Comments on: Le Lion, Hamburg

By: oreneau

oreneau — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:28:29 +0000

I just had the same experience that you, visiting the Lion last week end. Joerg Meyer is really a jeweller of cocktail.

By: Emmabrap

Emmabrap — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:38:15 +0000

Mr Morgenthaler,

I don’t think you’re blogging enough! It really doesn’t make you go blind you know.

Emma

By: Karla

Karla — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 02:23:37 +0000

Jeffery

Nice to have you in the same town. Can make a dash to the bar for a good drink
Love the blog
Karla

By: Mata

Mata — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:29:15 +0000

Thanks for including little Kiel in your write up! Going back up tomorrow for a few weeks and myself, some yachty pals and Thyssen Krup pals will go check out Le Lion for ourselves! ;-)

By: Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Jeffrey Morgenthaler — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:25:36 +0000

Joerg – The pleasure was all mine. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Gonçalo – And thank you. I’m using this recipe tonight!

By: Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Jeffrey Morgenthaler — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:22:08 +0000

Jeff – Those are all bottles of bitters. They’re unlabeled, and only visually identified by the bartender. Amazing.

By: Jeff Frane

Jeff Frane — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:41:34 +0000

I have to stop reading this blog. I liked you so much better when I wasn’t seeing you through a green haze of jealousy.

But, while I seethe, perhaps you could identify what is in all those unmarked bottles?

By: Tiare

Tiare — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:02:44 +0000

Great post! Le Lion is a bar i really want to visit some day.

By: Gonçalo

Gonçalo — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:53:52 +0000

Dear Mista Jeff,
Again, a report transpiring an imense pleasure.
I can only imagine the placidity of such an enjoyable Lion Night.

The Contessa was introduced by Traveling Mixologist Tom Jackschas:

35 ml Dry Gin
25 ml Aperol
15 ml Italian Vermouth

Same preparation as a Negroni. Orange Twist.

Enjoy, G.

By: Joerg Meyer

Joerg Meyer — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:37:29 +0000

Mr. Morgenthaler,

Nights, like the one you describe, are the reasson, why I build Le Lion. And some nights – this dream come true: Hopefully perfect drinks, perfect atmosphere and most important and” best of all” … perfect guests!

Looks like me and Mario have to visit Oregon one time.

Kind Regards

Jörg Meyer
Le Lion • Bar de Paris • Hamburg

By: Natalie - The Liquid Muse

Natalie - The Liquid Muse — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 22:14:30 +0000

Love it. So jealous. Love how you kept your trip to Le Lion quiet leading up to it… Will keep a closer eye on your secret cocktail doings…

And, so funny you mention the Blood & Sand. I just wrote about it a week or so ago, because I fell in lust with that cheeky little classic harlot of a cocktail when studying for the B.A.R. mixology test.

The other cocktails you mention sound most intriguing. Are you putting actual recipes somewhere?

By: Chris Bailey

Chris Bailey — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:57:47 +0000

I have no doubt about the influence – but I want to see some downright exact reproductions of some of those drinks! Only because we read your blog posts, live vicariously through that/you, and at least want to taste the same stuff :)

By: Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Jeffrey Morgenthaler — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:35:47 +0000

Chris – Don’t think for a minute that the drinks served from behind the bar at Bel Ami aren’t going to be influenced by my travels and all of the gracious and talented bartenders I’ve had the good fortune of meeting lately.

I hope to see you soon.

By: Chris Bailey

Chris Bailey — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:32:48 +0000

Wow, what an awesome sounding night! I hope that we can look forward to some of these here in Eugene?! I really love how you and these other top guys are using all sorts of interesting ingredients, and it continues to blow my mind how you all come up with these. Good stuff.

By: Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Jeffrey Morgenthaler — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:21:21 +0000

Garretto – It was really good for me to go back and look over my notes and photos as I was writing this three weeks later, because it really helped solidify the whole Le Lion Bar de Paris experience in my head. I hope I was able to accurately convey the quality of drinks, atmosphere and service I witnessed while there.

My Late Summer Negroni Variation is just equal parts Martin Miller’s gin, Aperol, and Carpano Punt e Mes with a lemon twist. The Carpano provides some of the missing bitterness from the drink. I assume the proportions and ingredients in the Contessa are very similar, but perhaps someone more intimately familiar with the drink can chime in with a recipe?

By: Garretto

Garretto — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:51:02 +0000

Jeff,
It’s almost noon here—so I don’t feel guilty about the visceral craving I have for a cocktail, as induced by your writing. Sounds like a fantastic experience.
I will not be making it to Germany any time soon, so being a Negroni lover,the most practical thing I can ask: What is your “Late Summer” variation on the classic?
Much appreciation for your writing and knowledge (vast) of everything libatious. (new word?)
!Salud!

By: Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Jeffrey Morgenthaler — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:02:32 +0000

Thanks, Jay. I wish you could have been there, we always have a good time freaking out over great drinks together.

By: Jay Hepburn

Jay Hepburn — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:57:02 +0000

About time Jeff, I’ve been waiting for you to write about Le Lion! I’m impressed with the recollection of drinks… my note taking always gets a little fuzzy after the first few.

I can’t wait to pay a visit to Le Lion myself – like everything I’ve read and heard of it before this just makes me want to go even more. Great write up.

By: Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Jeffrey Morgenthaler — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:49:10 +0000

Dominik – Hopefully one day soon. Perhaps at Le Lion!

By: Dominik

Dominik — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:38:43 +0000

Wow Jeffrey

what a great story. Sound’s like a holy gral of sophisticated drinks.

Hope we gonna met soon for a nice drink.

Best Regards from Dubai

Dominik