The Quaalude Isn’t for Beginners

Cocktailing

Paul Whyte

This week I took my quest for cocktails back over to Duluth. Zeitgeist on Superior St. has a great selection of spirits and has some great food. I was there a few weeks ago and noticed a few interesting cocktails and figured I’d stop in and ask the bartender to make me up something.

Featured Bartender: Kyle Dietman. He has been a bartender in the Twin Ports for around seven years and has been working at Zeitgeist for around seven months. He also bartends down the block at Tycoons Ale House.

Interests & Activities: He likes to disc golf, chilling with his dogs and is fixing up his house this summer.

Favorite music: Pink Floyd, The Beatles and Atmosphere.
 
Featured Cocktail: The Quaalude. This is a reference to the book/movie “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by the famed Gonzo journalist, Hunter S. Thompson. An actual Quaalude, in its pill form, has a sedative and hypnotic effect. This drink does hit pretty hard. It includes a half shot of Jameson, a half shot of Rumple Minze, a pour of Heering Coffee Liqueur and then a good pour of Bailey’s Irish Cream. He shook up the mix with some ice and then strained it into a lowball glass.                 Kyle created this drink years back at Sir Benedict’s Tavern with a couple of other coworkers.

How is it?: I was worried watching the Jameson and Rumple Minze go into this drink at first. The coffee liqueur and Bailey’s carries the drink above the booze flavors of the aforementioned ingredients. This isn’t a drink you’ll have all night. Everything in it has alcohol and it’s kind of like taking a Car Bomb, but instead of Guinness, there’s just more straight booze. Kyle said the drink would usually get a little Goldschlager as well. If you’re doing a drink with Jameson, Rumple Minze and Goldschlager, you’re pretty much asking for it. Kyle mentioned it’s a good drink to give someone who has just turned 21. I guess some kids need a lesson in cocktailing. The drink is easy to put down, but it will hang with you for awhile.

Credits

Paul Whyte

A South Shore native and University of Wisconsin-Superior journalism graduate. Lifelong musician, and former open mic host. Passionate about the music scene and politics.

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