The cocktail is a distinctly
American tradition. Once the centerpiece of a thriving “cocktail culture,” it
has faded since the 1950s but is now being embraced by a new generation of
makers and mixologists who value quality and craft. The Spirits Pavilion
presents this rejuvenation as part of Slow Food Nation 2008, an event dedicated
to creating a framework for deeper environmental connection to our food aiming
to inspire and empower Americans to build a food system that is sustainable,
healthy and delicious.The Spirits Pavilion
explores seasonality, sustainability and craftsmanship as emerging practices in
the spirits industry. Local bartenders renowned for their creativity and
expertise serve up samples of award-winning, American-made spirits and
cocktails mixed with fresh fruit, juices and herbs - an experience nobody would
forget.Min | Day designed a 1,200
square-foot environment for sampling cocktails that embraces the
"alchemical" transformation of agricultural sources into highly
refined products. The boldly graphic architecture is part landscape and part
atmospheric bar. Recalling agricultural landscapes, each strip represents one
of the base spirits: whiskey, brandy, rum, vodka, gin and tequila with the
vertical portion presenting an image of the agricultural source. An additional
strip at the front edge of the space represents a collection of botanical
spirits such as absinthe and bitters. Each strip is given an iconic color and
printed with abstract images of the organic source of the particular spirit.Backing the abstracted
environment and forming the last strip, a large Oak-topped bar extends the
length of one side of the space and is used for serving cocktails mixed by
leading local bartenders. One area of the bar is a dedicated tasting
station where visitors sample a wide variety of sprits from different
small-batch producers from around the U.S. The front face of the bar is clad in
historical images of bars, public houses and cocktail lounges from the begins
of the American cocktail.Paper
parasols, reminiscent of cocktail umbrellas and clouds, hang above the space
and infuse the environment with a soft light effect that merges day with night.
Pop-up boxes from recycled lumber display historical artifacts of cocktail
culture and the contemporary creations of small producers. The Spirits Pavilion
evokes the agricultural origins of spirits - surplus grains and produce
transformed into something magical.
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