Janie X Spring 2021 Cocktail Menu
Janie Brackett, Oliver’s newly promoted Bar Manager, has been with us for 3 years this fall. From server to bartender in just about 6 months, (which is pretty fast in our company), Janie’s long time experience in the hospitality industry is seen on and off the floor. Her love of people and the built-in flexibility while she completed her undergraduate degree in 2015 in psychology and english have made the years fly by.
Though her role as Bar Manager gives her the opportunity to craft seasonally rotated cocktail menus, a management position isn't new to Janie. In fact, following the great footsteps of her predecessor, Ari Rector, Janie hit the ground running as she took over Oliver’s bar program earlier this year. This uncharted territory has challenged Janie creatively, and from the outside looking in, we’re seeing how the bigger picture view is influencing things across the board...in a good way!
New Role, Fresh Innovation
Transitioning from being on the floor, at times in the trenches, to taking a step back to be able to oversee the bigger picture of all the wheels turning at once, has brought about fresh innovation throughout.
Janie has been praised, and rightfully so, for absolutely slaying (as the kids say) her first cocktail menu as bar manager. We honestly couldn’t be more proud. Here’s what Janie had to say:
“As the bar manager, building a new menu wasn’t just about creating and tasting cocktails, though that is a big and fun component! First and foremost, aligning with the same energy and vision as our new Executive Chef Darin Hoagland had to be the foundation from which we built off of. And it was more challenging than I expected!
In the process of following spring flavors and ingredients, it was important that the cocktails paired beautifully with the new spring menu. I also had a personal goal of encouraging and mentoring our new and growing staff to showcase their talents, experiences and ideas as well.
I’m really proud of the product that our bar team created for the spring 2021 cocktail menu. The teamwork, encouragement of ideas, and comradery that took place was infectious and we hope our guests can sense that with every sip. We played with new ideas and flavors that hadn’t been featured on our menu before like Matcha Gin, blueberry yellow chartreuse, and thai tea. ”
To pair these exciting new flavors with Chef Hoagland’s new spring menu, join us and make sure to order the CATTYWAMPUS (house-infused matcha gin, green chartreuse, lemon, honey), MAURY STREET HOUSE (mezcal, house-infused blueberry yellow chartreuse, lemon, campari, simple, tiki bitters), and WEST JACKSON JIVE (postmodern kore vodka, thai tea, arancia, lemon, honey, champagne, soda).
p.s. don’t forget about our Q2 fundraiser for Zoo Knoxville happening now through June 30th too. For every Royale Roulette or Librarian Recommendation (PKL) ordered - a $1 donation will be made on your behalf to Zoo Knoxville. A percentage of every ticket purchased to our Bubbles & Rose wine dinner will be donated to Zoo Knoxville and our hotel room minibars are now stocked with Flying Panda Specialty Beverages and Tip Top Proper Cocktails. A $1 donation will be made on your behalf when you purchase either beverage while staying with us.