K.C. Cocktailians to Shake it Up in St. Louis

Make a trek to Kansas City, and cocktail cultists will tell you that you must go to Manifesto, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar in downtown K.C. But even if a westward journey on I-70 isn’t in your immediate future, you can still taste Manifesto’s drinks, because this month, the bar’s mixologists are making a special trip to the STL. Manifesto opened in April 2009 and has already garnered national press, including from The New York Times and Esquire. In early March, however, Manifesto owner Ryan Maybee and his crew found themselves without a place to shake and stir because 1924 Main, the restaurant that sat above Manifesto and that held the liquor license for both venues, suddenly closed. As Maybee and his bar manager, Beau Williams, anxiously await their license, they’ve taken their cocktail-making skills on the road. The Traveling Cocktail Club is a way for Maybee and Williams to spotlight quality bar programs and correct mixology practices as they guest tend behind the bar of some hot spots in K.C. Now, the pair wants to “take it to the next level,” said a passionate Maybee, who holds a BAR Ready certification from Beverage Alcohol Resource and is currently pursuing a master’s certification with the hopes of becoming one of only 20 in the world to achieve the distinction. That next level involves taking their message to other cities, and a St. Louis visit is on the agenda this month. On May 16, the K.C. duo will be behind the bar at Pi in the Central West End and will shake it up at Eclipse the following evening. The party begins at 7 p.m. on both nights, and Maybee is happy to serve “until people are done drinking.” Pi bar manager Joel Clark and Eclipse general bar manager Lucas Ramsey are excited to welcome the pair. “As long as I get to hang out and drink on the other side of the bar one of those nights, I’ll be happy,” said Ramsey. Expect to see unique spirits, fresh-squeezed juices, proper measurement and precise execution from Maybee and Williams. While a cocktail menu is still to be determined, we’ll bet that you’ll be able to order Manifesto’s bestseller, The Smokin’ Choke, which features applewood smoke-infused bourbon smoked by Maybee and Williams themselves. This modified Old Fashioned was named a finalist in the 2010 Innovative Drink of the Year by Ardent Spirits. Other possibilities include two of Maybee’s gin-based drinks that are published in Gary Regan’s The Bartender’s Gin Compendium: Girl From Cadiz, made from Hendrick’s gin, sherry, lemon, mint and juniper berries, and Crossroads Cooler with cucumber-infused gin, Chardonnay, mint syrup and lemon juice. Whether you’re looking for a vintage cocktail, a modern twist on an old favorite or just feel like quizzing the pair on their elixir knowledge, don’t miss Traveling Cocktail Club’s STL stops.