The atmosphere here is warm and romantic, with a welcoming staff that makes you feel right at home. The music has a fun, funky vibe--perfectly balanced so we could easily chat. It was an excellent choice for Valentine's Day! I had the Eldest Sage gin, while my husband went for the Bitter Devil with Ancho Cacao and Rhubarb. Both were draft cocktails, yet crafted with such care and precision that they felt just as special as any made-to-order drink. They have an extensive collection of elixirs that is sublime. The Old Fashioned cocktail flight was a highlight--we got to try the Irish, bourbon, and rye variations. Turns out, I'm a rye girl! Who knew? It was incredibly smooth and delicious. read more

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Checked out this distillery in NE this past summer Really enjoyed the cocktails and sitting at the bar watching them being made They use and sell a lot of house made bitters and also offer couple cocktail flights- inside staff super nice Prices aren't bad , the patio is cute for summer only downside is right next to train tracks so every time a train passes it is super loud and annoying Not the friendliest bartender on the patio- Drinks are fun and aesthetically pleasing but also taste good read more

Elusive - Botanical Bar by Dashfire - Distilleries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Came here after a friend suggested I tried it! I loved the vibes with all the cozy sitting spaces. I had the holiday rum punch and my partner had the old fashioned flight. The drinks were delicious--boozy and tasty. There seems to be several interesting cocktails on the menu that I'd like to try next time! My only downside...the place was fairly busy and they didn't seem to have an efficient way to order and pickup drinks quickly. We waited in a long line to order and for another 10+ min to get our drinks. Seems like something a cocktail room should have figured out! read more

Elusive - Botanical Bar by Dashfire - Holiday rum punch - Distilleries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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This is a criminally underrated spot in Northeast. Tucked behind other businesses in the Thorp Building, its an easy one to miss. But the drinks and vibes are unforgettable, a beautifully made space (with its own quirks!) that is great for a couple drinks with someone special. The cocktail room is laid back but tastefully done up, and the cocktail menu is always changing and expertly crafted. We went for their Tiki event and they did a fantastic job of doing up the place without it being too much. Bonus points for the themed vinyl wall! The tiki drinks were both beautiful and delicious, a good mix of classics and originals with a Dashfire twist. The regular menu is great as well, highly recommend the Spanish Gin and Tonic. As a bonus, the front area of this space has a variety of Bitters, Liqueurs and premade cocktails for sale. Bitters can even be sampled, a great idea before committing to a whole bottle of their creative products. Very nice if you are looking for a gift or souvenir for a cocktail enthusiast. read more

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Great vibe and super tasty drinks. It's fun to watch the cocktails being made right in front of you. The service could've been a little warmer, but overall still a spot I'd recommend checking out! read more

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I loved this speakeasy. We were there on a cold (proper MN cold) night. It's in the same complex as Tattersall - look for dock #10 and you will see a well lit door . As soon as one enters it they are enveloped in smells of bitters - I mostly recognized the warm spices of old fashion bitters which I . One walks through a dark but neon (purplish) hue that is sufficient to safely mark the path. On the night we were there the place was mellow with few other groups - all in all maybe 10-15 patrons. Which suited us well as we met another couple friends and we were able to sit across each other and carry on conversations without having to shout. Drink menu is limited compared to say, Tattersall or old Marvel bar. But they have a good list of classics (think Old Fashion, Manhattan, Negroni, etc) as well as some of their own creations. One could order some snacks or hand pies or ice cream too. We ordered some Dots to snack on with drinks. They also sell their Dashfire bitters in one of the corners. I enjoyed the place and our night very much. Would recommend for a calm vibe and well made drinks. read more

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This place is in the same building as Tattersall ( I know, I didn't know either). You can just walk out the front entrance and keep going left down the main hallway to find Elusive! When you walk in, you will see a bitters rack, (and you can try them all!) along with canned cocktails. I love the whole interior vibe- where else can you see a cocktail laboratory within a vaguely art deco-inspired lounge? And the more recently-opened patio is a gem, especially on a hot day. They have a second bar outside and the patio has tons of shaded areas. It reminds be more of a beach club than a bar, with it's relaxing teal umbrellas and wicker couches, but unlike a beach club, the music isn't too loud. There are many cocktails that I loved here. The Spanish Gin and Tonic, which comes in a beautiful giant glass (pictured). Ube Piña Colada (the purple one) and the Paloma Vista were also delicious. We also split an espresso martini at the end of the night (pictured). I usually like my coffee drinks on the creamier/chocolatier side, so I was surprised to enjoy their recipe, which managed to incorporate both of those flavors without using actual cream. The hardest part was carrying in my coup glass down the hallway to the patio. This family business is one of my favorite bars in the TC! I have met some of their bartenders out and about, and they only have positive things to say. August 2024 Update: Photos added from their tiki pop-up event! We tried the Jungle Flame (spiced rum, pineapple, mango, lime, demerara, chili pepper, star anise bitters) and the Bird of Paradise (a take on a Jungle Bird). The Jungle Flame definitely had a kick to it, while the Bird was good, but a little too subtle (probably because of the rhubarb). I think it just needed one flavor to be a little bit stronger. Both were served beautifully, and there were several more drinks on the tiki menu that I was interested in trying. read more

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Has a speakeasy feel once you enter thru the bottling area. No food available but really creative & tasty beverages! Order at the bar & they call you when your order is ready. Nice selection of canned & bottled items to go! Really tastefully decorated area; NOTE: they were quite inundated by a distillery tour bus when we arrived so try to avoid that. (Tattersall's cocktail room is just a few steps away - only until 11/30/24) read more

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I was super excited to check out this place as they usually aren't open when I'm in town. Walking in you get to see their full distilling/packaging line backlit and it sets the tone for a really cool entrance. The barspace itself is really open and has a dim, chill vibe. Records hang on the wall, as well as industrial lighting and art, then a corner is laid out to showcase their bitters, liquors and canned cocktails. Their menu is diverse and had options for everyone, including a chance to be a part of the experience. Their bartenders have a creation in the works they allow for customers to try and give their feedback on. In this event it was a two hot buttered rums, which my friend tried and really enjoyed. I personally am more of a gin/bourbon girl, and got the Elder Sage which I really liked. It was effervescent and well balanced. However, the service seemed to lack this evening. The bartender certainly was knowledgable and friendly, but was focused on a group they knew, and didn't really acknowledge us which was unfortunate. My second drink was an old fashioned, which was pretty dry and watered down for what I like. I'd certainly go back and give it another shot though! I know holiday weeks are tricky. read more

Elusive - Botanical Bar by Dashfire - Distilleries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

It was a little scary walking in alone because you have to walk through the dock door and down a long dark hallway next to all the equipment but it's a cool concept! I didn't realize there was parking outside so I parked in the residential streets and walked around the building, but there's plenty of spots right outside. The bar itself is small and only has a few long tables and couches, but it's perfect for meeting a friend or a smaller group. It was quiet and very aesthetic inside. The staff was really nice and welcomed us in with menus and said to order at the bar. I tried the elderflower drink and it was incredible! The non alcoholic pina colada was sweet but tasted fresh. I love that all the drinks come in different glass shapes. We didn't try the hand pies but they looked like a unique bar snack that I'll try next time! read more

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My New favorite place! I recently stumbled upon this place after visiting two other local bars! This place is totally up my alley and I came right back the following weekend. I love the flavors of the drinks. My ultimate favorite flavor is banana and they have a drink called the whole banana. All the drinks have a wonderful palette of flavors! Our second time going we invited friends to join us and they were impressed also. They also mentioned the prices of drinks. Most are $11 or $13 I call this a great price! I'm often paying $15 or so for a drink! Elusive also has bitters, drinks, and other things available for purchase just not the drinking glasses. I tried and got denied! Jeff the manager is amazing! He has been friendly, and a very good worker and you can tell he really loves/values his customers. I highly suggest the lavender rhubarb hand pie. It is divine and one of a kind! The vibe inside is so nice too. Dimmed lighting which creates a mellow vibe. The interior design and decorations create a modern feel. I had to ask about the gold dish placements on the tables (that we had fun balancing things on) and what they are for. The intent was to put nuts in them, which I kinda figured. They decided against that to protect the people with nut allergies, which again you can tell the customers are at the core of their hearts. They do something a little different here that I haven't seen at any other bar establishment. When your order is complete they yell out your name for you to come to pick it up at the bar. Thank you, Jeff and all staff who attend to me and make it such a wonderful experience. read more

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We discovered Elusive through Pub Pass and it was a great find! It's located in a warehouse where they also do distilling and the ambiance inside is great. Plenty of comfy couches or high tops to sit at whether you're with one other person, or a larger group. The cocktails were excellent and the menu includes a lot of creative options, including an option for experimenting with a new drink. You'll find something no matter what you like! read more

Elusive - Botanical Bar by Dashfire - the interior of a restaurant - Distilleries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Stopped by Elusive on a Friday for a preshow drink . There are two ways to enter and exit into the parking lot which is by a train track. Parking was plenty at this thorp building. There are several doors and other bldgs on this strip and since it was my first time there, I had to look up their website to see how to find their door. Look for the door with the purple light and walk down a dimly lit path with cool neon lights and elusive sign written on the wall--speakeasy vibes y'all. Upon entering I noticed that they had contemp style furniture, neat wall decors and a warehouse style open space. I was handed a menu when I walked in and I settled down at one of their couch waiting for a friend to show up. You order from the bar, which was smaller than most bars I've been to. I ordered the eldest sage and I believe my friend got some smoky spicy tequila with basil and lemon-- can't find it on the online menu though. Their drinks are pretty unique and I was looking to try something new. My friend did wish the smoky flavor of her drink was less intense. Their one year anniversary is coming up, hope they do something to celebrate. Nice place all around and unique for sure. It'll be great place to throw a party. Check them out if you looking for something different/unique read more

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What a great Northeast hidden gem! My new favorite cocktail bar. Right next to Tattersall, with a beautiful retro ambiance and fantastic drinks. You order and pick up your drinks at the bar, and take them to your seat. I got the Trippie Red which was perfectly sweet and reminded me a bit of summer. My boyfriend got the Old Fashioned, which is such a classic and his favorite cocktail- he said it was very good. I was so tempted to "be a part of the experiment" and order something created for me by the bartender- and I will definitely do so next time! They also offer some food options-hand pies, ice cream, and pretzels. They also have a small store on site selling their own bitters, cherries, cocktails, spirits, and merch. read more

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Found this hidden gem when looking for a cocktail after dinner up the street at Momo Sushi. Lovely patio with really chill vibes. The bartender was super friendly and made excellent cocktails. The old fashioned was particularly good. Definitely worth checking out if you're in NE and want to try something new! read more

Elusive - Botanical Bar by Dashfire - Eldest Sage & Manhattan - Distilleries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Just went to Elusive with some family and had the best time. The place was pretty busy, but we were able to grab a spot at the bar. All of the drinks were fabulous. My favorite was the Bitter Devil. Jeff our bartender was the best! So happy this place is doing well! Excited to stop by during bring your own vinyl night sometime. read more

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Ohhh be still my heart!! This distillery is doing it right! I love happening upon a good place that has their craft down in an obvious passionate way! And this place definitely ticks that box!! Absolutely BEST distillery I've been to yet! My all time favorite foodie (and craft cocktail appreciator) friend of mine ventured out to check this lovey establishment out on a Friday night. Honestly, I'm surprised it wasn't more packed for the evening , but appreciated being able to explore the space without it being obnoxiously full. (But, hey, it's almost bitter sweet writing this review because Uhmm, well, when this place is discovered, it's probably going to always be packed!) We ordered our 1st round of drinks from the bar area: Bitter Devil, 50/50 (not on the menu but mentioned in 1st awesome Yelp review called "half & half") and Eldest Sage...along with a lavender rhubarb hand pie (yasss! Viking& Goddess pastries on the menu!!). The 1st round was enjoyable but I found myself pondering that I would probably enjoy those particular drinks a bit more in Spring/ Summer. I also notice that they were not very alcohol forward (meaning if you are ordering for the alcohol buzz, you are at the wrong place. Which was entirely ok for us...our mindset is we really desire to try allll the things!) After seeing a gorgeous, empty cream lined vintage coupe stemware glass a few times on the empty glass tray, I was curious and asked which drink it was. Chicory Xander was the reply. I ordered it. Along with the Everything Bagel hand pie I eyes a few times being carried out. THAT ended up being our favs for the evening! The Chicory Xander is almost similar to a White Russian with crunchy cocoa nibs and the hand pie was a mix of a spanakopita with Everything Bagel spice on top. As we were enjoying our last round whilst seated in a cozy cushy couch area, the owner happened to stop by and ask us how we were enjoying everything. What an awesome conversation! He shared some of his background, some connections (and reasons of why the hand pie and ice cream on the menu) and about the concoction lab. I absolutely love his ideas, and where he is going with this place! We also found out that he is Brewing some really fun ideas for events coming up. Along with classes on how to mix. Cocktails and use those awesome bitters! They also have a corner of the establishment reserved for a store front. You can grab already delicious mixed drinks to take home for later enjoyment (oddly, I found these little nummy cans of delicious, boozy, adult beverage to be stronger than what I had while sipping there. The Chai White Russian is ahhmazing!) Thru chatting with the owner, we also found out we could check out the open bottles of in-house bitters they make for purchase (I added a drop of each one on the back of my hand to taste. I'm adventurous like that! Seriously- they are are really going above and beyond with having this available!!) He really is an amazing fellow, with a great vision and fun ideas of even a history record breaking ideas upcoming! I'm so excited to see what amazing, deliciousness this distillery brings to NE MPLS and looking forward to explore what fun drinks will be next! I'm definitely going to be frequenting this distillery. read more

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This place is so cool!! I had already tried their bitters and canned cocktails in the past, so I couldn't wait to go here. I brought six of my friends last night, and we were all super excited by all of the wondrous tastes we got to try. We lucked out, because one of the owner distillers was there, and he was happy to talk to us at length about his process and their inspirations for some of the liquors, bitters, canned cocktails and liqueurs they make on site. You can get in either through Tattersall or through Elusive's back door around the corner. If you go through Tattersall, be sure to walk back into Elusive and check out the distillery and canning operation. I loved looking at the "mad scientist lab" where many of the experiments with the tinctures happen. The vibe of the place is kind of like hip Speakeasy meets casual-retro living room. They have a record player with vinyl records to play, and lots of comfy seating. It was quiet when we got there, but it got very loud as more people came (to be expected when you're in a warehouse situation). I was glad I went with a bunch of people, because I got to try a lot of different things. The one suggestion I had was they need a menu listing all of the spirits available on offer. I wanted a flight, but this list doesn't yet exist on the web or in the bar. However, one of the bartenders was kind enough to recite them all from memory so that I could make my decision. The list is long, but basically for spirits they have a lot of interesting liqueurs, many of which we have never seen or tasted in our lives, like Angelica and chicory. And for liquors, they are mainly focusing on Gins and Rums. They are too new to have whiskey yet, but they did have a bourbon barrel aged orange liqueur, which they use in a cocktail I got called "Rhubbin' Elbows", which the bartender told me it was kind of their take on a Manhattan. I loved it, and I loved the fact that it seemed slightly less boozey than a regular Manhattan. We all agreed these days we can't drink like when we were 25, so having interesting cocktails that aren't all booze is perfect. They also have a Mocktail menu (including real phosphates!!) on the reverse side, but we didn't try any of those. The bartenders are happy to make whatever concoction you can come up with, but we mostly ordered off the menu. I did try something called a half-and-half that wasn't on the menu, and it was hands down a table favorite. It was half their ancho cacao liqueur, and half their Russo vermouth. YUM. The ancho cacao liqueur was our favorite in the flight, but we also loved the Angelica, it's hard to describe, but it reminded me of an aquavit. Everyone had a different take on it but everyone loved it. I wasn't as wild about the bourbon barrel orange, but others at the table loved it. And I loved it in the cocktail. Just kind of sweet on its own. The other thing I highly recommend is "be part of the experiment". It's a rotating selection of three spirits in a flight, they don't tell you what it is, and they want you to write down your opinions. They take all the opinions they get and make changes to the spirits, and the next week they are completely different. This week it was spiced rums, and they were all a little bit different, it was neat to taste with the group and talk about which ones were our favorites and why. We will definitely be back! read more

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Dashfire is a great cocktail lounge! Creative cocktails, great craft spirits, and well appointed atmosphere. The new patio is great! read more

Elusive - Botanical Bar by Dashfire - Ube Colada - Distilleries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The customer service was not great. I tried asking the bartender (had a Mohawk) for suggestions as I'm not familiar with a lot of the ingredients on the cocktail menu. He seemed super annoyed by me asking. I asked if he had anything close to an espresso martini & said a name but I missed it & asked how the drink was, he said "idk creamy I don't like it." So I asked if there was a popular drink & he said "idk a gin & tonic I guess". I ended ordering the spritz which was really good. I probably wouldn't come back just cuz idk what the menu is & they didn't seem to want to help. I also thought it was weird that they screamed peoples names when drinks were ready. They should have a QR Scan code for tables to order. read more

We started the night off at Elusive ahead of dinner, and it was such a great spot for cocktails! The staff gave us a warm welcome along with the menus as we walked in, and shared that it was a "cafe style - order at the bar" type establishment! We tried "The Whole Banana" "Butter Devil" and our friend who was driving had the "French Press Botanical Coffee". We were pleasantly surprised with the variety in N/A drinks! Enjoyed our drinks in the beautifully decorated space, and are looking forward to coming back! p.s. bathrooms are through the back doors read more

We had fun trying Elusive - Botanical Bar by Dashfire. We loved the atmosphere and the vibe. The drinks were decent though not our favorite. It was quite busy but the folks that helped us were very kind and well versed in the menu and drink options. read more

Elusive - Botanical Bar by Dashfire - Rhubbin' Elbows - Distilleries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Had the enormous fortune of visiting Elusive for one of their cocktail classes. one word: WOW. Jeff, the king himself, was so knowledgeable, present, and passionate about alcohol history and making a drink with integrity. It was wonderful to see where the drinks were distilled as well. I recommend the class as well as the drinks-- all of the highest quality. read more

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Fantastic cocktails , service and ambiance. It's a little challenging to find but once you find the gold door , you are almost there. read more

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Went to the vendor show today and waited 35 minutes in line for a drink. No big deal until my friends and people behind me were getting drinks after I had been still waiting for mine. I go to say something and the manager was rude and said my order was just placed 11 minutes ago. Which it had been paid for 35 minutes prior. I would recommend planning ahead for more workers before you take on serving drinks for a big event. Would not recommend based on the lack of service and rudeness of manager. read more

This is a hidden gem! Might be my new go to place! Newly opened place vibes are replicating a coffeehouse. The staff Recommended very tasty drink options! Would definitely be coming back again. The path before entering is warehouse so very mysterious it's cute! read more

Elusive - Botanical Bar by Dashfire - Distilleries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

So I went to their address, walked ENTIRELY AROUND a huge industrial building before finding a door in labeled "Elusive" on a loading dock. Walked in past a lot of interesting machinery in a dark area and finally came to the room. Which had a four inch step down painted black, same as the polished concrete floor, which I promptly fell down and skinned my arm, my other elbow, and my knee. And broke my sunglasses. So that's what I know about "Elusive:" the idea of a cryptic bar would have been cute when I was thirty but at sixty-five, who needs the aggravation of abusive architecture? Too bad--I've liked their bitters. Never got to try their drinks. read more