Slideshow

First Look: Capitol Hill's Monsoon Adds a New Bar

July 22, 2014

If you grab one of the 10 bar seats, make sure to look up and muse over the wooden twig light fixture (we think it looks like a cocoon, but Jon Christiansen, the beverage director, thinks it resembles a creature out of Spirited Away). Best attempted afte

By Nidhi Chaudhry

The windows along the two-tops slide open for a patiolike feel.

The bar selection is gin heavy with 13 local and 15 London-dry-style gins but they've got some pretty awesome whiskeys too, with relative rarities like Pappy Van Winkle and aged Taylor.

By Nidhi Chaudhry

There's also shōchū, mezcal, agave, vermouth, and "more amaros than any other Asian restaurant in the world," according to Jon Christiansen.

By Nidhi Chaudhry

The bevy of bitters at the bar—from mango, thai chilli, banana, and other tropicals to a wooden-cask aged cherry—are all housemade.

By Nidhi Chaudhry

Don't be surprised to see bottles of Chinese cinnamon, star anise and dried hibiscus at the bar. Some cocktails get a garnish of flamed star anise or cinnamon right before serving.

By Nidhi Chaudhry