More Than A BUZZ

SPIRITS

Dogwood’s number one selling cocktail so far has been Brian’s spin on the classic Salty Dog.  A rare glimpse into his creative process would reveal Brian in his natural habitat surrounded by cocktail books, books about bitters, books about mixers, classic tombs of mixology lore, empty bourbon bottles, empty gin bottles, a pair of reading glasses, and single candle burning on the table.  With tiny little adorable dog in his lap Brian will take a classic cocktail and blow it apart.  He will take each ingredient and put his creative approach on it before allowing it back into the drink.  The main difference in the Classic and Brian’s tends to be depth.  Brian will layer in sweetness, bitterness, sour, and umami the same way that a chef works with ingredients.  This Salty Dog is a perfect example of this technique.  Get mixing.  Try new things.  If you need help or have a question just call The Wood and ask for Brian.   Follow Brian on Twitter @BarKeepBrian

Salty Dog-Cocktail Served Over Ice
1.5 oz Reyka Vodka
3 dashes Grapefruit Bitters
Grapefruit San Pelligrino
Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
Glass is rimmed with pink Himalayan sea salt.

 

 

Wine

February is the month of Valentines so we thought we would feature an appropriate wine.   @SloDownWine is the brainchild of two wild and crazy guys from California.  We are not going to illustrate how crazy these two are but feel free to Google some of their ad campaigns or videos if you have the interest (worth the watch).  The wine they are best known for is Sexual Chocolate and we will be featuring it all month long at Dogwood.  Sexual Chocolate is a delicious blend of mostly syrah and zinfandel with dark chocolate, blackberry, and dark cherry notes.  They round out the blend with petit sirah, petite verdot, and just the right amount of fresh acidity.  We are offering the wine either by the glass $12 or bottle $48.  Enjoy responsibly, just not conservatively… is their tag line on the website.

Check out the Funniest Advertisement Ever for Wine

 

BEER

Dogwood is happy to have started working with Triple C Brewing from the Queen City this month.  One of their signature brews is Baby Maker Double IPA  so in sticking with our February / Love Theme we are happily offering in 22oz. bottles.  Baby Maker lives up to its name by weighing in with an almost 9% alcohol by volume.  The beer is centered around a strong malted core with a large dose of hops.  Beers at these levels can tend to be over done.  This is not one of those.  Well balanced strength and depth of flavor shows through the abundance of alcohol.  Since starting to offer Baby Maker it has become one of our best sellers.  People know it, love it, and ask for it by name.  We also offer Golden Boy Ale from Triple C.  Come by and enjoy a pint or go check out the brewery uptown.  One of the many fantastic craft brewers here in town.

Meet The Band

Enjoy Cold Drinks and a Warm Welcome at Dogwood Southern Table & Bar

Welcome to Dogwood Southern Table & Bar. We are so proud of our beloved bar, and can’t wait to show it off.

Come Inside Our Southern Bar:   What is it like inside the Dogwood bar? Drenched in Southern charm and warmth, the bar features two fireplaces, a concrete bar with 16 seats, two single-slab live edge farm tables, and lots of delicious libations!

According to Bar Manager Brian Lorusso, the atmosphere at the Dogwood bar is social and fun, with lots of interaction and love of the drink

“Dogwood Bar aims to be innovative, interactive, and fun,” explains Lorusso, “with a real dedicat

ion to the craft of bartending. We will change the menu often and always have lots of fun “projects” waiting to be tasted at the bar.”

What is Lorusso’s favorite part of his job? “It’s talking with people who care about spirits

as much as I do,” he explains. “And creating lasting connections with bar guests.”

Our Amazing Team

Even though our bar is a thing of beauty, it’s our people who create the feeling of true Southern hospitality. “The feel of the bar is warm, inviting, and comfortable,” says Lorusso, “like a big hug from Margueritte Andresen.”

Here’s our all-star lineup: Brian Lorusso “The Hammer,” Brittany Kellum “BK the Great,” Laura Southwell “Mary from Minnie,” JoAn Cook “Short Stack or JoJo,” and James Murphy “Toenail Murphy.”

According to Lorusso, the entire team works as a unit and brings their unique palates and backgrounds to the table. “They are knowledgeable, hardworking, kind, caring, good-looking, and immaculately dressed,” says Lorusso.

What’s his secret to success when it comes to running the Dogwood Bar? “No chance I am sharing that information with anyone,” he says. “No one. Never.”

Handcrafted Cocktails That Are Sure to Please

Lorusso has an interesting philosophy when it comes to creating new drinks for his guests.

“I enjoy reading food and beverage books and cooking, so I like to think I take that knowledge base and transfer it when making drinks,” says Lorusso. “I like to make sure the ingredient and/or season shines through.”

What are his favorite drinks to make? “Bud light, vodka tonic…just kidding,” jokes Lorusso. “My favorite drink is the one I have never had before. I like to try new things.”

And the most popular drink requests from customers? “Right now,” says Lorusso, “anything with bourbon. Bourbon is having a moment and people want to explore that.”

Lorusso’s Life Outside Dogwood

How does this one-of-a-kind barkeep spend his time when he’s not at work?

“I’m married to the smartest, most beautiful woman in the world,” says Lorusso. “I also like going to the gym–mostly on chest days. I also really enjoy chewing gum, gardening, fancy scarves, and juicing,” jokes Lorusso.

Stop In and Visit Us!

We look forward to seeing you at Dogwood Southern Table & Bar. Come in, make some new friends, and allow us the pleasure of serving you one of our unforgettable drinks. Please follow us at:    @barkeepbrian  @dogwoodsoutherntable

You can also follow our Metropolitan barkeep extraordinaire, Captain Jeffrey Keiser, at:  @midtown_muddler