Tavern Next Door's 'White Russian' was a reimagining of the disco-era cocktail by head bartender Conor Johns, served Old Fashioned-style with a soda-fountain-inspired twist. The drink was finished with a housemade vanilla malted whipped cream that evoked a malted milkshake and rested atop the spirit base.
Johns composed the mix from half-ounce measures of mezcal, Demerara rum, Braulio amaro, and both vanilla and coffee liqueurs, plus a few dashes of Angostura bitters, then batched the blend and kept it chilled and ready. The mezcal was Los Siete Misterios "Doba-Yej" Espadín, and the rum was El Dorado 3-year, with the coffee element favoring Forthave Brown over Kahlúa.
The result read like a grown-up milkshake with layered smoke, sugarcane bridge, and rustic herbal notes, then a soft malted-cream cap. It invited nostalgic tasting with a contemporary, stirred-cocktail feel and paired with the venue's burger for a burger-and-milkshake-style finish.
Image Credit: Justin Sisson
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Soda Fountain Cocktails
- Classic fountain-shop flavors are being reframed as premium bar experiences, creating space for nostalgic formats with elevated spirits, housemade creams, and theatrical finishes.
- Dessert-style Mixology
- Milkshake-inspired textures, whipped toppings, and sweet-savory pairings are expanding cocktail menus into indulgent after-dinner and food-pairing occasions.
- Batched Craft Drinks
- Pre-chilled, pre-batched cocktail builds are supporting faster service while preserving complexity, consistency, and bartender-driven ingredient storytelling.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Cocktail Bars
- Independent bars are differentiating through hybrid drinks that merge retro comfort cues with modern spirits, bitters, and artisanal liqueurs.
- Casual Dining
- Burger-focused venues and taverns are gaining new pairing potential from cocktails that echo familiar diner combinations like burgers and milkshakes.
- Premium Spirits
- Mezcal, rum, amaro, and specialty liqueur producers can benefit from cocktails that showcase layered flavor roles beyond traditional category serves.
