Jason Dundas Moment: “Just got to LA from Australia! Where should I go tonight Angie?”

Destination: La Descarga

La Descarga
1159 Western Avenue
Hollywood, California 90029
Reservations recommended, call (323) 466-1324 or do it on the site.

Inspiration: Jason Dundas, Aussie actor and travel guru, “I’m here in LA! Where should I go Angie?”  

Actualization:
La Descarga is slang for “go crazy” or “after party”. La Descarga made me La Descarga last night. Who knew Rum could be so fun?

Rumors about the revival of this Rum bar rang true.

1 – Reservation recommended: Make a reservation. I say they are required. Hot spot in LA so right now – required. Sometimes you get a password too! It’s all part of the game. The password for our night was Angie Banicki.

2 – Right off the Road: The entrance isn’t easy to spot. It’s next to a random late-night Mexican stand. Thank you Gods of Rum for not letting me partake in the tacos at the end of this night. I guarantee it’ll happen one of the nights…probably if I’d had La Descarga’s Rum concoction “tapping the admiral”.

3 – Random Route: It’s a maze to actually get to the rum. We walked down a long dark hall and arrived to a reception area where we were met by our Cuban hostess who was sitting at a desk. In front of her sat a turntable playing Latin music. She welcomed us, walked around and opened up a wardrobe/time machine.  We peered through to a dark abyss as she pushed aside the hanging Havana shirts and walked us into 1930s Havana.

4- Rhythmic music from the Mambo band: On the hour (I think hourly is right…cant confirm post Jessica Paster’s Rum Bowl!) the 5 piece mambo band above us performed Congo beats rousing us to order more rum.

5 – Racks of cigars: To escape the hot sticky havana bar, the cigar bar provided us an outdoor haven for tobacco, chat, rambunctiousness and more rum. This is where my romantic affair with Cruzan Blackstrap Rum began. I drank it straight and tried to share it with everyone who came within 5 feet of me…including my favorite comedian who ceases to acknowledge my existence. Aziz.

I didn’t try it but apparently they have a specialty with my lover –
Bad Spaniard, a guilty pleasure made with Cruzan Blackstrap Rum, Amaro Averna, sweetened condensed milk, one whole egg yolk and cinnamon

6 – Rows and Rows of Rum: Over 70 different kind of Rum lined the walls behind the bar. We sampled quite a few of the exotic concoctions the mixologists prepared for us. Friends loved the Honey Swizzle but I thought it tasted like Jagermeister. Ladies – fyi I found out the Honey Swizzle has anise it it…so I wasn’t going crazy…or going descarga when I said that.

7 – Red Rum Regret: La Descarga renewed my love of Rum but took me for ransom the next morning. Of course, not without having a “La Descarga” afterparty of our own first.