The 100% Pre-Batched Cocktail Menu
December 09, 2013
When bars began rolling out drink programs with cocktails on tap and bottled cocktails a few years ago, one big question was whether they'd start hiring less knowledgeable bartenders because they wouldn't need to do any high-level mixology anymore.
So far the question has been moot because every bar (that I've seen anyway) that offers these pre-batched cocktails also lists made-fresh ones on the menu as well. Until now.
Two new venues have opened where all the drinks are made in advance. At the end of November, Michael Mina 74 at Fontainebleau Miami Beach opened with a menu listing only punches on tap, bottled cocktails, and barrel-aged drinks. All a bartender would need to do is pour or stir them with ice.
In Chicago, the Mercadito Hospitality (Tavernita, Mercadito, Barcito) is opening Mercadito Counter in December. At this venue, all of the cocktails offered will be from taps, and there is not even a back bar.
These bars have different reasoning for their choices. In Miami, the venue "blurs the lines between restaurant, bar and ultra-lounge". As it's really a nightlife venue, by having pre-made cocktails they can serve more people better cocktails faster- same as at other cocktail bars like LA's Honeycut and San Francisco's Novela.
Mercadito Counter, on the other hand, is limited by hours of operation. At a certain point in the evening they can turn off and lock the tap system to comply with liquor laws, while continuing to serve food.
A third bar that I forgot about (thanks to Angus W for the reminder) is White Lyan in London. All of the drinks are pre-made and they don't even offer ice or any perishables. (Read more about it here and here.)
It doesn't appear that any of these bars have opened with the sole intention of hiring pretty-but-less-well-trained staff, so it's not time yet to declare the mixology movement over. But I do think they mark an important moment in time.
Both menus are pasted below.
Michael Mina 74
PUNCHES ON TAP | 16 | 74
150M L O R 75 0ML
P IM M ’ S 74
P AT R Ó N S IL V ER , T H AI B AS I L , P O M E G R A N AT E , L I ME , G I N G E R B EE R
IN T H E A IR T O N IG H T
10 C AN E RU M , MI N T , P I N E A P PL E , S AGE , L I M E J U IC E , V E L V E T F A L E R N U M
LI M A M I KE A LP H A O S C A R
D I P L O MA T I C O RU M , W H IT E P E P P E R -S T R A W B ER R Y J A M, L IME J U I C E
RUL E # 237
BA R R E L -AGE D G EN EV E R , C R È M E D E P Ê C H E , C I T R U S J U IC ES , C I N N AM O N
BARREL-AGED COCKTAILS | 16
NE GR O NI
BO M BA Y S A P P H I R E G IN , C AM P AR I , C AR P AN O AN T I C A
B AR R E L O F M O N KE Y S
D E L M AG U E Y M EZ C A L , C R È ME D E B AN AN A , T E MP U S F U G IT K IN A L ’AV I O N D ’OR
M A G IC C IT Y
B U LL E I T B OU R B ON , K A F F IR L IM E S Y R U P , G R E E N CHA R T R E U S E , G O L D L E AF
V I E UX C A RR É
KN O B CR E E K RY E , H EN N ES S EY V S , C AR P AN O AN T I C A , B EN ED I C T IN E, B IT T E R S
FIZZY-LIFTING DRINKS | 16
187ML (L I M I TE D D A I L Y Q U A N TI TI E S )
GI NGE R GI M L E T
K E T E L O N E , D O M AI NE D E C AN T O N G I NGE R , L I M E J U IC E , L E M ON V E R BE N A
T H E KR AM E R
G R EY G O O S E , ST . G ER MA IN E EL D ER F L O W ER , A P ER O L , L IME J U IC E
LA U LT I M A P A LA B R A
KAP P A P I SC O , MAR AS C HI NO , G R E EN C H A RT RE US E , L IM E J U IC E
I C EB ER G S L I M
P L YM O U T H G I N , V EL V ET F A L ER N U M, B A S IL , L E M O N J U I CE
Mercadito Counter (subject to change)
The White Stripe
vodka, cucumber, lemon, sainted leafB.N.G.M. (Big Nose Gets Misty)
rum, jasmine, orange, ginger, lime,Little Market
reposado, guajillo syrup, pineapple, limeThe New New Beer Cocktail -
Vodka, grapefruit, vanilla, Dos XSmoked Whiskey Smash
whiskey, mescal, mint, lemonThe Merc Sangria
red wine, melon infused-brandy, grapefruit, orange, apple
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