ASHEVILLE - A local craft spirits distiller and international tonic company are introducing a rare bar concept to Asheville complete with a garden-esque venue and exclusive co*cktail menu.
On May 11, Fever-Tree Botanical Bar at Chemist will open at 151 Coxe Ave., inside the distillery’s Antidote Bar.
The collaboration between Chemist Spirits and premier tonic maker Fever-Tree is to showcase the brands’ versatility and how they work to complement one another, as well as to elevate guests’ rooftop experience.
“It's completely transformed. Aside from being a new co*cktail program and an extremely Instagram-friendly space, we have worked closely with Fever-Tree to brand that space really well,” said James Donaldson, Chemist’s co-owner and creative director. “It's really become a venue of its own up there. So aside from a great view, it's now a holistic experience that celebrates co*cktails, tonics and botanicals.”
Fever-Tree Botanical Bar experience
Few Fever-Tree “pop-up” bars exist in the world.
In 2019, the first branded bar opened at Bryant Park in NYC. Other locations are Eataly restaurant in Las Vegas and Fever-Tree Cantina in Dallas, and its first airport bar partnership in Edinburgh, Scotland.
“I was the one who pioneered this concept of a Fever-Tree bar and putting the mixer first and celebrating all of our wonderful spirit partners in different drinks from a Gin and Tonic to a Mule to a Paloma, you name it,” said Amanda Stein, vice president of marketing for Fever-Tree U.S.A. “I wanted there to be a place where people could experience the brand in a really organic fashion and have a great drink.”
Chemist is Fever-Tree’s first distillery collaboration and pays homage to the craft spirits and the people who make them, she said. Chemist proved it has what it takes to be a host.
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“We love the same attention to detail and craft that they have to their gin is what we apply to our mixers,” Stein said. “And we can really see that they create these incredible experiences there. And it's just the mixture of the two brands and our shared ethos that made us know that this is the right partnership to bring this Fever-Tree botanical garden to life.”
Asheville’s reputation for its craft beverage and dining scene played a part in the decision, too.
“I'm really excited for them to have the experience of enjoying fantastic and delicious co*cktails when they're out in Asheville,” Stein said. “I think also what brought us to Chemist is it's become such a dynamic place for food and beverage, and we're excited for locals to come, as well as those that are traveling internationally or from around the country to be excited by seeing the merging of two brands that they love or are just discovering.”
Asheville's Fever-Tree bar
The Fever-Tree Botanical Bar at Chemist will be like no other as it’s been customized to complement the rooftop space that overlooks the South Slope district.
Chemist’s Antidote Bar possesses a unique look and ambiance designed as a turn-of-the-century pharmacy made more special by its Prohibition era speakeasy-style covered rooftop lounge, which is accessible by scaling the stairs to a hidden door masked by a historic map mural of the city.
Rooftop guests will enter a lush garden oasis with flowers, plants and herbs in planters, cascading floral displays, leafy backdrops and other greenery accents, and a water feature.
Fever-Tree’s iconic swing has been installed to add to the picturesque setting and provide more photo ops.
Another new addition is the secluded outdoor mezzanine level with a canopied umbrella seating area where live bands will play.
“I just hope people enjoy and appreciate the fact that it's more curated and higher-end than it was before,” said Debbie Word, Chemist’s founder/CEO. “It was a beautiful rooftop bar before, but now it's just stepped up to more of an experience.”
Fever-Tree Botanical Bar at Chemist’s hours will be 5-9 p.m. Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3-9 p.m. Sunday.
On the botanical bar menu
A customized menu exclusive to the rooftop garden has been curated that’s different from Antidote’s main bar menu.
And Chemist and Fever-Tree penned a yearlong partnership so guests may get a taste of a variety of seasonal, handcrafted co*cktails.
The collaboration with Fever-Tree was easy for Chemist since Antidote’s menu has long featured the tonic water line in its signature gin and tonic co*cktails to showcase the unique qualities of Chemist’s barrel-aged gin, Navy Strength gin and American gin, according to Donaldson, who referred to Fever-Tree as “the highest quality tonic that you can buy.”
Fever-Tree, founded in the U.K. in 2003, maintains the philosophy, “If 3/4 of your drink is the mixer, mix with the best.” The company produces 19 different retail mixers in the U.S. that include various flavors and styles of tonic water, ginger ale, ginger beer and sparkling beverages ideal for enriching a co*cktail.
Founders Tim Warrillow and Charles Rolls established the product line using high-quality, naturally sourced ingredients. Fever-Tree is named for the original Cinchona ledgeriana trees, known as fever trees, in Africa from which the company sources its quinine, the main ingredient in its tonic waters.
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“Something that differentiates us is our mixers are made for mixing,” Stein said. “They're wonderful to enjoy on their own, but we really take into account the unique characteristics of spirits, whether it be gin or bourbon, and make our mixers and craft them the way that it brings out those wonderful qualities of spirits.”
Gin and tonics will set the tone of the menu but the selection demonstrates the depth of the classic co*cktail, as well as Chemist and other spirit brands.
“At the botanical bar it's not just G&Ts,” Stein said. “You're having a range of different types of drinks with different types of kind of Chemist spirits, with different types of Fever-Tree drinks to really showcase how you can elevate a simple G&T or spirits in that sense and showcasing all of the ingredients.”
Menu highlights
American Gin & Tonic. Fever-Tree elderflower tonic and paired with Chemist American Gin with rose petals and dehydrated lime garnishes.
Rosy Revelry. Fever-Tree Sicilian Lemonade paired with Chemist Rose Gin, rose-infused vanilla and a sprinkling of spring petals.
Navy Strength Gin & Tonic. Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic paired with Chemist Navy Strength Gin, grapefruit and accented with rosemary and dehydrated lime.
Veronal’s Awakening. Fever-Tree Distillers Cola paired with Old Forester Bourbon Whiskey, Eda Rhyne Fernet, tart cherry and mint.
Fever-Tree Botanical Bar at Chemist
Where: 151 Coxe Ave., Asheville.
Hours: 5-9 p.m. Thursday; 4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 3-9 p.m. Sunday.
Info: View the full menu at chemistspirits.com.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter/Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with asubscription to the Citizen Times.
