Has it already been a year since Sanctuaria first opened its doors? The last 12 months are a blur to us, but maybe that’s just the effect of sampling a lot of cocktails and wild tapas at 4198 Manchester Ave. Today is Sanctuaria’s official anniversary, and there’s quite a bit to celebrate.
First, the restaurant will be running food and drink specials all weekend long. Chef de cuisine Wil Petty will be whipping up a bevy of tasty creations while bar manager Matt Seiter has constructed a special $5 cocktail list. He and Petty have also teamed up for another cocktail dinner. This Sunday, $65 will land you a five-course meal, along with five cocktails all featuring 901 Tequila.
Today also marks the official start of the Sanctuaria Cocktail Club. Cocktail lovers can pay a one-time $20 membership fee and enjoy a special drink from a list of 150 cocktails – some vintage, others original – that Seiter and his bar crew have compiled. While nonmembers will be shelling out a 10-spot, the spirits brethren will only plunk down $8 per drink.
Other perks of the club: your first drink as a member is free and you get 10 percent off the price of events, tastings and seminars, as well as discounts on bottles (yep, the restaurant has started selling retail and even has the artisanal, small batch good stuff). Your name will even be entered in monthly drawings for a bottle of wine, spirits or beer. Members of the cocktail club who sample all 150 libations will earn the right to enjoy every third drink per visit on the house.
It will take some time to savor all 150 concoctions, but you can do some slow sippin’ since Sanctuaria is now open until 3 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays.
For more information about the anniversary festivities or the Sanctuaria Cocktail Club, call 314.535.9700.
This article appears in Dec 1-31, 2010.