I’m not sure what I like more: reading the names that chingona mixologist Emily Delicce comes up with for Blinking Owl’s cocktail menu, or drinking them. Whether you like your drink stirred and boozy or citrusy and refreshing, the distillery has an impressive lineup that ranges from classics to house inventions but nails everything. We recommend starting with Rhubarb’s Drag Race.
The bay leaf syrup and sparkling rhubarb perfectly complement the gin’s bold botanicals; add lemon, and the result is splendidly robust. It’s a bright, fruit-flavored balance of tart and fragrant, with a refreshingly crisp finish. As RuPaul would say, “It’s time to drink for your life.”
Blinking Owl, 802 E. Washington Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 852-3947; blinkingowldistillery.com.
Cynthia Rebolledo covers anything and everything food, culture and spirits.