Jamie Boudreau’s Canon Whiskey and Bitters Emporium in Captitol Hill, Seattle, WA is perhaps the best bar in the Pacific Northwest. That’s saying a lot, since we are fortunate to have some fantastic places to enjoy great drinks in this part of the country. The menu is innovative and the shelves of spirits packed three deep all the way up to the tin ceiling can be overwhelming. For cocktail geeks that’s a good thing, and casual enthusiasts intimidated by the menu need only suggest their spirit of choice—or even a mood—and the helpful staff will create something sure to satisfy.
We’ve mentioned Mr. Boudreau a couple of times over the years, so it was exciting to finally visit his establishment in person. The attention to detail is impeccable and subtle flair such as ornate silver coasters and the antique cigar tin to hold our hand-written bar tab are fine examples of how even a few simple gestures of presentation can underscore an inspired list of drinks befitting the classic decor. We enjoyed a wonderful “blueberry smoked” cocktail called the Skull & Blackberries using a technique we cannot wait to try ourselves. The place is cozy with wood everywhere (stained dark red with Angostura) and a historic, old-timey feel, yet the cocktails employ modern wisdom and techniques. Canon has bottled, aged cocktails, on-the-spot carbonation, and even Green Chartreuse on tap. By the looks of it, they have more spirits to choose from than Portland’s Multnomah Whiskey Library. We can’t wait to return!