When Bawk! bar director Jose Carrasco seeks inspiration for his cocktail menu, he turns to music, creating playlist-inspired drinks from iconic artists customers go crazy for. Over the summer, he devised a clever lineup of cocktails inspired by famous songs from the Prince catalog, adorning the drinks with tiny props and garnishes. The rye-based Darling Nikki came with a risqué garnish of handcuffs. Breakfast Can Wait—made with bourbon, maple and cinnamon bitters and served with a short stack of miniature pancakes speared onto a toothpick—was an homage to the famous Dave Chappelle sketch about the eccentric artist. This fall, the bar menu turned to everyone’s favorite cause célèbre. Here’s a look at Bawk!’s Britney Spears-inspired cocktail playlist.
Cocktails:
“Toxic” – Gin, pear, elderflower, lemon, bubbles
“Inspired by the name, thoughts of glowing green came to mind,” says Carrasco.
“Stronger” – Bourbon, brandy, pomegranate, sangria bitters
“We for sure wanted to have this be the strong, spirit-forward cocktail.”
“Oops! . . . I Did It Again” – Blanco tequila, cinnamon agave, lime, blood orange
“This one is easily relatable, recognizable, fresh, tart. Also locally in season.”
