Before the advent of "modern medicine," an alcoholic cocktail was believed to have medicinal benefits.  Doctors would even encourage patients to start their day with a cocktail or a shot of bitters to embolden their heart and spirit.  While today that kind of advice would probably be considered medical malpractice, you can still find a couple of highly trained professionals at the APO Bar + Lounge to prescribe some of the finest combinations of recreational spirits, bitters, juices, and anything else you may need for a thoroughly emboldened evening.

 

The bartenders at APO pride themselves on using the freshest ingredients and time-tested practices.  Their standard menu, which changes three to four times per year, contains two mixed drink categories: Elixers and Reinterpreted Classics.  The Elixers are remarkable concoctions, each one purportedly designed to affect your health in a positive fashion.  Examples include a bourbon based Meditation on 13th ST: “An opponent of Stress and Malcontent,” and the rum based Sage Wisdom: A clarifier of memory, a purifier of thought.” The Bumping Rind, a highlight of the Elixers, is based on Cachaça (a Brazilian sugarcane liquor) and combined with limejuice, ginseng, and a watermelon-habiscus syrup seltzer.  The finished product results in a fine balance of refreshing citrus and mellow sweetness, punctuated by the ever-so-slight kick of Cachaça.

 

 

The Reinterpreted Classics will draw in the cocktail aficionados.  Here is where one finds obscure recipes from Professor Jerry Thomas like Ich, Ni, San, Shi or twists on the old standards like the A380 (basically an Aviation with serious quality ingredients plus added Crème de Violette).  One favorable twist is the Midtown Village, a variation on a Manhattan with added port, amaro, and the ultimate flash to impress a date: Orange on Fire!  You’ll enjoy this drink long after the flames have subsided, and don’t be surprised if you hear “I’ll have what he’s drinking!” from the other side of the bar.

 

Venture upstairs to a beautiful outdoor roof deck at the APO and you will find additional drinks not listed on the first floor menu.  One of these magnificent compositions is the Kitty Del Caribe, a mixture of Cruzan white rum, Averna Sicilian amaro, fresh (really fresh) raspberries and lemon, with a dash of Fanta orange soda.  Although you may not expect a bar of this caliber to offer Fanta as an ingredient, it does add just the right amount of refreshment to this already cool cocktail.  This drink is perfect for unwinding after a long day cooped up at work.

 

As if two menus were not enough, there is one more yet to be covered.  The APO offers what they call “Recession Proof” drinks every Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday after 7pm.  These offer the essentials, and are often common cocktails dressed up with a little extra flair.  A great value at $6 each, some highlights include the Monkeybot, the Surly Temple, and of course the Rumn Sumn.  Another great deal is found at Happy Hour (5-7pm Daily) where the APO offers their “Daily Dose.”  The Daily Dose involves one beer, one wine, and one cocktail offered at  $4, $5, and $6, respectively.

 

With the combination of a great atmosphere, knowledgeable staff, quality ingredients, and reasonable specials, you’ll be sure to find a prescription for a great time when you visit the APO Bar + Lounge.