The drink menu at this craft-cocktail lounge in Southeast DC is serious business. Each creation is rated on several scales: Does the cocktail have berry or citrus notes? Does it taste like straight bourbon or go down like candy? It’s a useful guide because the menu involves unusual components—think elderflower, ginger currant wine, and absinthe. Owner Erik Holzherr is usually behind the bar, ready to help. And though the drinks are serious, the crowd—a laid-back mix of hipsters and young professionals—is not.
