Lead Bartender Aby Gomez-Mercado Gives Us the 411 on Ingredients
Written By: Matthew Burke
Photographed By: Josie Gonzales Oxford Social Club
The Oxford Social Club, a place where the drinks are as elegant as their surroundings. Nestled within the luxury Pendry San Diego in the Gaslamp Quarter, this newbie night club rolls with the punches…and pours them.
The Polish Punch is sweet with a tinge of tart. The ingredients within the confines of a large and alluring crystal decanter dazzle the eyes and the taste buds. The Polish Punch is one of Oxford Social Club’s signature communal provisionals—and it’s out to getcha.
“The alcohol is not going to hit you hard,” said lead bartender Aby Gomez-Mercado. “The Cointreau softens the taste of the vodka combined with lemon-lime juice—it’s very smooth on the pallet. The combination of the berries gives it that silky berry flavor. So, it’s very smooth, very easy to drink, very soft on the pallet, and a little sneaky. It’s one of those drinks where you’re a cup-and-a-half in and you’re like, ‘Hey, I’m feeling good. I might have to slow this down a little bit.’”
We love sneaky, and the Oxford Social Club’s drinks are a wolf in sheep’s clothing—craft cocktails shouldn’t reminisce paint thinner and fruit. Along with their top-notch cocktails, the club is a place that owns a ravishing atmosphere without the attitude as Gomez-Mercado explains the clientele: “People are a lot more chill down here. You still get the high-end client, but you don’t get the high-end client who has their nose in the air.”
Ingredients:
- 50 Bleu Vodka
- Cointreau
- Lemon-Lime Juice
- Orange Juice
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
- Champagne (optional)
Be Seen and Heard: Not only is Oxford Social Club a place you want to be seen, the venue also hosts art shows and activations and music gatherings. There’s also celebrity-hosted parties and pop up performances, so be on the lookout for those dates!
Pendry San Diego
Oxford Social Club
435 Fifth Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
619.738.7040
Order This Next Time You’re Partying at Oxford Social Club