Art In Bars

I have fallen in love. With an alcohol of course! ROOT is probably one of the most delicious liquids I have found in a bottle in a very long time. Sweet and spicy, potent and complex; ROOT has it all.

I‚Äôve been following the ROOT website for months now, and it seems every week they are promoting a new Philadelphia bar that has begun to carry ROOT. I chose National Mechanics because this bar is on my way home from work. When I sat down with my friend I was rambling excitedly about what the ROOT special could possibly be. When our server came to the table I asked about what sort of wonderful drinks National Mechanics have been manufacturing with ROOT. Her answer so disappointed me that I am still disappointed to this day. She said that she only found out what ROOT was that night (even though artintheage had been promoting National Mechanics as a ROOT hub for at least a month *see Editor’s Note ) and she and the bartender didn‚Äôt know what to do with it, and that the table that ordered ROOT earlier that night got it with ginger ale. ‚ÄúFresh ginger ale?‚Äù I asked, hopefully. ‚ÄúNo; soda‚Äù she says, a bit annoyed. And as much as I like paying $9 for alcohol and soda, I decided against that drink. So, I ordered the first thing I could think of, something I‚Äôve been making at my house anyway‚Äîthe espresso martini.

The martini was good. Very good. But I was so disenchanted by the ‘create your own cocktail’ apathetic attitude of National Mechanics that it ruined the whole experience for me. ROOT is awesome. I suggest you readers check out the Art in the Age website at artintheage.com and more specifically the history of this delightful infusion at the history page.

National Mechanics
22 S. 3rd St.
“ROOT” Espresso Martini

Reverend Michael Alan - the official artist of ROOT - image from the aia website

* Ed note — This story is so weird. National Mechanics, Art in the Age, and Gyro have been heavily promoting ROOT at NM since at least late April with a teaser campaign and huge launch / pr blitz. I know this because¬† a) I’m on their mailing list and b) one of the very first AiB posts was nearly about Reverend Michael Alan’s Botanical Illustrations, which were on display at the¬† Art in the Age store in May, and for which there was a ROOT launch party AT NATIONAL MECHANICS. How is it the servers didn’t know about the signature liquor their company is partially responsible for launching? Also, why is there a lemon in an espresso martini? So many questions.

Tags: drink me, drink review, Jenn, mystery, National Mechanics, Olde City, Reverend Michael Alan, ROOT