The best cocktail bar in the United States is not in New York. It's not in Chicago. It's not in Las Vegas. It's not in any city with a population above 1 million. Or even 500,000 people. 250,000 people? Keep going.
The best cocktail bar in the United States is in Boise, Idaho. With a population of just over 205,000 and with some of the friendliest people I've ever met, the Modern Bar (located in the Modern Hotel) is unequivocally the best.
I've had a lot of mixed drinks in my life. Every new/fusion/haute cuisine establishment in Chicago will try to push a specialty drink on you. Oh look, here's a fancy drink with a pretentious main ingredient made from flavored/infused alcohol. *sigh* Consider this: the best cocktails in Chicago aren't made in a new fangled bar. They're in places like Miller's Pub and Maggianos. I kid you not. Custom House in the South Loop makes a mean old fashioned, but for the sake of this argument, it's not entirely "old fashioned."
So in Boise, I found the mecca of old fashioned cocktails. Sure, they have a "modern" list (associated with the name) that mixes ingredients you'd usually not think to put together, and some of the drinks on the "modern" list include sparkling wine. But there's no storebought juice here. There's no soda water flavored with caramel. The juices and syrups are hand made. And with the longest preface area, we're finally onto the review:
Location: 4 out of 5
Walking distance from downtown Boise. Free street parking
Decor: 4 out of 5
Classically designed, low ceiling, nothing aggressive, obnoxious, or flashy on the walls. Tables are simple with ergonomic chairs, and "natural" lighting comes from candles after they open. Check out the bathroom though - there's a record player in there. I kid you not.
Servers: 4 out of 5
Oh, Modern Bar. How you amuse me with a waitstaff that dresses like a mix between Jason Mraz and Al Capone and Hipster central. Beneath their short and narrow ties and argyle vests, however - are some very knowledgeable and friendly guys and gal(s). They'll speak to you with a great amount of gusto, and get this - even if you've been helped by someone else, one of the other guys or gal(s) will inevitably come around to make sure that you don't need another drink. But you have to understand something - these guys get busy at night, and logistically they just can't shoot the shit with you until the sun comes up. Between taking orders, making the drinks (which takes time), getting the drinks out, going to the kitchen to get food orders or supplies, etc - they're busy. Please don't take their quietness as being distant...
Quality and Taste: Infinity.
Classic Cocktails include: Maple Leaf, Metropole, Alaska, Martinez, and Irish Coffee. Modern Cocktails include: Five Strangers, El Quetzal, Devereaux, Layover Redux, Devil Heart, Zig Zag, Le Schuss, and Hot Buttered Calvados.
In my two visits there, I had two Maple Leafs, one Irish Coffee, one Zig Zag, and one Hot Buttered Calvados. If you even remotely like a sidecar, you'll LOVE the Maple Leaf. The Zig Zag was fierce but enjoyable, the Irish Coffee came with real home made whipped cream the top, and the Hot Buttered Calvados...oh gracious. Please see my pictures for the menu and the drinks I had. Also, consult their blog (not the website) for the menu (http://blog.themodernhotel.com/?page_id=14)
And they're not skimping on the quantity or quality of alcohol, either. Each one of the drinks I had was not only delicious, but had a very substantial alcohol content. My buddy had the Devil Heart when we went back together - oh la la.
Pricing: 5 out of 5
The most expensive thing was about 9 bucks. Really? That's it? If you charged 14 for one of these drinks in Chicago, no one would bat an eye. Not only did the drinks go down deliciously, they were also easy on the wallet.
Overall: 5 out of 5
I'm sad writing that, because now that I've had what I perceive to be the best drinks I've ever had, it's hard to come back to mediocrity.
Remember they don't open till 4pm on most nights. read more