Speakeasy
Bourne & Co.
Birmingham-City-Center
May 11, 2018
As Birmingham’s first ever speakeasy-style bar, Bourne & Co. does a fairly good job of keeping themselves incognito. There’s no gaudy sign, and half of the window space is covered by wooden paneling. But the delicately-manicured bushes that stand sentry outside the front door and the small wooden plaque with “Bourne & Co.” inscribed in it in the entry’s alcove are sign enough for you to be curious to enter.
Inside, the sultry ambience and dark lighting will make you feel more like you’re in a NYC nightclub than a hush-hush UK drinking den, with the back-lit bar a combination of sleek wood and exposed brick, overflowing with bottles of premium and craft spirits. Behind said bar, Bourne & Co.’s smartly-dressed bar staff whip up attractive cocktails – a combination of contemporary concoctions and recipes that date as far back as the 1900s. Our favorites in the “vintage collection” are the Ward Eight (whisky, lemon, orange and pomegranate molasses) and the pricey-but-worth-it Old Charter 7yr Manhattan, muddled with a red vermouth that was bottled in the ‘70s. In their spirit of selflessness, Bourne & Co. has even created a page in the menu for cocktails that are frequently requested from the bar staff, like the Masala Mai Tai (gold rum and a garam masala blend, served Trader Vic’s style) and the St Michael (elderflower liqueur, gin, cucumber, lime and pressed apples, finished with English sparkling wine). Aside from these cocktail fripperies, Bourne & Co. also offers a respectable wine list and a selection of craft bottled beers, including the 1906 Black Coupage with notes of licorice, raisins and molasses. And for the non-drinkers, there’s several refreshing mocktails, superfood raw juices & smoothies, and even Bulletproof Coffee.
Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/Bourneandco/photos
