The other day we had lunch at the Harvest restaurant and when we saw the bar in the next room, we were eager to come back. This place is rustic perfection, and we loved that everything reflected a homely and comforting feel. We expected that the drinks at The WoodShed bar would be in sync with the place in the sense that they would use natural ingredients and make them look quite stylish. For an extra bonus – this is a jazz bar. After all, it’s great to see another great bar like this, aside with The Bamboo Bar Mandarin Oriental.
Contents
Ambient of The WoodShed
It’s cool! The owners most definitely have an eye for style, building this place with an impressive design. To us, the bar felt like a retreat, we felt so comfortable. In addition, the cheerful music of old jazz added to the experience and it wasn’t even live.
We were too early for the live performances, which start at 9 pm. Every day of the week there is a different band playing, so if you like a particular band, just wait for the next week. In the first place, this bar would be perfect for a themed 1920s party, with its dark wooden interior.
Drinks @ WoodShed
On the wall behind the bar is an abundant collection of craft spirits. Bartenders know what is on their shelves and are happy to tell you more about the drink you’re having. It’s quite different from the time of prohibition when alcohol production was small, here they go big. To put it differently, the menu at The WoodShed is extensive: Wine – with or without bubbles – from all around the world, liqueurs, spirits, whiskeys and all the way to the mixed drinks, where alcohol is simply an option. However, the selection is really impressive.
Our Cocktails
Vivi was craving a summer cocktail, and that’s exactly what she got: the Red. It is made with sparkling wine, homemade red currant syrup, Sloe gin and lime. It was a light and refreshing drink with a proper amount of sweetness to it. Garnished with a red currant branch, which is there for more than just looks. In other words, it’s a nice snack between the sips and adds acidity to the cocktail when combined with a drink.
The Red
The Sloe berries soaked in booze added tart richness and depth to the drink. Not to mention the fruity aftertaste, which was just another pleasant part of this drink. No wonder Vivi liked this drink so much, the Sole Gin was the favorite girls drink in the ’60s. Looks like the almost forgotten cocktail classic is having a comeback!
The Harvest
The Harvest cocktail was my choice and I liked the rich flavors of beer, Bermuda spiced rum and cocoa powder on top. The creamy texture was absolutely lovely and the cinnamon seasoning helped unravel the taste of sweet cherry. Anyway, it’s a strong drink that gives you a boost of confidence when you get the taste of the dense foam.
The upper layer is impressively long lasting and holds the decorative cocoa inscription untacked for a very long time. I saw the expression on Vivi’s face, so I just let her have some of this drink, while I went for a slightly more manly second option.
The Smoke Lingers
I selected the most gentleman’s drink on the cocktail menu, called the smoke lingers: it’s made of 10-year-old Laphroaig, Ocho tequila, espresso and house-made coffee syrup. The barman placed a burnt walnut on top of the ice cube for decoration and an intense smoky aroma. Every time I tilted the glass, the walnut on the nose added smokiness to the drink. This is a strong cocktail with coffee and leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste. Notes of leather, chocolate and nuts are all over the place, just before the alcohol kicks in. It definitely packs a punch.
Conclusion
Genuinely this place is in sync with everything, the drinks, the interior, the staff and the music. All the vintage cocktails we had were spot on for this kind of ambiance. At the same token, the hospitable feel was well present and it was nice to have a conversation with the staff. We like that all the guests have a chance to have a cocktail based on their preferences. The hands-on approach is present in The WoodShed bar on more occasions. As has been noted, the mixed drinks follow the idea of the same man who designed the interior of Harvest restaurant and The Woodshed bar.
Pricey?
The only thing we didn’t like was the prices, which were above what we would have expected them to be. Quality and finesse do come at a price and we support creative people, so we were able to swallow the pill a bit easier when thinking of that. Based on the whole experience, we highly recommend visiting this picture perfect place. If you forget your camera, we bet you’ll be back!
The WoodShed Review Card
- ATMOSPHERE – 9.4/109.4/10
- SERVICE – 9.3/109.3/10
- DRINK SELECTION – 9/109/10
- PRESENTATION – 9.2/109.2/10
- OUR DRINKS – 9/109/10
- VALUE – 8/108/10
Price and Location
The price for cocktails varies from 13 USD to 16 USD per drink, depending on the ingredients used. If you would like to try those delicious cocktails and enjoy some jazz beats, here is a link to the location.
You might also like
