/ˌhäspəˈtalədē/
*This is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.
El Potro Mexican Bar and Grill has been a part of my life for many years now and no matter which one I visit out of their four locations, the warmth and hospitality I feel each time is unmatched. They care about all their patrons and no I am not just saying that, its a real feeling. When I visited the Malden location ( my third our of the four) I loved the interior which is a lively mix of vibrant colors, a gorgeous bar area and Mexican made fixtures throughout the restaurant.
This time we focused in on the bar area because El Potro is more than a purveyor of delicious Mexican food, they also make killer cocktails. We had the pleasure of our drinks being made by Sadi the bartender who is a genius behind the bar. He created some of their on menu items but also made an off the menu creation that was absolutely incredible. Flavors that hit all corners of the palate, and took me on a wild ride. By the end of our delicious lunch and amazing drinks, I was experiencing a real food high and loved every minute of it.
I never thought I would ever get this into craft cocktails, simply because I was never a big drinker. I am definitely not the type of person that will go to the bar and ask for a vodka and cranberry, nope not me although I will go for a nice gin and tonic ( London introduced me to these). I love cocktails that are carefully crafted and showcase flavors that you can feel and taste in every aspect. Eating food and drinking cocktails should be an experience you remember and talk about and I will be talking about “El Gallo” for a long, long time. More on that later, now let’s get to one of my favorite things to talk about because we didn’t just have cocktails we also had some delicious food while we waited for drinks to be prepared.
Our wonderful waitress brought us a beautiful array of dips including bean dip with cotija cheese, fresh guac, and house salsa. The bean dip was absolute goals. Super fresh, tasty and addicting. I am a dip fiend, did you all know that? All the dips, all the condiments; I live for all the flavors that they bring to dishes. Then I ordered Tacos, and of course, was in love with them every bite I took. Throughout the whole experience, we were blessed with these amazing cocktails and I want to go into more detail about those now.
So what makes a good craft cocktail? Good ingredients and great bartenders who know how to put them together. Sadi was a beast behind the bar and he created the following four drinks for us.
- Ultimate Margarita
- Oaxacan Old Fashioned
- Muchos Besos
- El Gallo
The Ultimate Margarita | Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Grand Marnier, and a splash of orange juice
This drink was strong and tasty. A step up from the regular house margarita with a pop of flavor and freshness. I really enjoyed this version of the margarita. This is a regular on their drink menu so make sure to order it next time you’re there.
Oaxacan Old Fashioned | Don Julio reposado, Del Maguey Vida mezcal, agave nectar, and angostura bitters
I am living for this version of an old fashioned. It was potent but had a burst of citrus and freshness I absolutely loved. I don’t typically get an old fashioned when I go out but I would get this one. It was so delicious.
Muchos Besos | Partida Blanco Tequila, Ancho Reyes Chili Liqueur, Grind Espresso, Baileys Irish Cream
The literal translation of this drink is “Lots of Kisses” and that’s what it felt like every time you took a sip. Its a strong drink but velvety smooth, chocolatey and hits you just right. This is the drink that keeps you cozy and warm. Make sure you grab this one!
El Gallo | Don Julio Reposado, lime juice, agave nectar, grapefruit juice, cinnamon syrup, cucumber wheels, sriracha, freshly ground pepper and a pinch of salt
So this last drink is an off the menu drink that is composed of many ingredients, each with their own unique addition to the flavor profile. I loved this drink and kept sipping on this to keep experiencing the flavors. It was sweet, tart, savory and spicy. It took you on a journey of the senses. You have to ask for this one specifically when you go to the Malden location. Tell them the Maven sent you 🙂
All in all my experience as always at El Potro Mexican Bar & Grill was unique and delicious. I am so glad I had the opportunity to visit their Malden location. Each location while similar has some differences, in this one I noticed how the light fixtures were different and also handcrafted. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much to them for welcoming us with open arms and letting us experience the different aspects of their cocktail menu. When you go anywhere I hope you go with a hunger to try things you’ve never tried before, to experience the world through someone else’s eyes and to treasure everything around you.
Living out loud always,
Life as a Maven
March 13, 2020 at 2:23 pm
fabulous!; What a wonderful share…