Bite Club: Moveable libations

This week, it’s all about the booze. Okay, mostly about booze. Because baby, it’s rum-thirty somewhere.

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The Roving Bartender”: It doesn’t get much cooler than this, cocktailians.

From his vintage-style teardrop trailer, bartender Christopher Long (Spoonbar, Campo Fina) roams Napa and Sonoma serving up artisan cocktails (aka liquid alchemy) at outdoor dinners, weddings and other Wine Country gatherings.

Libations Unlimited offers bespoke drinks for each event, including kegged cocktails, a beer tap and customized espresso machine along with edible flowers, fruit and herbs.

So much classier than your brother pouring warm wine, for sure.

You can hire Chris (yes, he has a beard and wears a vest like any good bartender) for your event at libationsunlimited.com or by calling 707-328-2132.

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Barrel Aged Gin, Yes Please: On a recent tour of the Barlow’s SpirtWorks Distillery (6790 McKinley St #100, Sebastopol) BiteClub fell a little in love.

Partly with owners Timo and Ashby Marshall’s Boston Terrier, Bandit, and mostly with their newly-released barrel-aged gin. Made from their Red Winter Wheat gin, it’s aged in new white oak, giving it a more intense, toasty flavor with lots of vanilla, butterscotch, cardomom and orange and imparting a rich amber hue.

A perfect winter sipper mixed with a little eggnog or straight up by the fire.

Want to see the distillery for yourself? Guided tours are available Friday through Sunday for $15 per person, with reservations required.

And while you’re at it, pick up a bottle of their vodka, rye whiskey and sloe gin (a specialty of Timo’s family for generations). Available at Oliver’s Markets, Bottle Barn and BevMo, around $50.

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Sours at Whiskey Tip: It’s not often you get a decent cocktail at a bar anymore. They’re too busy making Jack & Cokes and pouring beer.

In fact, we’ve gotten a few sneers for merely asking for a gin and tonic. But we’re loving the hand-crafted “original” sours at Whiskey Tip (1910 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa) made with American bourbon, simple syrup, lime juice and egg white.

They’re beautiful and delicious, and only $8 rather than, well, a whole lot more at other fancy drink spots.

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Sonoma Bar Battle: Are there ever losers in a cocktail competition, especially when the audience gets to be the judge?

On Saturday, Oct. 11, 14 local bars and restaurants will battle for the ultimate cocktail concoction.

Did we mention that Charbay Distillery is the proud vodka provider and Gloria Ferrer is hosting a sparkling-wine cocktail contest?

Tickets are $35 at sonomabarbattle.com and $40 at the door. Dancing, food and a photo booth to document the merriment are included.

Proceeds from the event will got to charities in Sonoma. Sonoma Veterans Building, 126 First St., Sonoma.

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Finally, a bit of restaurant news. Former Mirepoix chef and Michelin-star winner Matthew Bousquet has turned up at SF’s Per Diem. The Windsor restaurant closed in 2011, leaving a hole in the Sonoma County restaurant scene.

But it’s good to hear he’s landed in a new gig focused on seasonally inspired dishes (though they lean more toward Italian than Bousquet’s well-known French cuisine). Sante!

In Napa, the owners of Ca’Momi (more to come on that unforgettable dining experience) plan to open a second restaurant in downtown Napa.

The menu is still under wraps, but expect their Oxbow Market enoteca (610 1st St Suite 9, Napa) to continue focusing on authentic Neopolitan pizzas and pastries (to die for).

The Oxbow location is one of the few pizzerias in the U.S. certified by the authoritative Napoletana pizza makers association (“VPN”) in Italy.

Seating is limited at Oxbow, so we’re hoping to see even more “slow food” entrees (beef tongue, oxtail and “obsessively Italian” pastas) in the larger restaurant space at 1141 First St., Napa.

Still hungry? Check out Heather’s food and dining blog at BiteClubEats.com.