Last year I told y’all about “No Hard Feelings,” the Tuesday boozeday that Freddy Schwenk had established at Bar Sovereign (514 Fifth Ave. S.), where he and guest bartenders prepare a limited menu of creative cocktails featuring quality ingredients and a wicked sense of humor. After a few months of nailing down the details, Schwenk has definitely gotten the hang of this event. By day, he is a partner in Nashville Ice Lab, providing specialty cocktail ice, freshly squeezed juices and bar syrups to other local bars, but NHF is his weekly chance to express his creative side.
He has even carried iterations of No Hard Feelings to Charleston, S.C., and Orlando, Fla., where he introduced a little bit of Music City to his industry friends in those two cities. Above all else, Schwenk wants to create fun variations of old favorite cocktails without going too far afield. “I’m currently fixated with doing black versions of classic cocktails, but I don’t want to overthink things,” he shares. To accomplish this, he brings in a lot of extra ingredients that you wouldn’t normally see behind most bars, including at Bar Sovereign.
All cocktails at No Hard Feelings are $12, and there are usually two to four options available each week from Schwenk, plus extras from the guest bartenders. Aimed at both industry folks and anyone who really appreciates a good cocktail, the party cranks up a little later than I’m usually out and about, usually hitting capacity by 11 p.m.. But at the cozy Bar Sovereign, that’s only about 80 people, so the bustling bar staff can definitely keep up with the crowds.
Knowing that I turn into a pumpkin about the time Fallon cranks up his monologue, Schwenk was kind enough to lead me through a tasting of “snaquiri”-size versions of some of his favorites, and I can attest that he is doing some amazing things behind the stick at Bar Sovereign. Particular standouts that you should look for on the menu include the dyslexic There Is No Dog, the tropical Deal Alley Daiquiri, the Leather Daddy Issues and a mezcal mule variation called Horses & Divorces.
There Is No Dog is a take on the original version of the Sazerac, harkening back to the day when what may have been one of the original cocktails was made with both rye whiskey and brandy. A higher-proof Old Forester Bourbon has an elevated rye content in the mash bill to accentuate the spiciness of the grain, which plays well with Hennessey, absinthe, vanilla syrup and both Peychaud’s and Angostura bitters. The Deal Alley Daiquiri is named after the alley behind Bar Sovereign, where Schwenk came up with the idea for the drink during a break. It’s a lower alcohol-by-volume version of a classic daiquri, so you can enjoy an extra one. The base of the drink is white rum and Fernet Branca (because it’s the law now,) plus Giffard Banane du Brésil liqueur, lime and a kiss of pineapple. It's a really fantastic version of what was already one of my favorite cocktails.
The Leather Daddy Issues is another low ABV cocktail, made with gin and Cynar, a bitter Italian liqueur with artichoke as its primary aromatic and flavorant. More bitterness is introduced to the party from fresh grapefruit and lime juice, but it is all balanced out nicely by the addition of raspberry/ginger syrup. Finally, the Horses & Divorces offers stimulation to both your nose and your palate as you approach the mezcal mule and drink through a straw. The smoky aromatics of the spirit are balanced by spicy fresh-squeezed ginger juice and a mint garnish with the addition of more of that challenging Cynar to keep your tastebuds at attention.
Schwenk has recently moved No Hard Feelings to Wednesday nights, and tonight they’ll be celebrating “Yamada-Gras” with guest mixologist Ryan Yamada, who will be bringing his experience working in New Orleans to pump up the party. Next week, NHF will feature two guests from Old Glory, where Schwenk still works a Saturday shift every now and then. Emily Wilcher and Angela Laino will be working with Schwenk behind the bar at Bar Sovereign, so it will be fun to see how they play when they are away from their home bar.
