The Drink: The One Night Stand
The Location: Bar Rouge, 1315 16th St. NW, (202) 939-6422
The Price: $10
The Buzz: The other night, some friends and I went to Theater J to see David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow, a play that revolves around a temp secretary who uses her seductive charms to sway a Hollywood producer. Afterward, we wandered down the street to Bar Rouge, inside Hotel Rouge. We walked into a fairly full lounge, worked our way toward the bar, and found ourselves front and center for the wrap-up of that night’s speed dating. While we tried to get a cocktail list, a woman was shouting to hand in name tags, fill out forms, and “be generous” with our decisions. As things finally settled down, with a lucky couple lingering here and there, I perused a menu with drink names like the Cabana Boy and the Playboy. Giving in to the night’s theme, I ordered the One Night Stand, a martini made from Absolut Ruby Red, X-Rated liqueur (vodka infused with blood orange, mango, and passion fruit), and a splash of grapefruit juice. The drink came without its advertised sugar rim, which was a bonus. It was fruity (one person said it tasted like Hawaiian Punch), but its irresistible feature was its sour tang. I was perhaps the only person to leave Rouge that night enjoying the bitter taste in my mouth.