Openings

Storyville Aims for Friday Opening, Complete With Choose-Your-Own Adventure Cocktails

Have a drink; have a seat.
Have a drink; have a seat. Photo: Michael Diskin

Our prayers, along with those of countless stifled businessmen, have finally been answered: A bordello is about to open in the Back Bay. As we mentioned last week, Storyville was once a legendary Boston speak-easy that hosted Billie Holiday and other jazz icons; it was named after a red light district in New Orleans. Now we’ve learned that its much-anticipated reincarnation will debut on Friday (as ever, these things can always change last-minute, but that’s the latest).

Today we glimpsed the cocktail menu for the lounge/club/restaurant, which is a choose-your-own-adventure tiki-fest with a mix of classics and Bayou libations, executed by the very capable “English Bill” Codman. (You choose the spirit, then let your friendly bartender do the rest.) Want some highlights? Here they are.

Bordello Room

Old World, Old School, Old Techniques

Sours
One of the Fathers of the modern cocktail. Fresh squeezed lemon juice and sugar.
You choose your poison: Gin, Whiskey, Vodka, Amaretto or something else

Smashes
“Grab that stick and muddle Sally”. Make that bartender work for the money.
Fresh picked mint, lemon and sugar muddled and served over crushed ice. Make it yours with: Whiskey, Gin, Vodka, Grand Marnier, Chartreuse or a new twist

Fizzes
Shake it, Shake it, Baby! Not all fizzes have egg whites, but our favorites do.
Aperol Fizz - The Italian Aperitif made with bitter orange, rhubarb and cinchona
Pineapple Fizz - Silver tequila infused with pinapple and sage
Tangerine Fizz - Gin infused with oils from the skin of Tangerines
Ramos Gin Fizz - Invented in the 1880’s, by Henry C. Ramos in New Orleans

Stories and Libations
The Red Dress - A classic New Orleans style Raspberry gastrique with Champagne
Sazerac - The French Quarter original. Rye, Sugar and Paychauds.
Lady Day - Gin, Campari, Passion Fruit and Honey
The Lower East Side - A light twist on the Manhattan with Aperol and Punt E Mas
Suffering Bastard - A mix of Gin, Brandy and spicy sparkling ginger

The Tiki Hut
A Day At The Races - Beefeater 24, Falernum, Lemon, Pomegranate and Champagne
Mai Tai - Styled after Trader Vic’s recipe of Rum, Almond, Orange and Lime
Test Pilot - House Blended Rums, Citrus and Absinthe. It will blow your mind

Nightclub

Storyville provides the inspiration, you choose the spirit:
The English Garden
English cucumbers, fresh picked mint and gently squeezed lime. Served in a tall glass with sparkling water.
Vodka, Gin or Tequila

Dizzy Berry
Fresh crushed local and exotic berries. Shaken and served up.
Brandy, Gin, Light Rum or Vodka

Provence
A delicate infusion of herbs, inspired by the flavors of the south of France. Shaken and served up.
Gin, Vodka, Tequila or Rum

Café Mole
Blended spices from around the world. Coffee bean, Vanilla, Orange, Cocoa and Chipotle pepper. Shaken and served up.
Tequila, Vodka, Rum or Rye Whiskey

Storyville Aims for Friday Opening, Complete With Choose-Your-Own Adventure