In the heart of downtown Fresno, Modernist has been crafting unique cocktail experiences for six and a half years. With their latest offering, the bar is taking a bold step away from vintage cocktails to tell personal stories through flavor. The new Nostalgia menu is not just a collection of drinks; it’s a journey through the memories and experiences of the bartenders who created them.
The Nostalgia menu features 16 original cocktails, each accompanied by artwork and a story written by the bartender. These stories encapsulate the inspiration behind each drink, offering patrons a deeper connection to what they’re tasting. The format of these stories varies, from short tales to poems or haikus, depending on what felt most authentic to the creator.
From Vintage to Personal: Modernist’s Evolution
General manager Ace Fabionar explains that while Modernist’s first 15 menus focused on reintroducing vintage cocktails and showcasing what a modern cocktail bar could be, the new menu is a departure from that approach. Nostalgia is about telling personal stories, evoking sense memories that resonate with both the creators and the patrons.
This shift isn’t unique to Modernist. The recent season of Top Chef challenged contestants to create four-course progressive menus that paid homage to the things and people that matter to them. This trend towards introspection and storytelling in the culinary world seems to be gaining momentum, and Modernist is at the forefront of this movement in the cocktail scene.
The Art of Storytelling: Bartenders as Storytellers
Aline TongkhuyaModernist’s bar director, introduces her contribution to the menu, the Vinai N. 1-15. This cocktail mixes blanco tequila, blanc vermouth, sour lime cordial, and curry leaf, evoking the feeling of sneaking guava candies from the Hmong market. The story behind the drink is a personal one, reflecting Tongkhuya’s experiences as a child of Hmong immigrants in Fresno.
Tongkhuya’s cocktail is just one example of the creative freedom that the new menu has afforded the bartenders. The menu includes contributions from the crew at Modernist as well as their sister bar, Bespokenext door. Bespoke has long specialized in creating drinks based on a customer’s preferences or memories, and this ethos is evident in the new menu.
The Home Grown Experience
Ace Fabionar‘s own contribution, the Home Grownis a testament to the unique flavors and experiences that Fresno has to offer. This cocktail combines milk-washed Nikka Japanese vodka, green chile, strawberry, olive, and habanero, served in a whiskey glass with a large ice cube and a Castelvetrano olive. The nose of the drink is a complex blend of salty, milky, and vaguely spicy notes, while the palate offers a unique combination of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors.
Fabionar describes himself as a strong advocate for salty, funky cocktails, and the Home Grown is a perfect example of this. The drink captures the taste and feeling of charred chilis without any of the burn, offering a unique sensory experience that is both familiar and new.
Non-Alcoholic Innovations
Alongside the traditional cocktails, the new menu also features a selection of free-spirited cocktailsor non-alcoholic drinks. One such drink is the Endless Days In My Chaisecreated by mixologist Kennedy Brotemarkle. This cocktail combines Ritual zero-proof gin, floreale aperitif, zero-proof elderflower liqueur, and blueberry shrub, offering a complex and refreshing taste that is not too sweet.
Brotemarkle’s drink is inspired by her memories of driving past the Rancho Notso Grande blueberry patch in Hanford. The blueberry shrub used in the drink is a syrup made with vinegar as part of the base, offering a crispness and acidity that comes not from traditional citrus, but from white wine vinegar.
Modernist’s Unique Approach to Cocktail Making
Modernist’s new menu is a testament to the bar’s unique approach to cocktail making. The bartenders are using essential oil mists to add complexity to their drinks, replacing the more common dehydrated fruit garnishes. This innovative technique is just one example of the creative freedom that the new menu has afforded the bartenders.
While not every drink may be a patron’s new favorite, the menu offers a unique sensory experience that is both familiar and new. The bartenders at Modernist are not just mixing drinks; they are telling stories, evoking memories, and offering a taste of Fresno’s unique flavors.
As the bar continues to evolve, it is clear that Modernist is more than just a cocktail bar. It is a destination, a place where patrons can enjoy great drinks and great stories. The new Nostalgia menu is a testament to the bar’s commitment to creativity, innovation, and storytelling, and it is sure to be a hit with both locals and visitors alike.
