Drink Up, Baltimore

Chef Bryan Voltaggio's Wit + Wisdom contribution

Earlier this year, the weather was miserable. Remember February? Then March? Winter seemed like it was, truly, never going to end.

Then it did. Just like it always does.

And in those first, gorgeous weeks of Spring, my mind always drifts in the same direction. Straight to the bar.

There's just something fabulous about a break in the weather that makes me want to whip up a batch of fabulous drinks. Or have someone else whip some up for me.

This year, we kicked off outdoor drinking season at the Wit + Wisdom patio opening party, which featured drinks created and mixed by handful of great local chefs. The party raised a bunch of money for Share Our Strength and was a great time all around.

On my work front, I spent a few weeks chatting with bartenders about their favorite local watering holes and what they like to drink there. Writing that article was, obviously, a good time.

This year, even my intellectual side is all about the booze. When I got my copy of Forgotten Maryland Cocktails in the mail, I nearly squealed. Maryland + history + drinks - it is so full of things I love to read and think about. The section on Southsides, alone, is worth the price of the book. Really, it's fantastic - well-researched and super interesting and engaging. I love it.

This past weekend, after a long, nearly beer-less winter, I got back on the summer brew train. While the Labbatt Shandy cans that Alicia brought us from Keuka were slightly disappointing (they just didn't have much flavor - unlike Labbatt's Blue Light Lime, which is magical), we discovered that Leinenkugel's newish Grapefruit Shandy is FANTASTIC. Seriously. I wish I was drinking one right now.