#190: Bar Mischief

The Bar

Bar Mischief. 1221 E 6th St., Austin, TX 78702

Visited 7/21/2023 @ 10:30pm.

The Drink

Tom Kha. Gray Whale gin, Tito's vodka, Nigori sake, mushroom, lemongrass, lime, coconut cream foam. $16.

This was delicious, one of the tastiest cocktails I've had in a while on this trip. I had to press our server for a bit with the "what drink would you say best represents the bar?" question and the "no, please, I want what you recommend" followup until I finally cornered him into getting me this incredible drink off of the Originals section of their cocktail menu. Just like the name implies, it tastes almost exactly like tom kha except that it's a drink instead of a soup. Gray Whale gin is one those extremely eco-conscious California products, a "gin for good" that reserves a portion of its revenues for whale-focused charities (and see here for an interesting discussion of the contract distillation market). Tito's vodka of course needs no introduction to an Austinite; I did not ask which of the many nigori (AKA cloudy) sakes they use, but of course I hope it's the excellent Texas Sake, also from Austin. What really made this drink was the preparation and the finish; all the minor ingredients adding up to make a spectacular cocktail that almost had me ordering another one immediately after this one was done. Many times on this blog I have occasion to ponder why exactly it is that I'm paying so much for fancy booze in a cup; this is one of those cocktails that fully justifies its price. Here's a video by its creator talking about how good it is, and he's absolutely right!

The Crew

Aaron, Rome, Geoff.

Notes

The second of the three Inn Cahoots bars, this one had a bit of a waiting list due to it being opening day, but it was worth the wait. Every often you find a bar that really LOOKS like a bar, and this was one of them. I had just come back from a trip to NYC so I was reminded of The Campbell in terms of it being a destination bar, although this has its own distinct identity apart from the shared design elements of Art Deco (still the greatest architectural style). It has a great ornate interior, with well-crafted ceilings, cathedral-like liquor cabinets, elaborate chandeliers, and intricate artistic lighting. Jorge, the owner/operator, stopped by to chat with us for a while, and we talked about what he was trying to do with the bar, his drink passions, and where Bar Mischief fit in under the broader umbrella of the venue. He was a really nice guy and knew his stuff; one of those guys who has opinions about the history of cocktails, which is of course what you want out of a bar owner. Out of the three Inn Cahoots bars, I would rank this highest in terms of what a nice space it is; it just has that vibe that makes you want to stay and drink expensive cocktails for longer than you should.