Taric W.
Yelp
Hidden on the side of our esteemed Valentine lies a speakeasy aiming to represent the pride we feel for the natural beauty and geographical diversity of Arizona. The draw of our five 'C's. The freedom we feel when we can enjoy a desert and the mountains in the same day. It's patriotism, but for our state. And not in that weird, MAGA way.
Bar 1912 pulls together an assortment of house-made tinctures and syrups, mixing them with high-quality spirits and herbs to produce a journey for your palate. And the atmosphere is fine too, demonstrating the powers of cozy and intimate accent lighting. Lighting along the underside of the bar, behind your table. And then there's the finishing touches. A fireplace. A modest vinyl setup spinning near the entrance. Let me tell you--I was drinking in *style*
This is what I had:
Copper. A Moscow Mule with matcha. Matcha is a mild flavor, so I was excited to see how they'd try to make it shine. I can't say it did. Mine came out flat and cloyingly sweet. Yes, I could taste some matcha, but at the cost of everything else.
Forest. A wine and whiskey blend, with rosemary and the star of the show--pine. My mixologist began flairtending as though we were as excited to make this as I was to drink it. I am no stranger to burnt rosemary or sage in my drinks, and I invite it, but there is too much of a good thing. The largest sprig of rosemary I'd ever seen in a drink overpowered the other floral notes that could have made this drink unique. It was still OK.
Tundra: Wine cocktails truly are underrated, and kudos to them for pulling it off so well--a mix of riesling, sherry, and spirulina honey. Sweet all the way down, hints of spice and oak. Lovely. It's by far the prettiest to gaze at in your hand. The coarse salt on the side did nothing special for me in terms of taste, but something about the way it shimmered, and the way the whisky stones shined at the bottom of the glass made this look distinguished to me.
Overall, Bar 1912 really understands how we want to feel when we enter a cocktail bar. We want authenticity, we want class, and we want to feel like we're doing something special for ourselves and our friends. That immeasurable warmth comes through. Atmosphere--amazing. Service--good. Drinks? Brave, if not quirky, but leaving quite a bit of room for refinement. Can't say I'm too hyped on this now, but I'll be back for sure when, like any good cocktail bar, the menu rotates.