The Watering Hole: The Rat and Raven, 5260 University Way N.E., 524-3166, UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
The Atmosphere: On a Thursday night, the watering holes near UW’s campus are crammed, but trek a little further up the Ave and you’ll find a cozy college bar without the crowds. Low, sloping ceilings and brick walls make it feel like an old English pub, and a group of rowdy Sounders fans decked out in green while they watch a match adds to the vibe.
Despite its decidedly casual, collegiate feel, the R and R draws an eclectic crowd. Sitting near the Sounders fans is a couple in their late 20s grabbing a drink, and across the bar a rap battle breaks out among a group of guys in baggy jeans and backward hats, freestyling in the corner. Even though they’re a little out of place, everyone else seems content to sit back and enjoy either the live entertainment or the match.
The Bartender: After moving from New York last June, Brooklyn Adams took a job at the R and R to pay her way through nursing school. No rookie, she’s been serving drinks since she was 18, and her experience shows. Greeting everyone with a warm smile, she keeps up multiple conversations while mixing cocktails.
The Drink: After I ask Adams to make me her favorite drink, she shoots me a devilish grin and says, “All right. But there’s no going back now, sweetheart.” She then pulls out four different spirits and begins mixing an aptly named Adios Motherfucker—a deadly blend of vodka, rum, tequila, and gin, which is then muddled with lemon and briskly shaken before being poured into a pint glass and topped with blue Curaçao, triple sec sour mix, and Sprite.
The Verdict: Although an Adios Motherfucker may seem like the perfect solution for drinkers who can’t decide on a base spirit, mixing all your options together is never the answer. If you manage to suck down an entire AMF, you’ll be hammered until the hangover hits the next afternoon.
