Welcome to Draft Culture. For this particular entry, I’ll be doing a special feature. With all of us traveling over spring break, the drinking culture on campus expanded all across the nation, with students going anywhere from Florida to France. I found myself on an extensive cross-country road trip that landed me in Seattle, Washington, at a renowned speakeasy-style bar tucked away in downtown known as Bathtub Gin and Co. Join me as I try some unique cocktails, explore the speakeasy scene of Seattle, and gather some drinking culture tips to bring back home from across the nation.
With a highly unsuspecting appearance, this bar is in the heart of downtown Seattle. With nothing more than a small nameplate marking the door in a back alley, you have to know where you’re going to find it. Upon entering I was taken into a small basement, with the capacity of the entire establishment sitting at around 40 people total. After being greeted by an exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly waitress, I was moved upstairs to the bar top where I chatted with some locals and the bartender. With one of the most unique and extensive back bars I’ve ever seen, the selection featured over 50 gins, including flavors like Horseradish and Curry, both green and yellow Chartreuse, special Japanese Whiskeys, and a unique liquor known as Opal.
The history of the bar dates back to the Humphrey Hotel, constructed in 1924. Later becoming an apartment in the mid to late 60s, the Humphrey boiler room was swapped out for staff quarters which, after becoming a four-room apartment sometime in the next couple of decades, was finally stripped of tenants in 2008. After the last tenant had moved out, the owners decided to renovate and turn the apartment into the bar it is today.
While the drinks were a bit on the high-scale side, ranging from $13 to over $20, the bartender was experienced enough to concoct creations off-menu purely based on flavor profiles and base spirits, the signature of a truly good cocktail bar. I ordered two drinks, a Hemingway Daiquiri, and their signature 2nd Avenue Sling. The Daiquiri was a tart drink, with a very citrusy feel and the gin taking a backseat to the sour flavors. The drink did not evolve much but had floral aromatics and a botanical sense that gave it a refreshing flavor. The Sling was a classic sweet cocktail. With a sprig of mint and a dehydrated lime slice, the cherry flavor was the star, with support from a classic London-Dry style gin. The lime and mint gave the drink an evolved feel as it went along, expanding the sweetness into a citrusy mixture of cool flavors with the help of the mint.
A local couple who frequented the establishment gave their thoughts, “We love this bar. Very hospitality-oriented and very inviting. They care about the people who walk through the door and they build a community, and of course, the cocktails are always incredible.”
The other couple at the bar top, having come all the way from the East Coast, added, “The vibe is amazing. The drinks are even better. Everyone is really sociable and you just see a lot of great people here.”
Overall, the bar had a dimly lit and romantic aesthetic that would welcome those looking to sit down and chat while sipping cocktails. From the classics to brand-new innovations, this hospitality-centered speakeasy hidden in downtown Seattle was a fantastic finish to my spring break. As always, I encourage all of you once again to drink safely, have fun, and stay classy.
