ODD (Orlando Drink and Draw) was held at The Matador Orlando (724 Virginia Dr, Orlando, Florida 32803). The Matador has the best of both worlds: It’s a dark dive with plenty of seating, where you can get an adventurous craft cocktail or just order up your usual drink. The patio is typically jumping after hours, but happy hour is normally chill. It’s almost too easy to order round after round in this well-rounded Ivanhoe watering hole.
Orlando Drink and Draw ventures to a new bar each month to sample beers and sketch. There is no model fee and no instruction. This is just a chance to get out, meet fellow artists and draw. I’m hoping to sketch in Central Florida’s best dive bars, so suggestions are always welcome.
I can acknowledge that the place is indeed “Chill” on a Monday during happy hour. One person sat at the bar talking to the bartender and a couple finally entered as I was finishing the sketch to play a game of pool in the back corner of the room. I love the blood red walls and the Spanish themed, gilded, reverent, bull fighting memorabilia on the walls.
The craft cocktails are unique and must change with the seasons. There was a touch of citrus in each drink I sampled.
Old Fashioned
- four roses bourbon, sugar, bitters, orange – $10
Gin andd Tonic on Tap
- half moon gin, jack rudy tonic, orange – $8
Matador Mule
- rye whiskey, ginger beer, bitters, lime – $9
Seasonal Collins
- vodka or gin, rotating syrup, soda, lemon – $9
Hemmingway Daiquiri
- rum, luxardo maraschino, grapefruit, lime – $9
Sunflower
- gin, st. germain, cointreau, lemon, absinthe rinse – $10