The Temple Bar

The adjectives “cozy” and “cool” might not pair together often, but at the Temple Bar in downtown Bellingham, there’s no better combination to describe the atmosphere. An intimate space with brightly-colored walls, it’s an ideal spot for a Sunday afternoon cocktail or a casual weeknight drink.

If you ask for one of the bar’s most popular drinks, you might be recommended the Temple Vesper, their go-to classic combination: a double martini, but with a twist. It’s not a menu item in April, but the staple is available upon asking.

While you may be familiar with a traditional martini, which features gin as the primary alcohol, the Temple puts their own spin on the cocktail by adding equal parts gin and vodka. This balance provides a welcome complexity to the drink, keeping the gin’s floral notes in check, and allowing the sweet, fruitiness of the Lillet Blanc and orange a place on the stage.

Bartender Emma Strutton recommends pairing the Vesper with the Temple’s “Everything Plate,” a selection of artisan cheese, charcuterie, bread, and accompaniments ($16).

The Temple Vesper

Ingredients: Vodka, gin, Lillet Blanc, orange bitters, Castelvetrano olive, orange peel. $10

306 W. Champion St., Bellingham
360.676.8660
templebarbellingham.com

Check out last month’s Mixing Tin from Brandywine Kitchen here!