The Confidential

When you step inside Barley, Wheat and Rye Social House (barleywheatandrye.com), its gorgeous wooden bar takes you back to a time when men still got shoe shines and hot shaves, and every cocktail was made with tender love and care. Lucky for us, the drinks here are still crafted that way, and there are plenty to choose from. I ordered The Confidential on a recent visit. Made with Courvoisier VSOP, house grapefruit and rosemary shrub, Zucca Rabarbaro Amaro, Mother’s Lil’ Helper and Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters, the creation is exploding with complexity. I was a bit surprised that I could taste the beer with so much going on, but it actually worked out nicely—the bitterness of the IPA worked well with the bitterness of the grapefruit. Every sip of the liquor-heavy drink was brightened with a hint of herb and citrus before it ended with a slightly woody finish. It was the perfect cocktail to slowly sip on as I forgot all of my day’s troubles, just as I imagine they did way back when.