The Spare Room We All Wish We Had

Cocktails and Jenga go well together at The Spare Room in Hollywood

Over recent months spent trolling Los Angeles, wearing down barstool after barstool and downing many a craft cocktail in the name of work for online magazine CitySip.com, I’ve grown fond of several bars along the way. However, one in particular stands out among the masses: The Spare Room at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. I went there a few weeks ago and have been yammering on about it to anyone who’ll listen to me, ever since. The mezzanine-level lounge not only has a well-stocked bar with educated bartenders who turn mixing drinks into an art, but they have vintage, hand-crafted games and a couple of bowling lanes to boot. Check out some of the other reasons this Hollywood haven is worth a gander, in my recent CitySip article below. It’s like reliving your childhood rainy days, except now you’re actually old enough to drink and it’s completely socially acceptable to play a board game in a bar.

Tiny blocks of wood crash to the table and a crowd gathered round cries out, Jenga! At a nearby booth, two men strategically drop small wooden circles into slots, vying to be first with four in a row. Over by the bronzed industrial bar, a group of young, aspiring actors huddles around a wooden board, lying down lettered game pieces in hopes to earn a triple word score. And there are bowling lanes that flank the gaming tables, run by an official suspender-clad bowling attendant who keeps score on a wall-hanging chalkboard.

Hard to believe all this was once a dusty storage space on the mezzanine level of the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Quite aptly named, The Spare Room, the stylish gaming parlor and cocktail lounge opened last January, and quickly established itself as one of the area’s most popular upscale nightlife destinations. Like so many other recent additions to the local craft cocktail scene, The Spare Room draws heavily upon the past, modeled after the private gaming parlors found in 1920s Rockefeller and Vanderbilt properties. It’s replete with vintage furnishing, flatiron style arched windows, custom-designed games and an old-school photo booth.

The Ode to Aude is one helluva cocktail

“We’re trying to emphasize social interaction,” said Med Abrous, co-founder of The Spare Room. “The best way to do that is to get groups together, especially with games. You never really get to know someone until you’ve competed with them.”

Abrous and his team are also keen on providing high quality cocktails. The recently released fall menu, designed by Beverage Director Naomi Schimek boasts a variety of warm, seasonal variations on classic cocktails that comprise a broad spectrum of spirits.

“The basis of our cocktail menu is spirit forward,” Abrous said. “We work with high volume but also incorporate fresh juices and appreciate the craft of cocktails. Our goal is to educate – not only the staff here but people who come in, and turn them onto gins and ryes; it’s not just Jack and Cokes.”

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The Day I Ran a Half Marathon

All smiles before the big race

The idea of running used to make me cringe. The familiar tearing and throbbing aches my mind conjured simply with the thought of my sneakers hitting the pavement was enough to keep me far away from anything beyond a brisk walk. After surgical tendon repair to my right ankle from a bad college soccer injury, I furiously rehabbed for hours each day for months on end, determined to play the upcoming season. Building back strength and pushing through double sessions in the preseason, all of my rehabbing and training came to a screeching halt when I went up for a ball and landed on my opponent’s foot during a scrimmage – ripping the tendons once again and fracturing the bone. The unnatural, bloodcurdling sound that came out of my mouth echoed off surrounding trees, forever marking the instant I was convinced my cleats would finally be retired.

And so my senior year season began on crutches and sitting on the sidelines of every practice and game, then graduated to daily physical therapy sessions, fighting through emotional breakdowns and relentlessly convincing myself it was plausible to actually play one game before my college career was over. I knew I wasn’t anywhere near 100 percent, but begged my trainer and coaches to let me start practicing when the final games of the season crept up on the calendar. The day my coach announced to the team that I’d be in the starting lineup of the last home game of the season – Senior Day – made me believe it as all worth it. To finally be able to hear my name announced, run out on the field with my teammates and play the sport I loved more than anything was all I wanted.

Ewwwww

I played with more heart than body than ever before, because I truly had no other option. The fragility of my feeble ankle and my severely out of shape limbs were obstacles I had to block out and muscle through. The electrifying sensation of power, bliss and exhaustion with each time the ball graced my feet was amplified and made me so thankful for the 90 minutes I had always taken for granted. After college, I played in a women’s league for one season until finally accepting that I was doing more harm than good to my body by playing when I simply wasn’t built for the sport anymore. The faded pink scar and inflamed tissue surrounding my ankle is a daily reminder of the pain, suffering and glory the sport branded me with. For years, wearing heals induced tears, accidentally brushing up against a hard object caused my ankle to swell and standing for hours at a time turned the skin gory shades of purple, blue and yellow. So for years I did not run.

And if you told me one day I would run a half marathon, I would slap you silly. That would be impossible. 13.1 miles of pounding pavement, grinding joints, throbbing muscles and limping strides were so low on my list of To-Dos that it never crossed my mind. Instead, these last few years I’ve immersed myself in yoga, spinning and other non-impact exercise classes, but I never ran and I never played soccer. Until recently when I tried going for a two-mile run. Though horribly out of breath and out of shape, my body surprisingly did not punish me for testing it out on the harsh pavement. So the following week I tried for three miles, anxiously anticipating some form of shooting pain in my ankle, knees or lower back; my body’s way of saying “F#%! you; who do you think you are, trying to run again?” But it didn’t happen.

So when a friend told me about the Los Angeles Dodge Rock N’ Roll Half Marathon coming up in a few months, I thought, maybe I could actually do this. Each week I did one run, starting slow and steady, running just enough to challenge without overextending myself. After all the years I’ve spent playing sports and being active, I’ve finally learned to listen to my body and have become in tune with what works and what does not. The “push yourself ‘til you collapse, throwing caution to the wind” mentality I once had is now gone. Instead, the foreboding, and very real idea that arthritis and a lifetime of limping and chronic pain could be in future is enough motivation to push my body while understanding and respecting its limitations.

When October 30^th approached, my training had reached 12 miles of running without stopping. Now all I had to do was add on another 1.1 miles and that finish line was as good as mine. The friends I was supposed to run the race with all dropped out, causing me to second guess my own participation at several points in my training. But the fact that my body was actually allowing me to run this much was so shocking to me, I really had not other choice but to run. It was very possible I’d never be able to run this much again, so I submitted my $100 entry fee and picked up my race number while praying to God that I was doing the right thing. Images of me rolling around in a wheelchair or limping around the house intruded my thoughts every now and then, but my decision was made and I was determined to take on this beast.

Mind Over Body

Kickin’ ass and taking names

Something I’ve always known on a superficial level but never truly understood and appreciated until this race is the power of the mind. As cliché as it sounds, if you truly want to do something, it comes down to mind over matter. What got me through those 13.1 miles was almost entirely my mindset: positive thinking, focus and self-encouragement. Looking back, those miles seemed to fly by. At the finish line, my boyfriend asked me, do you think you could do another one today? And without hesitation I said, yeah, of course. The adrenaline that pumps through your veins creates a sensation unlike any other high, and apparently it makes you feel like Superman.

Regardless of how warm it was that morning and how much I was sweating, for the entire two hours and six minutes I was touring downtown LA, my body was covered in goosebumps. Looking around me at the thousands of other runners pushing their bodies to the limits while complete strangers cheered for us on the sidelines, I felt an overwhelming sense of community. I’m not in this alone, I thought. And my God, I’m actually out here running with these strangers and there’s no turning back now. About half way through, the magnitude of what I was doing struck me and I had to fight back tears of happiness. To think of how far I had come, and all of the shitty obstacles that once stood in my way, I set my mind on a goal and was now accomplishing it. That sense of competitiveness I once knew so well was welcoming me back and I felt stronger, faster and more confident than I had in a very long time. With any pang of pain that shot up my back or cramp that stung my ribcage, I breathed through it and refocused my energy, assuring myself I could do this. When I looked up to see the 12 mile marker ahead, my stride opened up and all I could think about was finishing strong and leaving everything I had out on that course. The last half-mile turned into a sprint, and crossing the finish line is somewhat of a blur to me now. Holy shit, I actually did it.

Holding me up so I didn't collapse after the race

My chest heaving, limbs throbbing and adrenaline pumping through every part of my body, everything fell away when I saw my boyfriend and friends screaming my name and cheering for me on the sideline. Even now I am still in a sort of shock that it happened and that it’s over. I’m still sore and a little stiff, but the entire experience seems surreal. Some people say when you’re in a situation where you’re so amped up and consumed by what you’re doing, you have this sort of out-of-body experience. That’s the best way I can describe it. I feel the remnants of what running a race would feel like, but when I look back and think about the process of actually running it, I was so engrossed in each stride, each breath, and every movement of my body that I’m not really sure it even happened.

Sweaty and gross, but so happy to have my girls with me

To experience that sense of motivation, competitiveness and determination was such an overwhelming, powerful feeling for me. It gave me a sense of what I used to feel like every day when I played soccer and competed on a regular basis. It reminded me that I can kick some ass when I want to, and that I can do whatever I commit to and especially, that the mind is such an amazingly, intense, powerful tool that we sometimes underappreciate. I’m forever grateful to my support system of friends and family for all of their encouragement. And I’m especially grateful for that innate sense of commitment and determination I still have from playing sports as a kid. It was tucked away in a dark place for a while, but sitting here now and reliving these past few months and Sunday’s race, I know I’ve triggered that spark once again.

Bib #: 8595

Distance: 13.1 miles

Time: 2:06

Avg. Pace: 9:37

Overall: 2380 out of 7738

Division: 142 out of 870

Gender: 773 out of 4439

Introducing LA’s Best Bartender

Ohhhh how sorry I am for my neglect towards you, Una Bella Vita. You’re better than that. So to show you some love, I’m re-posting my latest story on CitySip, announcing the winner of the 2011 Los Angeles Best Bartender Competition.

Rounding up some of LA’s top bartending talent, the finals took place on the 21st floor at Elevate Lounge in Downtown Los Angeles, overlooking a picturesque cityscape above a sea of racing cyclists and the shooting of the next Batman movie. Tons of Gotham police, yet sadly, no sign of Christian Bale for this girl. But I digress. All the shaking, stirring, socializing and imbibing upon high made for a night of solid entertainment and well deserved celebration of these five city drink slingers. Check out my recap below, and if you’re an LA-based reader or happen to be traveling here soon, stop in for a drink or two at the stomping grounds of these rockstars. Stellar drinks, quick, knowledgeable service and great bar conversation and/or witty banter await your arrival…

LA's Best Bartender Winner: Justin Pike, of The Tasting Kitchen in Venice (photo courtesy of Table20)

THE CREME DE LA CROP: INTRODUCING LA’S BEST BARTENDER

 

For many, bartending begins as a job that serves as means to an end. All too often, we see struggling college students take to the craft as a quick way to pay off student loans. But for those who get immersed in the creativity of mixing and muddling behind the stick or for those who can strike and hold conversations with any Joe Schmoe that parks it on their barstool, bartending is much more. Beyond the taste of the cocktail, the art of bartending is about the overall experience. To celebrate those who’ve achieve status in the industry and a reputation for providing stellar service, some of the top bartenders in Los Angeles recently gathered to battle in the Second Annual LA’s Best Bartender Competition.

Among the best of the best, a winner was named, inheriting the crown from last year’s champ, Matthew Biancaniello, of Library Bar. Sponsored by Karlsson’s Gold Vodka and Table20.com, the competition drew five bartending finalists to Elevate Lounge in Downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, along with roughly 200 guests and a panel of six judges. Bartenders were nominated online by their fans and voting was open to the public for 21 days until the People’s Choice winner was announced and automatically named a finalist in the competition: Joe Brooke of Next Door Lounge.  As for the four finalists, the judges chose two by taste testing their submitted recipes (using Karlsson’s Gold Vodka) and hand picking the final two bartenders.

In an effort to recreate the “bar experience,” the competition was designed so that each bartender individually faced the judges from behind the bar and had 20 minutes to memorize their individual drink orders, whip them up in a creative, efficient way and engage them in conversation as if they were bar patrons on a regular working night.

“We get to interact with each bartender one on one and get the full experience this way,” said Bricia Lopez, one of the judges and owner of LA restaurant, Guelaguetza. “A bartender’s competition shouldn’t just be about the cocktail, it’s about the whole experience of being with them at the bar.”

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Sigh, apartment hunting again…

Today I screamed at a homeless man for peeing on my car. I said the f word a lot. People were probably staring. But I was enraged, as I watched in horror from across the street where I was stuck at an intersection cursing the little electronic white man for not popping up to instruct me to cross. Once he did I stormed over with my shopping bags and fired, “Were you just f’ing peeing on my car!?!??!?” To which he calmly said no, no I wasn’t. And then I screamed some more. And he said, “Look, lady I didn’t pee on your car.”

First off, that is the first time someone has ever called me lady. I look like I’m eighteen years old, so I was kind of flattered. Secondly, by the time I marched over to my car I saw a nice little puddle next to my passenger side door, but sure enough no pee on the car. That I could detect anyways.

I drove off thinking to myself, do I really want to live in Santa Monica? Where I have to worry about parking my car and returning to puddles of homeless people urine surrounding it. What else do they do when you’re not looking? Maybe roll around on the hood with their grimy, sweaty booze-infused skin? Or use my mirrors to pop their zits? Gross, I don’t want to be around to find out. Nevertheless, I’m apartment hunting again and Santa Monica is on the list of potential spots to relocate. It’s beautiful (in most areas), close to the beach, near a gazillion coffee shops and in close proximity to plenty of shopping. Sounds like a dream town. But man, the homeless people are ev-ery-where. Literally everywhere. It’s like having a pet in your yard that you don’t really want, but it always shows up begging for food, booze or use of your bathroom.

I took this picture of two drunk, unconscious homeless people being taken away by paramedics on Lincoln Blvd in Venice. Happens a lot on this corner.

Venice is not much better. Where I work, I’m privy to a front row seat to the crazies that inhabit Venice, including drunks, homeless people, thugs or drunk, homeless thugs. I routinely see people overdose or drink themselves into a coma by the bus stop where several cop cars, ambulances and a token fire truck show up to whisk them off to the hospital to bathe in our tax dollars. Or then there’s the insane, jacked white guy who always has his shirt off and often feels the need to karate chop the nearby bike shop’s sign on the sidewalk or harass the neighboring salon customers as they get their hair did. On slow days at work, this kind of behavior serves as great entertainment. As a place where I’d consider relocating, I don’t think Venice makes the cut.

Then there’s Marina del Rey, where I currently reside and absolutely love. It’s peaceful, quiet, close to the beach and nearby quaint sailboats and massive obnoxious yachts. I live near people who have a lot of money and I like to pretend I do too. Sometimes I go home and cry at night because I actually have no money. But I digress. Living here is damn expensive. I am a young twenty-something girl who has needs, among the most important of which are: need to be by the beach, obviously, and also, need to be somewhere safe so I don’t need to drop kick a mugger’s ass at night when I go to my car. Oh, did I mention I’m a writer? Which should help to further paint my picture of poorness. But! I’ve played sports since the age of nine, so in case I do get attacked or someone is chasing me at night in the ghetto where I will likely be relocating to, at least I can take solace in my ability to run like the dickens. Thanks mom and dad, for making me play soccer as a kid against my will.

Tapping into Nightlife Deals in LA

People are starting to notice. Your wallet is looking awfully thin. And you never come out anymore. Are you suffering from…poorness? Or lack-of-motivation-to-go-out-ness? No worries, this is certainly curable. Recently launched nightlife deal site, Night Tap is designed to pull people like you out of the rut you’re stuck in and get you back out on the streets causing ruckus and cutting rugs at the clubs. Sign up online for exclusive weekly deals at bars, clubs, comedy venues and tastings in Los Angeles. Think Groupon for the more niche nightlife crowd that’s tired of dropping $13 a drink every weekend.

For more details check out my recent Night Tap profile below on citYsip.com. And quit being so poor and lame!

Tap Into Exclusive Nightlife Deals With Night Tap

By Jessica Borges

We know you love the nightlife scene and being in on the latest hot spots and trends, but sometimes it can be tough to muster up motivation to hit the bars and clubs. Or maybe your wallet just needs a break from excessive bar tabs. Which is why we’re introducing you to Night Tap: your ticket to nightlife motivation and saving some of your hard earned cash. Think Groupon for the party scene postulant in Los Angeles.

Sign up online and each week you’ll get a Night Tap nudge in your inbox revealing some happening location with drink specials, exclusive access to events and tastings, or VIP treatment at the club. Look at this as your excuse to check out a new bar or impress friends with your thriftiness and knack for nightlife know-how. But don’t just expect a bunch of weekly two-for-one drink specials or happy hour promotions. Night Tap is much more than your typical beverage coupon.

“We want to offer features on all types of nightlife activities, comedy shows, sporting events, hotels, bars, roller skating, bowling and other activities you can do at night,” says Founder and CEO Kenny Kadar. “We want to be that all-encompassing site, so no matter what you’re looking to do, you can get that on Night Tap.”

Continue Reading Story on citYsip.com

A Pisco Sour Competition in the Name of History

The Macchu Pisco Sour Competition inspired a colorful and flavorful variety of pisco cocktails

Recently inducted as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu stands as a stunning, historical monument in Peru. Last week was the 100th anniversary of its rediscovery – meaning its introduction to the Western World when American historian Hiram Bingham discovered it. So naturally, Macchu Pisco LLC found it timely to team up with the Consulate of Peru in San Francisco to coordinate a celebration of this milestone, as well as the creation of pisco. Last week Macchu Pisco challenged bartenders in major cities across the U.S. to create their own version of the Pisco Sour (invented in Peru) to represent this historic landmark in presentation, relevance and especially taste.

Check out my CitySip coverage below from the Los Angeles competition, including the badass video montage of bartenders hard at work. And they worked especially hard, knowing there was a grand prize free trip to Lima, Peru to compete against the other city winners. Read on to see the winner and runner ups.

Macchu Pisco Sours Competition, Los Angeles

By Jessica Borges

Zach Patterson - STK, Black Market Liquor Bar

We, as human beings are always looking for reasons to throw a party. The 4^th of July has come and gone and Bastille Day is right around the corner but what else can we use for an excuse to celebrate in between those dreadfully long two weeks?

Fortunately, Macchu Pisco has come to the rescue. In celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the encounter of famed Peruvian monument Machu Picchu to the Western World, this pisco brand hosted a Macchu Pisco Sour competition spanning the United States. In search of the ultimate liquid incarnation of Machu Picchu to honor the history and reverence of this 7^th New Wonder of the World, Macchu Pisco challenged bartenders to create the ultimate representative cocktail. Competitions were held in D.C., Boston, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, culminating in Las Vegas on July 7, 2011.

Last week’s Los Angeles competition was held in the Beverly Hills SLS Hotel, hosting twelve LA bartenders, a judges’ panel and a small public audience.  Challenged to whip up unique versions of the Pisco Sour using Macchu Pisco, the bartenders were asked to consider not only taste and appearance of the cocktails, but also historical relevance and representation of this Peruvian monument and milestone. After all, a free trip to Lima, Peru to compete against winners in the other cities for the grand pisco sours competition was on the line. 

Read More About the LA Macchu Pisco Sour Competition

I’m Comin’ Home, Tell the World, I’m Comin’ Home

Diddy’s latest diddy says it perfectly: “I’m coming home”… for a little while, anyways.

Me with the soon-to-be Mrs. Jenn Leeper!

Next week I’ll be on a plane to Boston for a dear friend’s wedding and to spend time with some loved ones. On the docket: Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee, lots of rug cutting at the wedding post-several adult beverages, cheap seats at a Sox game, delicious Town Spa pizza, fresh Maine lobster and squeezing the F out of my sister’s cat, Gus. And possibly packing him in my suitcase before I head back to LA.

In all of my excitement for my east coast return, and in commemoration of next week being my one year residential anniversary in the Golden State, I’ve posted a few pictures that portray the essence of what has been “home” to me for so many years. Here I go getting all sentimental…

Enjoy these beauties

Bridge near Storrow Drive and the Charles River just before sunset. (Boston)

I don't know where she gets this from...

Boston. As seen from the top of the Prudential

College soccer stars

Beautiful park. Love the Boston Common.

New England fan, through and through.

Gus loves cat nip

Can you tell we all have the same last name?

Here's hoping for next year. Come on C's

Sisters

Apple picking in Massachusetts.

Newport Bridge (Newport, RI)

Marathon Monday = Epic

Dance parties

Best grandma in the world. Period.

Del's Lemonade is essential to Newport, RI summers.

"I fawcking lawuv the Sawx." That's how it's spelled phonetically. Look it up.

No words for this. Love it.

Enjoying delicious treats from Modern Pastry in the North End (Boston)

Best part of Boston, the Charles River

Fresh Springtime Sipping

So Fresh & So Clean

What are you doing tonight? Nothing? Good, ‘cuz now you’ve got plans. Head over to Drago Centro to check out the debut of their spectacular spring cocktail menu on the cheap. With drinks for just $8 tonight (normally $12 each) and a killer small bites bar menu, you can’t go wrong. Beverage Director Michael Shearin and Head Bartender/Mixologist Jaymee Mandeville gave me a sneak preview of the menu earlier this week, highlighting their light, refreshing spring-inspired collaborative concoctions.  Among some of my favorites: Green Flash (Sombra Mezcal, Marie Brizard Apry, Coconut Cream, Kiwi, Lime, Cilantro, Navan Infused Raisins) and Tomāto/Tomăto (Casa Noble Crystal Organic Tequila, Creole Shrub, Cherry Tomatoes, House Made Ancho Chili Tincture, Lemon). Check out my full review on CitySip.com. Here’s a preview below. Scroll to the bottom for tonight’s event details.

Drago Centro Launches New Spring Cocktail Menu

By Jessica Borges

As Mother Nature would have it, spring is upon us in full force – especially this week with a forecast of cool, cloudy dewiness, perfect for budding flowerbeds and sending Angelenos into hibernation until the sun resurfaces. But alas, there is motivation for you to get out of bed and experience the lighter, sunnier side of spring: Drago Centro is launching their new Spring Cocktail Menu and the offerings are pretty damn good. Beverage Director, Michael Shearin and Head Bartender, Jaymee Mandeville collaborated on the new menu and recently offered a sneak preview to Thirsty in LA’s Dan Djang and me. Check it out tonight, Wednesday May 18^th for a launch special, where signature drinks will be $8 (normally priced at $12 each).

American Graffiti

American Graffiti – Art in the Age Root, Rock Junmai Sake, Luxardo Morlacco, Bar Keep Baked Apple Bitters. This root beer liqueur and organic bitters blend nicely, making it a great go-to choice for the after dinner cocktail. All you need is some ice cream and you’ve got yourself an old-school root beer float-esk treat. Yum.

Bullet with Butterfly Wings – Named after the lead single on The Smashing Pumpkins 1995 double album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, this cocktail is crafted to live up to its Number One Hit name. Well-balanced, Bullet with Butterfly Wings makes it easy to sip quickly, though taken in slowly you’ll enjoy subtle notes of spice paired with a sweet touch and a hint of fresh sage. Ingredients: Bulleit Rye, Cynar, Pineapple, Sage, Lemon.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Where:  Drago Centro

The City National Bank Plaza

525 South Flower Street, Suite 120

Los Angeles, CA 90071

213.228.8998

When: Wednesday May 18, 2011 5:00 p.m. ’til close

What: Delicious $8 specialty cocktails featured in the new spring menu

Now, quit reading this and hoof it over there! And if you can’t make it tonight, the drinks are a must-try any other day or night while the menu is still in place.

Sip On This

For the routine bar hopper or the occasional cocktail sipper, the same old go-to drink can become quite lackluster. Next time you scoot up to the bar beside some attractive, money-making available bachelor/bachelorette you want to look smart, classy and actually enjoy the drink you’re about to order. Introducing a way to spruce up your next adult beverage: Combier Triple Sec. A recent Combier event at Harvard & Stone in Los Angeles with the Bon Vivants previewed some creative concoctions inspired by Combier’s product line. Check out my article below on CitySip.com about the event and delicious cocktails that are sure to jumpstart your Happy Hour a little earlier.

Triple Double

Combier Sweetens Up Harvard & Stone

By Jessica Borges

A team is only as strong as its weakest player, and a cocktail is only as great as its weakest ingredient. Right down to the triple sec, every detail factors into whether or not that cocktail is worthy of your palate. And we don’t doubt that you have a very sophisticated palate. Which is why Combier’s Original Liqueur d’Orange triple sec makes for an oh-so-enticing way to spruce up a cocktail.

Stirred, shaken and even blended into some of the Bon Vivant’s original recipes at LA bar Harvard & Stone, Combier’s products flaunted their fabulousness at a recent re-launch event open to the public. With years of family hands in the distillery, Combier’s history dates back to 1834 in the rolling hills of Saumur, France, in the heart of Loire Valley. True to the day it was born, Combier products continue to be distilled in old copper stills, the way that creator Jean-Baptiste Combier intended them to be. 

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Laughing Devil Baby

Looking for something funny to mix up your day?  Or are you just looking to contribute to the downward spiral of a civilization that prioritizes watching adorable kitten/puppy/baby YouTube videos over anything that’s actually productive? You’ve come to the right place.

Check out this hysterical devil-baby YouTube video:

And here’s the original, which is just as cute and not as evil: