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June 2021: Location has moved to Rancho Bernardo & San Marcos

Oceanside is no stranger to craft beer and this town houses nine craft breweries located on "Hops Highway". In 2015, Mason Ale Works launched an in-house ten-barrel brewhouse inside Urge Gastropub and I had the pleasure of exploring Urge Gastropub and the guys that work behind the scenes.

101 PROOF SPEAKEASY + www.thetravelpockets.com

Urge Gastropub carries thirteen beers on tap and is coming on the the scene with popularity for their beers being aged in wine barrels. Not only do they have innovative ideas, but I was loving the vibe of this restaurant. It was laid back and had a really cool modern industrial vibe to it.

You're probably wondering, "What does this have to do with the V.I.P. 101 Proof Speakeasy experience?" Well, right next door is the entrance to the former bank vault turned speakeasy, 101 Proof. 101 Proof opened its doors in October 2016 and it only houses thirty-five guests at a time. Yes, it's an intimate experience and one that should not be passed up.

There is an exclusive entrance on Vista Way, but only those with a reservation will make it passed this vault door. An exciting night at this speakeasy comes with "House Rules" that really elevates the experience. There are two rules that I really love about this place: no selfies and dress to impress.

I started the night with a couple of drinks off their cocktail menu. The bartender suggested I try the "Boom Tiki Tiki" and "Mixed Berry Smash". Both drinks were hand-crafted and were absolutely amazing both in taste and presentation. There are also a variety Old Fashioned drinks and high-end beer.

If you are hungry, there is a small food menu and the food is just as yummy as their drinks. Everything I tried was delightful, but my favorite was the Bananas Foster.

The Banana Foster paired with "The 1849" bourbon was the tastiest dessert I have ever had. It didn't even taste like I was drinking alcohol, which can be a little dangerous for a light weight like myself. I had to make sure I paced myself, which was definitely challenging.

I was thoroughly impressed by the decor, drinks, food, and service at 101 Proof. The atmosphere is so different from the modern-day bar scene and one that I really enjoy. Next time I go, I would love to dress up in 1920's attire and have a fun night out with my girlfriends.

Have you ever been to a Speakeasy? If so, what was your experience like?

URGE GASTROPUB AND WHISKEY BANK
ADDRESS: 2002 S Coast Hwy., Oceanside, CA 92054

Camera equipment used: Canon EOS M3 Mirrorless Camera, Canon EF-M 22mm f2 STM Compact System Fixed Lens. We subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud to edit photos and videos using Lightroom, Premiere Pro, and Photoshop.