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Drinking Picasso

Cocktails inspired by the man himself.

October 22, 2010

 

“Drink to me, drink to my health, you know I can’t drink any more.” These were the last words of Pablo Picasso, whose 150 masterpieces are currently on display at the Seattle Art Museum.

We intend to respect his wishes. And we can do so directly after shuffling and gazing our way through the exhibit—SAM’s Taste restaurant has two Picasso-inspired cocktails. Bartender Tiffany Friday created the Cubismo, an edible cocktail formed from gelatin plus a Seven Hills tempranillo, Rhum Clément Creole Shrubb liqueur, Lustao cream sherry, and an almond milk punched up with amaretto. It comes topped with candied orange zest. Also on the menu is the Bohemian; which commingles green Chartreuse with Luxardo maraschino liqueur, Rhum Clement, and lemon.

Salty’s would like you to celebrate Picasso’s genius by sipping a beach-ball-blue concoction called Picasso’s Blue Mimosa—champagne, St. Germain (an elderberry liqueur), blue curaçao (the second “c” in curaçao is soft, remember), and a sugar cube at the bottom, champagne-cocktail style. The drink comes garnished with a star-shaped chunk of pineapple.

But the spirit with which the artist is most associated is of course absinthe. Why, just this past June Christie’s auctioned off Picasso’s painting “The Absinthe Drinker” for $51.2 million dollars, a staggering figure indeed. The lobby bar at the Pan Pacific hotel has come up with two absinthe cocktails to celebrate one of Picasso’s many indulgences. Try absinthe in the traditional French preparation, or with champagne. Of course, any of the cocktail bars I’m always going on about on this blog can make you an absinthe cocktail.

If you remain uneasy about the green fairy, opt for a Pernod on the rocks. “Bottle of Pernod” is one of Cubism’s signature works, after all, and ordering Pernod as an aperitif is a damn classy move. A move to impress the ladies. A move Picasso, that old dog, might have used to impress the ladies.

Just don’t forget to toast to the great womanizer whose dying words bade you to do so.

Click on the slideshow to see Picasso’s booziest masterpieces.

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