerrillos Road, 231-0632 nmhardcider.com

@nmcider

DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

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LUCKY

7

La Choza Red A classic twist on a solid margarita with pomegranate liqueur and Cimarron Blanco tequila, garnished with a salt rim and lime wedge. $8.50

The best way to consume a Santa Fe original margarita is alongside a plate of chile, cheese and all the fixings. La Choza is the locals’ choice for tasty plates just far enough outside the tourist zone. Watch for an expanded outdoor seating area soon. The bar specializes in blue agave tequila. Be prepared to wait for a table on a Friday night, but rest assured you can grab a drink from the bar while you wait.

La Choza 905 Alarid St., 982-0909 lachozasf.com

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DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

@LaChozaSF @lachozasantafe

Located in Hotel St. Francis 210 Don Gaspar Ave., Santa Fe 505.983.5700 | HotelStFrancis.com

Located in Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe 125 Washington Ave., Santa Fe 505.988.4900 | HotelChimayo.com

The Living Room Located in Inn and Spa at Loretto 211 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe 505.988.5531 | HotelLoretto.com

Located in Eldorado Hotel & Spa 309 W. San Francisco St., Santa Fe 505.988.4455 | EldoradoHotel.com

RESTAURANT GUIDE 201 6-2017 2016 -20 17

RESTAURANT GUIDE

RESTAURANT GUIDE

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INSI DE THE BES T DINI NG IN THE CITY DIFF ERE NT / 201 6-2 017 SFR 2017 R E S TAU R

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Are you a

Foodie?

Watch for SFR’s new Restaurant Guide in the fall.

Santa Fe’s premier dining guide includes recommendations about the city’s fine cuisine, chefs, historic establishments, and new trends.

Reserve space for advertisements by Sept. 29, advertising@sfreporter.com

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LUCKY

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Fresh Ginger Ale Muddled ginger, fresh-squeezed lemon, simple syrup and soda water. $4

If you’ve made it through the first six drinks, it’s probably time for a little cleanse. Even if you order the Big Ass BLT bacon patty for dinner, stay frosty with a housemade soda. The fresh ginger ale is heavy on the lemon with a subtle sweetness and ginger zing. Other nonalcoholic options here include a creamsicle soda, which is just like what you’d expect, and other specials. And if you’re still ready for more beer, the doctor has a prescription for whichever beer you crave in a robust tap list that includes local and regional picks.

Dr. Field Goods 2860 Cerrillos Road, 471-0043 drfieldgoods.com

@DrFieldGoods @drfieldgoods

DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

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o t t o B

! p U ms © Daniel Quat Photography

Great food + Good times

2571 Cristos Rd, Santa Fe Across from the Auto Park near Kohls

505-424-8900 • theranchhousesantafe.com

Y’ALL COME BACK (SAFE) NOW Imbibing in alcoholic beverages in times of celebration, unwinding and reward is cultural token that’s easy to cash in Santa Fe. But getting home safely can present more of a challenge.

This year, the city’s lone commercial taxi provider packed it in, leaving a hole in the key component of public campaigns for drinkers to leave their cars parked in favor of getting a ride—but that can’t be a free pass for bad choices.

Making a plan is the most important part of an evening where alcohol is involved. Decide what to do before you start drinking. Ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft are both operating in the city. Plus, now there’s both Rail Runner train service and city buses as public transit option.

New Mexico laws penalize establishments that “over-serve” patrons, and individual bartenders and servers also face fines for assisting in extreme drunkenness that leads to crimes. So when the Draft Station or Rowley Farmhouse Ales tells you they’ve got a drink limit that they want you to respect, do that. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help getting home. Even the bouncers at Cowgirl will lend a hand to keep you and the rest of us safe.

Remember, there’s really no “legal limit” for drivers here; instead the law establishes a “presumed level of intoxication.” That means if cops can demonstrate that your blood-alcohol concentration was .08 or higher, you’re guilty. But it also means if you’re “impaired to the slightest degree,” you can face conviction—even if it took just one drink. And penalties for even first-time convictions of driving while intoxicated are serious business.

Just. Don’t. Please.

DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

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A BRIEF-YET-USEFUL GUIDE TO SANTA FE BREWERIES The good news is that Santa Fe plays host to more breweries than most other towns its size. The less good news is that you’re just one person and there are only so many drinking hours in the day. Still, our local beer creators are churning out the good stuff and are luckily different enough from one another that a palate which requires variety is not much of an issue. But who are they, where are they and what should you try if and when you visit?

Fear not, beer aficionados—we’re here to help.

BY ALEX DE VORE

SANTA FE BREWING CO. 35 Fire Place, 424-3333 11 am-10 pm Monday-Friday; 11 am-9 pm Saturday; 2-8 pm Sunday

Though you’re surely no stranger to SFBC, the expansive redesign of everything from can art to the actual physical space on the outskirts of town means it’s a great time to reacquaint yourself.

Must-try: Quaff that new 7K IPA, a concoction that takes advantage of our high elevation.

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ROWLEY FARMHOUSE ALES 1405 Maclovia St., 428-0719 11:30 am-10 pm daily

BLUE CORN CAFÉ & BREWERY 4056 Cerrillos Road, 438-1800 11 am-10 pm daily

One of the newer breweries in our fair city, proprietor John Rowley went from home-brewed sour enthusiast to proprietor of a popular taproom.

The menu from chef Jeffrey Kaplan includes a gourmet tuna sandwich and fried chicken magic.

You know ‘em, you love ‘em, but were you aware the head brewer Paul Mallory loves to collaborate? Spices and chocolates from local establishments have found their way into the vats, and you can pretty much count on at least one Blue Corn beer picking up an award every year.

Must-try: Saison du Sarlacc, a brew that isn’t officially based on the Star Wars pit monster, but, like, c’mon.

Must-try: The Roadrunner IPA is great for fans of bitter beer who think they’ve seen it all already.

DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

DUEL BREWING 1228 Parkway Drive, 474-5301 Noon-10 pm Monday-Thursday; Noon-midnight Friday and Saturday; 1-8 pm Sunday

Duel was one of the first businesses to truly embrace the Siler Road area way of life, and between limited-run sours and Belgian beers, they’ve thrived to the tune of an extra location in Albuquerque and offerings served during shows at Meow Wolf.

Must-try: The Cezanne Vérité hits a 10-plus ABV and is a damn fine way to while away the hours.

SECOND STREET BREWERY (Rufina) 2920 Rufina St. 954-1068 11 am-10 pm daily

Setting aside the long-standing and beloved original and Railyard locations that serve up the goods, Second Street’s newest taproom and brewery is now open and offers live music (less Americana, more rawk) in addition to location-specific menu and beer items.

Must-try: The Kolsch is a refreshing summertime experience, but founder and owner Rod Tweet leans toward the Boneshaker Bitter.

Your destination is easier than you think SANTA FE

TAOS HOP ON!

MADRID CHIMAYO CHAMA

For Route Information: RidetheBlueBus.com | Toll Free: 866-206-0754 Announcing year-round service of RTD 255 Mountain Trail

Take the RTD Mountain Trail to the Santa Fe National Forest and Ski Santa Fe!

Hike, Bike, Picnic -- or just enjoy the ride!

lafondasantafe.com DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

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THE REAL WINE LIST OF SANTA FE

BY MARY FRANCIS CHEESEMAN

People have different expectations about dining out, but as a certified sommelier, I like to focus on the wine list. My ideal wine list demonstrates a thorough knowledge of classic wine styles and regions, and is inclusive enough for me and also my grandma (who drinks pinot grigio with ice cubes in it and I love her for it) to find common drinking ground. Above all else, it should be priced fairly.

Everyone bemoans the spending habits of new generations of wine drinkers (millennials, Total Wine, delivery services) but I have always thought that a well-informed and savvy wine-drinking public is better than the alternative, even if it forces the widely adopted wine list paradigm to shift.

Santa Fe, for all its uniqueness and isolation, is following suit. This page points out some wine lists that have special deals to benefit the savvy wine-drinker.

La Boca

72 W Marcy St.; 125 Lincoln Ave., Ste. 117, 982-3433

This intriguing list focuses predominantly on Spanish wines,

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315 Restaurant and Wine Bar

315 Old Santa Fe Trail, 986-9190

Tuesday is the day to go to 315, when all bottles of wine are half-price all night; as well as an “oyster happy hour” from 5-7 pm, when all oysters are also halfpriced. This includes even the half-bottles on the list, which is obviously well-loved and carefully cultivated. For example, a bottle of Graci Etna Rosso is typically $52, but on Tuesdays is a mere $26. There are plenty of both old- and new-world classics, including Grand Cru Burgundy and classified Bordeaux. Also plenty of German riesling, whites from Alsace, Sicilian reds, and other “patio pounders” to go with those oysters.

La Casa Sena

125 E Palace Ave., 988-9232

The wine program at La Casa Sena is large and sprawling, due in no small part to its concept as a hybrid retail space and restaurant. But its wine club is a truly good deal because its members get retail prices for bottles of wines at the table both at the restaurant and its sister, Rio Chama (414 Old Santa Fe Trail, 955-0765). This makes a big difference; the same bottle that retails for a 30 percent markup could easily have a restaurant markup of 300 percent.

DRINKS GUIDE | 2017 | SFREPORTER.COM

Disclosure: Mary Francis Cheeseman is an employee of the La Casa Sena Wine Shop.

Arroyo Vino

218 Camino La Tierra, 983-2100

Like La Casa Sena, Arroyo Vino consists of a hybrid retail space and restaurant. What is truly impressive about Arroyo Vino’s wine program is how it easily integrates the flexibility afforded by the wine shop selection. The shop boasts over 1,000 different wines that are all available in the restaurant for a $30 corkage fee.

Obviously the more expensive the bottle, the more beneficial the deal; a bottle that retails for $16 would be $46 at table, but a bottle that retails for $45 would only be $75 instead of $95 (assuming the restaurant markup is in the usual neighborhood of three times the original wholesale price, at least for bottles of wine under $50.)

The shop itself is well-curated, adding hidden depths to the excellent wines already on the list. It’s an admirable system at Arroyo Vino, and one that doesn’t require membership dues to enjoy.

Il Piatto

95 W Marcy St., 984-1091

Our mission really isn’t happy hours here, but what distinguishes Il Piatto’s is that it happens twice a day. It can be difficult to find a restaurant in Santa Fe that offers a decent glass of wine for under $10, but Il Piatto has quaffable whites from Languedoc and Bordeaux for three hours a day, from both 4:30-6 pm and 9-10:30 pm, when all wines by the glass (and small plates of food) are half price. The full list is also thoughtfully cultivated, with a focus on Italian (primarily Piedmontese) and French bottlings.

JULIE ANN GRIMM

with other quality producers from other countries represented, and includes an impressive selection of sherry. Their wine club is a modest $50 a year for membership and it comes with a yearlong 30 percent off wine specials as well as a special halfoff on Wednesdays on bottles priced at $100 or higher, among other perks.

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