12 Best Cocktail Bars in Asheville, North Carolina | Eater Carolinas

"The line between shot-and-beer dive and upscale craft cocktail bar is whimsically blurred at this West Asheville neighborhood lounge. Veteran bartenders Katey Ryder and Donnie Pratt, who own and operate this tropical kitsch wonderland, sling drinks that are unprecious yet exude the stamp of a mad scientist. Take, for instance, the bar’s eponymous cocktail, a whirlpool of rye whiskey and overproof rum served out of a gleaming golden pineapple chalice — or the Space Age Miami Vice, which blends appletini and pina colada flavors into a sweet, slushie delight. Savory cocktail fans will also appreciate the liberal use of briny, spicy, and umami-forward ingredients like chimichurri, black vinegar, tajin, and Sichuan peppercorn." - Laura Hackett