By Megan Bryant
Photos Kimberlee Miller
There’s no shortage of breweries and watering holes here in the valley, offering impressive selections in wine, craft beers, and cocktails.
What sets the good ones apart from the great ones is, of course, when you find a killer spot with awesome staff. After learning more about a handful of local favorites and considering the complexities of drink recipes they must accurately, and suavely create while managing the energy of bustling bar patrons, I felt compelled to celebrate these bar heroes in poetic form.
I call theses “Shakes-BEER-ian” sonnets.
WYATT – Mai Thai
You’ll find kids outside selling lemonade
‘Cept for young restaurateur in training
Parent’s basement cabinet after raid
Ambition from age ten, not refraining
Raised without taboo attached to liquor
Responsible take on drinking maintained
The cocktail on his “My Name Is” sticker
The choice “Black Manhattan” would be sustained
In memory burned, a 14-hour shift
A short-staffed scene on Memorial Day
Just two bartenders caught each other’s drift
In the groove, served non-stop without delay
For fantastic drinks, food so good you’ll cry
Wyatt Soule tending bar in Mai Thai
ASHLEY – The Wylder
In Boise now with what began as two
Then the years multiplied to eleven
Double major, blazing through BSU
Staying put now in this piece of heaven
Bill Murray tat upon her skin, and jokes
she likes to tell. Loves dogs, to sew, and cook
Making friends with peers and the pleasant folks
While sharing stories as the shaker shook
Her prowess is to change your mind about
Certain liquor you’d rather not ingest
To craft a drink so smooth, removing doubt
“Intimidating but nice” drinks are best
The Wylder is Ashley Roshitsh’s post
A place to chill ‘n’ drink, and laugh the most
ERIK – Owyhee Tavern
Tending’s never boring, let it be said
As twelve years’ experience can attest
Michigan transplant, turned potato head
Wrangled a gig after failing the test
In desperation to become employed
Much to learn, causing brain constipation
They took a chance on him filling the void
Looking back now with appreciation
Made with gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth
Like a “Negroni,” his humor is dry
A quite helpful trait tell you the truth
What buzzed people say would make you just die
A cool spot downtown – just strut through the doors
Erik Coddens in the Owyhee pours
KERILL – Whiskey Bar & Chandlers
If in beverage form, flowed thru existence
Balanced flavor sweet; stern whiskey background
The tastes in “Grilled Pineapple” go the distance
Within this fella, true character can be found
Nomad life prior to this Boise perch
Yet here, found love of roots with which to grow
Handy hours turned passion, suspended search
Social contact and creations flow
Comrad’ry forged through team trip to the woods
Finding content in this new place called home
three of six years tending, behind this bar stood
Great people, great drinks, in the community roam
Come in for a drink served up by this star
Find Kerill Hutchings in the Whisky Bar
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Take some time to get out and explore these classy, well-run local establishments for your happy hour fix and weekend adventures. As fall weather sweeps in, be sure to get out and savor the season with delicious offerings, like a cocktail of the month at the Whiskey Bar that will be pumpkin based, and the wine/cocktail list will hit its seasonal rotation at Owyhee.
Mai Thai hosts a cocktail class the last Sunday of each month, and there will be fall themed events coming up quick!
As you stop in to each of these locations, make sure you say “hey” to our featured Boise bartenders.
