South American voyage inspires Undertow menu

Arizona cocktail bar Undertow has unveiled the latest chapter in its series of narrative cocktail menus, which tells the story of a fictional voyage around South America.

Cocktails at Undertow were inspired by a voyage from New York to San Francisco

In each chapter, the venue’s appearance and cocktails have been designed to “bring the fictional narrative to life”.

For its latest menu, Undertow created drinks that track a fictional ship’s voyage from New York on the east coast of America, around South America and Cape Horn, before arriving in San Francisco on America’s west coast.

Mat Snapp, director of beverage for Fox Restaurant Concepts, said: “The journey that this clipper ship takes from New York around Cape Horn to San Francisco would have been one of the last of its kind. The opening of the transcontinental railroad a short time later provided a faster and safer route for people and goods to cross the country.”

The fictional narrative informs the menu’s cocktails and the thematic elements of the venue, including custom-built elements such as a dodo bust and faux shrunken heads.

Cocktails on offer at Undertow include Friend or Foe, which is made with Larceny Bourbon, Aperol, passion fruit, cinnamon, pineapple juice, lemon juice and Angostura Bitters, and the Talon of Tenacity, which contains Appleton 12 Years Aged Jamaican Rum, Smith and Cross Overproof Aged Jamaican Rum, Giffard Banane du Brésil, Nux Alpina, St Elizabeth Allspice Dram, crème de coconut, lime juice and orange juice.

Jason Asher, co-owner of Undertow, added: “Tiki concepts always incorporated fantasy. They were never ‘real’ places, but rather a getaway or escape from reality created by Don the Beachcomber, himself an adventurer and businessman, during the Great Depression.

“Tropical doesn’t define tiki; escapism does. We deliver this through our stories, our menus, and our immersive environment.”