Matthew Giles: Paesano Restaurant and Wine Bar
What is your favorite specialty drink to make and why?
This is technically a classic, but I don’t often see it ordered or even recognized anywhere else. One of my favorite cocktails to make on our signature menu is a Gold Rush. Made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, honey simple syrup, lemon juice, and ginger liqueur. It’s a comfortable way to introduce someone who “doesn’t like whisky/bourbon” to that world without giving them too much of a shock by way of a balanced bourbon cocktail without too much bite.
What is the most popular drink at your bar?
In all honesty, the most popular cocktail by sale at the restaurant is our Paesano Lemon Drop, which is more tart than sweet, often served with a sugar rim. I would say the most popular drink at our bar this weekend was our Italicus Spritz, which is Italicus, a floral but citrusy liqueur topped with our high-quality Prosecco and served with three green olives on a skewer.
What do you think sets your bar apart?
Our bar boasts an extensive wine list, consisting of only hand-picked Italian wine. Not only do we bring in high-quality wine, but we sell it at affordable rates. While we are primarily a wine bar, we have a dedicated and creative team of bartenders who strive to provide an extremely comfortable atmosphere, an elevated dining experience, and a suite of flavor profiles and wines unique to the area.
If a customer says, “Surprise me,” what do you typically make them?
We have all kinds of “secret menu” cocktails that all of our bartenders know how to make, but recently, I have been working on a tart but relatively floral cocktail with gin, grapefruit, rose water, and a few other liqueurs.
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Alice Gizzi: York
What is your favorite specialty drink to make and why?
My favorite specialty drink to make at YORK would have to be the ‘…And Everything Nice’! It’s so rewarding to see the culmination of our labor in the drink, with it incorporating our house spiced rum blend that we then fat wash with coconut cream!
What is the most popular drink at your bar?
The most popular drink at YORK is the ‘Rhub-a-dub Shrub’. It is a play on the classic clover club, using a rhubarb and raspberry shrub that everyone enjoys!
What do you think sets your bar apart?
YORK is an extremely unique place. A deli, wine shop and craft cocktail bar all under one roof don’t make sense on paper, but when you see it in action, it’s something truly special. YORK isn’t downtown, it isn’t high end and dim lights. It’s a neighborhood spot, and as such, we get to reach people who don’t always stray out of their comfort zones and introduce them to new and exciting drink options!
If a customer says, “Surprise me,” what do you typically make them?
Surprise me!’ is always a fun order! Typically, I’ll run through a gambit of short questions about common allergens, spirit preferences, flavors they may like, etc. After that, I love to make them something tailored to their tastes! If they are willing to be a bit of a guinea pig, our bar staff is almost always coming up with new and fun ideas for our next menus, and we enjoy giving people a little sneak peek as to what’s around the corner!
Elliott Reibert Peridot
What is your favorite specialty drink to make and why?
My favorite specialty drink to make at Peridot is the “Feats of Strength”. This was the first cocktail that I created with the Peridot menu in mind, and it’s one that I’m incredibly proud of. Plus, I love to see the look on a guests’ face when it comes out and they have their first sip! Feats of Strength is Vida Mezcal, Becherovka, Aperol, Lemon, Orange, Spiced Ginger Cordial, & Angostura Bitters
What is the most popular drink at your bar?
The most popular drink at Peridot is The Nod. The Nod is Hendrick’s Gin, Chareau, Manzanilla, Midori, Lime, Cantaloupe, & Habanero
What do you think sets your bar apart?
With Peridot being a modern cocktail bar, we have a great launching point for the level of drinks and service we provide. There’s a great opportunity to push boundaries with the drinks we offer (and the techniques used to create them) to continue to elevate cocktail culture within Ann Arbor.
If a customer says, “Surprise me,” what do you typically make them?
I would most likely make them an original drink that’s in development!
Kevin Ganser: The Last Word
What is your favorite specialty drink to make and why?
I know I wouldn’t hear the end of it from my team if I didn’t say the Tokidoki. It’s my own recipe and whenever I make it, I remember how much fun the development was for the 2023 Fall menu.
Though my favorite drink to make is the drink that is perfect for the customer in front of me. Bartending to me is all about hospitality. The skills, recipes, prestige are all secondary. If the customer doesn’t leave the bar in a better mood then I haven’t done my job.
What is the most popular drink at your bar?
Some of our cocktails have been on the menu for over a decade. The Los Lobos, You’re My Boy Blue, and Space Bird are some of our customers’ favorites.
What do you think sets your bar apart?
Everyone that works at The Last Word is very skilled and hospitality career driven. I find our cocktail menu to be extensive and varied. Our whiskey selection is the best I’ve ever seen. But, what sets us apart is how we work as a team. We don’t have much space behind the bar and on a busy night we will have to prepare hundreds of cocktails in a few hours. It’s a bit of a dance.
If a customer says, “Surprise me,” what do you typically make them?
If a customer says surprise me I will usually have at least 3 follow up questions, are they parched and do they want something refreshing? Are they more interested in a stiff spirit forward drink? Are there any preferred flavors or allergies? I will then tailor a drink around those preferences.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
