Jason DeRusha’s Top Six Cocktail Bars

Jason DeRusha

I love cocktails and I’ve never seen so many stellar spots in so many different corners of Minnesota. Here’s my current list: My top three are pure cocktail plays, minimal food really other than snacky stuff, and I couldn’t help but put three Stillwater restaurants owned by the same team in the No. 6 slot. What’s your favorite? Where are you most looking forward to visit? Drop your knowledge in the comments!

1. Meteor Bar , Minneapolis
   A semifinalist for best bar program in the nation, with amazing cocktails in a dive-bar setting. It’s affordable, too!
2. Jade Fountain , Duluth
   I love this stunningly beautiful and balanced cocktail in West Duluth. Quality competes with anywhere I’ve been in the upper Midwest.
3. Anoka Hardware Store , Anoka
   Nationally known for bourbon selection, this speakeasy gives you a password when you reserve, it’s so good and so fun. On Wednesdays, there’s a $6 Old Fashioned.
4. Emerald Lounge , St. Paul
   Find some of the best martinis in town here, and the vibes are just right in this West Seventh Street spot.
5. Public Domain , Minneapolis
   There’s no printed menu at Public Domain, I love the fact that you get to have a conversation with a server or bartender about flavor profile, and then they create the drink.
6. Stillwater Proper , LoLo American , Lolito , Stillwater
   These are the most underrated cocktails in the state. Creative, hits all flavor profiles, and has enough booze to taste like a cocktail.

Honorable mentions

Bitter & Pour , Rochester (perfect speakeasy vibe); Parlour Bar , Minneapolis (still doing excellent work); Hai Hai , Minneapolis (rum); Butcher’s Tale , Minneapolis (bourbon); Estelle , St. Paul (creative); Maison Margaux , Minneapolis (sexy vibes); Bar + Cart , St. Paul (late night); Mr. Paul’s Supper Club , Edina (party); Flora Room , Minneapolis (speakeasy below Porzana)

Distilleries

Earl Giles , Minneapolis; Vikre , Duluth; Tattersall , River Falls, Wisconsin; Skaalvenn, Brooklyn Park; J. Carver, Waconia.

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