We're all one team that rotates through all the positions. We develop the menu together and we all work on our ever changing drink specials. We are whole heartedly a bunch of nerds who want to welcome you into our world and geek out about drinks, harry potter, star wars, or whatever you're into.
NYCE ONLINE WEEK - BACKBAR EVENTS
TiKi "TO-GO" Down - Tropical Cocktail Competition
Spirit : Bourbon - Old Elk Bourbon
ABOUT THE BAR
backbar is a small craft cocktail bar located in the heart of Union Sq. in Somerville MA. You have to walk down an alley between two other restaurants. Then behind the white van is an orange door. (if you get to the dumpster enclosure you've gone too far). Then you walk down a long hallway (newly graffitied by the staff as a fun team building covid activity). And then you get to our little drinking den.
It's a 40 seat space that is cozy and quaint with a slight industrial, artsy vibe going on, but with a super nerdy heart to it. (It definitely would fit in hipster brooklyn)
As a bar team we are crazy passionate about hospitality and the desire to take care of the people in our space. Everyone on staff is a bartender, from the host greeting you at the door, to the servers and barbacks.
Check out our competing cocktail below & share this page to vote for us in the "TiKi TO-GO Down" 2020! Stop by and try this cocktail in person!
ABOUT THE COCKTAIL
SMOKIN UNICORN
Old Elk Bourbon | Whiskey Smith Banana | Amontillado Sherry /
Coconut Cinnamon Syrup / Fresh Lime Juice / Crude Pooter Smoke /
Salt Bitters
This magical concoction is for tiki drinkers and whiskey lovers alike! Bright banana notes highlighted with lime and salt go beautifully with cinnamon and coconut. A base of Old Elk Bourbon gives a solid back bone. And amontillado sherry adds length and nuance.
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Easy equal proportions mean it's hard to mess up! Usually Old Elk is more of a sip on the rocks kind of bourbon at backbar, but it plays so well here with its younger brother the Whiskey Smith Banana. Full of rich banana the Whiskey Smith this ends up being the star of the show in this rainbow of tiki flavors.
In Somerville MA?
VOTE FOR PEOPLE'S CHOICE
BEST TIKI COCKTAIL 2020!
MOST SHARES WINS!
Sam Treadway, Bartender - Backbar
ABOUT THE BARTENDER
SAM TREADWAY
Sam Treadway has bartended for over 15 years from his college days in a tavern in Minnesota to a fancy new hotel in Seattle then back to Boston to learn at Eastern Standard and Drink. After a year long vacation bartending in Hawaii, Sam has returned to MA for good. He created backbar with the help of an amazing team of bartenders, and he has lucked out again and again with great hires. Backbar has won local and national recognition and Sam has been a finalist in many cocktail competitions including currently being the international champ for Giffard's West Cup competition. He lives in Medford with his wife, dog and cat.