R&D menu is a ‘liquid love letter’ to Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s R&D cocktail bar has released its 11th themed menu, inspired by its hometown, the ‘birthplace of America’.
The menu coincides with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which occurred in Philadelphia.
Beverage director and Defined Hospitality partner Aaron Deary is behind the menu, which is titled ‘Ripoff & Duplicate’. The menu’s name was a guest’s suggestion for the meaning of the bar’s initials.
The Ripoff & Duplicate menu is a ‘cocktail roadmap’ of the city, spotlighting its neighbourhoods, history and ‘iconic moments that define the city’.
It is presented as a glossy 10-page magazine that doubles as an insider guide to the city, featuring recommendations for the best Puerto Rican food and best espresso in the city, as well as advice on ‘properly’ spending a day in Fishtown.
The menu is divided into three sections: Shaken and Citrusy, Stirred and Spirited, and Lighter and Bubbly.
From the first section, Hitchbot is a Sour-style cocktail made with Dutch gin, German herbal liqueur, Canadian maple and lemon. The real-life Hitchbot was a hitchhiking robot that planned to travel the US but was beheaded in Philadelphia in 2015.
In a Man Glass is a cocktail from the Stirred and Spirited section that takes inspiration from the Clover Club, which was invented at Philadelphia’s Bellevue Hotel in the 1880s. R&D’s version is made with vodka, raspberry, cream cheese and citrus.
The Lighter and Bubbly section is home to the Chu-Hai, an homage to shochu Highballs and a nod to the city’s Royal Sushi & Izakaya. The drink features sweet potato shochu, bitter apéritif and lemon myrtle Tequila.
“This is our liquid love letter to Philadelphia during a historic year,” said Deary. “R&D’s success is deeply rooted in collaboration, where menu development draws from the diverse creative ideas, cultural influences, and passions of our staff.
“This menu is a true insider guide to the city we all love, with cocktail recipes and recommendations from every team member. It’s Philly, the R&D way.”
Alongside the Philly-inspired cocktails, the menu offers a refreshed menu of R&D classics, including a Paloma Milk Punch and The Wicked Tide, described as a Mai Tai meets Jungle Bird.
The bar also offers a ‘venti’ option for the Espresso Martini, which serves four.
The menu is completed by beer, wine and non-alcoholic cocktails.
The food offering includes ‘elevated’ bar bites such as a smash burger.
Previous R&D menus have showcased Jerry Thomas-era classics, maligned 1950s drinks, Tiki concoctions, and the 90s. The bar opened in 2018.
El Paso’s Nueve Uno Cinco is another US cocktail bar taking inspiration from its hometown.
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