Small Bites at Wink & Nod by Whisk and Sips with Cormac, Curtis McMillan, and Colleagues

 Me and a few girlfriends visited a packed Wink & Nod late night for a nightcap on its first hard open night.  I couldn't wait to return to take in the beautiful bar packed with premium spirits.  

A couple of weeks later, I made it my every Monday evening spot for cocktail and food tastings and enlightening a few friends to this fabulous addition in the South End.

The famous quote by Martin Lomasney (Massachusetts politician who held many positions from 1893-1922) on the importance of discretion graces Wink & Nod's menu:

This new sexy craft cocktail speakeasy in the South End (3 Appleton St at Tremont) features one of the most beautiful and fully loaded whisk(e)y-heavy bars in the city!  

Curtis McMillan, VP of USBG Boston and spirits currator/GM at Wink & Nod will blow your mind with the collection behind the wood and private collection goodies, like the award winning, 18th Century Old Potrero rye whiskey.

Me and the Whiskey man himself, Curtis McMillan

Most are mesmerized, as expected, by the $100 cocktail featuring beyond premium spirits created by Curtis and named the Billionaire's Bijou is made with:

•  $700 Nolet's Reserve gin (only a few hundred bottles hand-signed by Master Distiller Carolus Nolet Sr. are produced annually)
• Chartreuse Green V.E.P (Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé), prolonged aging in oak casks, ~$200 retail
• Martini & Rossi Gran Lusso vermouth (150th anniversary edition)
• Orange saffron bitters, procured personally by Curtis from small orange juice producer/cocktail enthusiast friend in France created the saffron infused orange bitters exclusively for Wink & Nod

 

The chartreuse alone will change your life with it's velvety, slick mouth feel, traditional herbaceous influence on the palate and smooth finish.  Even the color in comparison to its younger, more ubiquitous counterpart is brilliant.

The uber talented and humbly philanthropic gentlemen of Whisk, Chefs Philip Kruta and Jeremy Kean take full command of their menu at Wink & Nod and serve up a number of spectacular dishes, a few of which I've sampled thus far.

Venison tartare with mint, pumpkin seed, parsnip, and a quail egg.

The venison tartare was rich with clean flavor, no gaminess.  The pumpkin seeds added a lovely, crunch and texture, as did the papadum wafer.  Delivered, like a traditional steak tartare, with an egg (quail for this dish) for mixing and binding the perfectly balanced ingredients.  I love a well prepared game meat dish.  The venison and quail egg certainly did not disappoint.

Who can resist duck meatballs?  How about foie gras?  No?  How about their wedding?

Whisk has created the ultimate meatball, duck & foie gras - tender, succulent, rich meatballs served with pickled blueberry and black garlic with a side of housemade granola...there are no words!

 The creamy-centered, crispy coated pork belly arancini with fiddlehead remoulade was superb.   You can never go wrong with perfectly cooked tender bits of porcine heaven.

 The black squid ink pasta with squid, miso, cauliflower, and black garlic was only overpowered by the sharpness of the cream dollop which through off its balance.  The dish itself, however, was a combination of beautiful ribbons of handmade pasta, tender whole baby squid with tender roasted cauliflower and chunky tomato.

Black squid ink pasta with squid, miso, cauliflower, black garlic

 I fell madly in love with the Bolognese made with kale drunken noodle, pancetta, oregano and topped with crisp kale chips and Parmesan - a rich, creamy dish given texture by the roasted kale.

On one of my Monday nights (Cinco de Mayo), Curtis talked me into sampling their tiki menu from the "May the Fourth Be with You" themed drinks menu.

I'm not much of a tiki girl due to the sugar content of the classic style drink, but I endulged and didn't complain of a sugar hangover the next day, so job well done on that front.  They could grow on me.

Dark Side of the Force

 Dark Side of the Force

Sailor Jerry rum
Cranberry Juice
Fresh Lime Juice
Fresh Orange Juice

Wookie Juice

 Wookie Juice

Bulleit Rye (originally made with Rittenhouse rye)
Fresh lemon juice
Fresh orange juice
House orgeat syrup
Simple syrup 

Obiwan Kenobi DTO

Obiwan Kenobi DTO

Brugal white rum
Fresh Lime Juice
Fresh Grapefruit Juice
Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur 
 
Join me on Monday nights...starting at 11 pm, elite guest bartenders from around Boston will host a tiki bar.  Here's the upcoming dates & shakers:







Spent some time at Wink & Nod?  Tell me about it in the comments section...