As Utah’s capital and most populous metropolis, Salt Lake Metropolis is in no way a small market. However the evolution of the native drinks scene over the past dozen years or so will be seen as each a microcosm of trade developments in addition to a completely distinct panorama. That is due largely to a younger inhabitants desirous to rise inside the trade, and the state’s notoriously strict liquor legal guidelines. For instance, a cocktail’s base spirit will be no better than 1 1/2 ounces, and added liqueurs and modifiers should nonetheless preserve the full alcohol amount under 2 1/2 ounces.
“I believe the restrictions can breed creativity in ways in which lots of people don’t have to consider in different markets,” says Scott Gardner, a longtime Salt Lake bartender and co-founder of Water Witch, with Utah native and cocktail veteran Sean Neves. Neves factors to early, influential spots like Bar X, opened in 2011. “They actually launched the basic cocktail section of Salt Lake Metropolis’s drink growth,” Neves says.
At present, choices abound. “There are the informal locations that do off-the-wall kitschy cocktails, you will get tropical cocktails, and you will get a refined expertise with desk service,” says Gardner. And all these younger, keen bartenders that get exported to bigger markets? “Inside a pair years, they begin lacking snowboarding and fishing and all of the backwoods stuff that makes dwelling in Utah so magical,” says Neves. “We’ve got a extremely robust base of returning folks, which is enjoyable.”
Water Witch
When Water Witch opened in late 2016, the small however energetic cocktail bar (“It’s simply the smallest bar in Salt Lake Metropolis,” says Neves) signaled a vibe shift on the native drinks scene. “Our bars ought to be locations that we wish to hand around in, and that replicate us actually by way of what we wish to drink and the way we wish it to look,” he provides. Delivering extremely executed cocktails in an informal neighborhood environment, Water Witch discovered native adoration and nationwide acclaim with a 2022 James Beard Basis nomination. Whereas many visitors nonetheless choose to let the bartender information their expertise, the bar’s rotating seasonal cocktail menu options playful creations just like the PB&J (mezcal, strawberry, peanut butter, lemon).
Feeling hungry? Pop by way of the adjoining door into their new sister bar, Bar Nohm, a contemporary izakaya with Korean-inspired bar meals and their very own specialty cocktails just like the Atari Grouch (aged rum, scotch, matcha milk, sesame, Thai basil). “It’s the key portal between the areas, and they’re very a lot linked spiritually, though they’re very totally different ideas,” says Neves.
Scion Cider Bar
Opened in late 2021 by husband-and-wife Matthew Ostrander (an authorized pommelier, or cider knowledgeable) and Elisabeth Osmeloski, Scion Cider Bar is main the cost for the class, not simply within the state however nationwide. “They’ve a brilliant small manufacturing facility the place they crank out their very own ciders with totally different fruits from native producers, however in addition they have probably the most superior cider lists in North America,” says Neves. With frequently rotating faucets and a listing of bottles and cans greater than 225 deep, the ciders on supply span a worldwide spectrum, from fashionable home kinds to conventional Basque to basic English. “You’ll be able to stroll in and say, ‘Hey, Rio [cidermaker Rio Connelly], let’s work our approach by way of Estonia at the moment,’ and so they’ll stroll you thru the record,” says Neves.
Fisher Brewing Firm
Massively well-liked with Utah’s outdoorsy set, Fisher Brewing additionally stands as a chunk of the state’s craft beer historical past. Based by German immigrant Albert Fisher within the late 1800s, it turned one of many earliest and largest breweries in Utah, working till 1967. In 2017, a quartet of buddies—together with Tom Fisher Riemondy, the great-great grandson of Albert Fisher—revived the brewery, opening in an outdated auto physique store. “Anybody who likes to stay within the mountains and discover the gorgeous state of Utah appears to be an absolute hardcore Fisher Brewery advocate,” says Gardner. Whether or not of us select to take pleasure in their brews within the nice outside or just on Fisher’s spacious patio, the beer choices abound. Fisher brews greater than 100 distinctive varieties per yr, from their flagship pilsner to experimentally hopped IPAs to a basic British delicate. “They’re one in all our favourite breweries within the state,” provides Gardner.
Duffy’s Tavern
“Bartenders love going to good locations and having nice cocktails, however on the finish of the evening, everybody tends to crave a dive bar,” says Gardner. “My favourite dive bar within the metropolis known as Duffy’s—low-cost beers and pictures, nice jukebox, epic sandwiches, pool desk. It’s only a basic, cozy spot.” Established in 1978 and hardly up to date since, the welcoming house has notably been a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and can host pop-ups for fundraising occasions comparable to preserving the Nice Salt Lake. “In addition they have a bunch of feral cats out on the again patio that they’ve been caring for for like a decade,” says Gardner. “They sleep on the patio and the neighborhood loves them.”
Quarters
Within the basement of the historic New Grand Resort in downtown Salt Lake, glorious cocktails are accompanied by the plink of pinball and the soundtracks of basic arcade video games. “It’s in all probability one of many extra aggressive cocktail applications within the metropolis, and it simply occurs to be at an arcade bar,” says Gardner of Quarters, opened in 2018 by bartenders and arcade fanatics Michael Eccleston and Katy Willis. “It’s among the best arcade bars you’ll go to—they’ve a extremely notable, high-quality recreation choice,” provides Neves. “And so they do ripping cocktails. They take this system very critically.”
The idea proved so well-liked that Quarters simply opened their second location within the Sugar Home neighborhood earlier this yr. So whilst you strive your luck at Tron or within the month-to-month pinball match, you can even sip a drink just like the Dirk Diggler Martini (mezcal, Cappelletti, clarified ardour fruit and keenness fruit liqueur, lime-vanilla cordial, saline).
Copper Frequent
Beneath the purview of celebrated chef Ryan Lowder, Copper Frequent might take their seasonal meals menu very critically, however it’s before everything a bar. “It’s the sister bar to one of many founding artisan, chef-driven eating places in Salt Lake known as Copper Onion,” explains Neves. The bar first opened in 2014 as a type of placeholder whereas awaiting a full liquor license, with model 2.0 opening its doorways in 2022. “Copper Frequent has a extremely aggressive and well-thought-out pure wine menu, plus an amazing collection of artistic riffs on cocktails, and a few of the greatest bar meals within the nation,” says Neves. An informal night would possibly include some oysters and aperitivi on the bar, or tuck in for the evening with lamb merguez meatballs, crab beignets, and a bottle of skin-contact Verdejo from Spain or a Malbec from the Loire Valley.
