Cocktails. My lover. My friend. See, I have had a very rough patch with alcohol intake. At first, I remember I would "chase" my way through it. Chasing, for those who don't know, is mixing alcohol with Soda or Juice. Because alcohol tastes so bad. Not yuck. Nothing like fish that's gone bad. Just, very bitter.
Full disclaimer: This article is not for people under age 18 (or the legal drinking age in your country). If you're above age, please drink safely. Or rather, don't drink at all if you feel like you're doing too much. Always hydrate. Always be safe.
So, ideally, the next step after chasing is drinking shots. So, that's drinking alcohol in its raw form in nice, cute, little, uhm, glasses. It's a social thing. You take shots together. And so, I desperately wanted to be a part of the culture. But, the minute I took mine, it quickly came back up my throat and splattered all across my friends. Followed by a gut-wrenched vomit of all I'd eaten that day.
Yes, I've decided to be explicit because alcohol intake isn't rosy. Nearly everyone I know has drunk too much to the point of passing out. Or, said vomiting. Imagine getting sick simply because you wanted to have fun. Yes, sick because that's exactly how it feels. All you want to do at this point is go to bed, but if you have an expert by your side, they'll tell you to drink as much water as you can. Hydrate. Hydrate. Please, always hydrate. Now that I'm older, I always hydrate. It helps to avoid those nasty hangovers the morning after.
Okay. That's probably the longest intro I've done, so let me get back on track. The issue I had was that I couldn't keep my alcohol down unless I was chasing it or drinking it as a cocktail. And hence, my love for cocktails was born.
Location
We arrive at Culture Mambo Lounge around 6pm-ish. Right opposite Vicmark Trading Centre. On Government Road. In the heart of Nakuru CBD. It can be a little tricky to find, but as always, I recommend taking a nduthi (motorbike) and paying 50 bob. Or walking. Taking an Uber is, uhm, luxurious if you're already in the CBD because it really is within the town, and walking is healthy.
Ambiance
The place is lovely. There's rnb/pop music playing in the background. Oh, did I mention I came here strategically early to listen to this type of music? Before the afro beats start and the place runs with drunken folk. I love the peace and tranquility.
There's an upstairs lounge you can stroll to, and from up above, you have a full view of the bar/restaurant. I love what they've done with the place. The floor is green carpeted. The stairs have golden light beaming between them. The roof is laden with colored bulbs hanging from the ceiling. There are booths for private parties. And a VIP at the front of the lounge. Odd choice, I think, but very VIP if you think about it.
Personal Commentaries
We easily find a spot we like because most of the tables are unoccupied. I immediately ask for the cocktail menu. Because I have that tunnel vision when I go to places. But the waitress tells me the "cocktail guy" isn't here yet.
When do you think he'll be here?
I don't know.
Do you mind calling him?
Okay.
I order a pasta bolognese just cause I had already started to fiddle with my hands. And I sensed this might take longer than I can wait for.
Around 30 minutes go by. I ask how far the cocktail guy is.
Uhm, he's coming.
Are you sure?
He's never late like this. I don't know what happened.
Well, did you call him?
Yes. He didn't pick up. But I'll try him again.
Okay.
Another 30 minutes go by. I still haven't got my pasta.
Are you sure he's coming, if he's not, I can just order another drink.
He is. He's gonna come.
I know. I know. I'm an annoying customer. Which is why a few minutes later, I see a guy dressed in all-denim whisk through the lounge and over to my table, a basket stuffed with glasses and ice in hand. He's the cocktail guy. Yes! He's finally here.
I settle on my drink. Lol, who am I kidding? I already know what I'm going to have. Long Island, please.
I love it because it's a mixture of not one, not two, but up to five alcoholic drinks. I'm not even kidding. If you've drunk Long Island, I hope you know you were drinking poison. And, Lord, do I love it.
I forget I had to wait for an hour-plus for this.
With just the first sip, I felt the dopamine flow through my veins. It doesn't have the loveliest taste. A strong mint, and soda, I felt. But I didn't order it for the taste. I ordered it for the buzz.
Within minutes, I got the very thing I wanted. A strong buzz I knew would take me through the night. I paced myself because Long Island isn't the kind of drink you just gulp down like water. You sip it slowly. Savoring every buzz as it slowly builds up tide. When I was done, I was on cloud nine. Long Island was a home run once again.
Activities
The place is a lounge with great music. Kind of loud to have any impactful conversations. But lighter once, for sure. There are massive flat screens all around the place for watching sports. My friends love to come here to watch football. Other than that, Culture Mambo is generally a place to go chill with friends. Listen to great music. Have a drink or two. Dance, probably. And call it a night!
What is a Cocktail Drink?
A little "from scratch," but just to get facts straight, a cocktail drink is usually an alcoholic drink that consists of a mixture of one or more types of alcohol and other ingredients like fruit juice, cream, tonic water, flavored syrups, etc. I like to think of cocktail drinks as art. Sure, there are historical recipes that restaurants easily replicate. But some restaurants come up with original recipes you may never have tried before.
To mention a few, the most popular cocktails you'll find are Mojito (White rum, Sugar, Lime juice, Soda water, and Mint), Manhattan (Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, and Bitters), Martini (Gin, Vermouth, Olive/Lemon Twist - Garnish - ), and Margarita (Tequila, Triple sec, and Lime juice). There are far more cocktails out there. Way more than I can count.
I always make it my mission to discover new cocktails. Some are stronger, meaning just one glass can quickly get you drunk, while others are lighter. Tastes vary, too, depending on the flavors infused within them. Generally, though, people often have the go-to cocktails they've grown to love, and whenever they go somewhere, they always order that specific one. Mine is Long Island. What's yours?
Hey, go exploring, and let me know what your favorite is. Feel free to check out our “Mr. Shawarma and His Secret Recipe: A Chill, Relaxing Hang-Out Spot in Nakuru, Kenya” article. Meanwhile, let us know of any questions or concerns!