Vault 244 Bistro and Lounge serves up great gin cocktails

I would have sworn I was not a gin drinker. I always thought of it as a lighter fluid-tasting liquor that my mother-in-law mixed with tonic. Then I had a drink at Vault 244 Bistro and Lounge in Albany, Oregon that changed my mind.

I was visiting my sister in Oregon and we went for tapas and drinks at Vault 244. Looking back at it, I wondered if it had to do more with being with my sister. We giggled like school girls and had a fabulous night out. But then I realized, no, I just LOVED the bistro. It FEELS good. The big fireplace and rich leather seating is inviting. The dark wooden bar is hand-crafted. Even the tile work in the restroom is gorgeous.

But the best part is the cocktails. They are great and I learned to love gin that night thanks to bartender extraordinaire Andrew Brenneman. Vault 244 specializes in Martini cocktails and I loved the Glass Slipper, one of Andrew's personal creations on the menu. It was a beautiful pink color, almost glowing in the bar's light. The drink combines New Amsterdam gin, St. Germain elderflower liqueur (another new favorite) and a Campari splash.

Vault 244 Bistro and Lounge is a lovely gem in Albany, Oregon that now has me on the hunt for that next great gin drink.

Visit Vault 244 Bistro and Lounge at 244 1st Avenue SW in Albany, OR. Call 541-791-9511.