Pour me a drink – Bar muse with joe stinchcomb

On this episode of Pour Me a Drink, Aaron sits down with Joe Stinchcomb, the cocktail genius behind Bar Muse. While sipping a Last Word cocktail, Aaron and Joe discuss Bar Muse, drink inspiration, and overrated alcohol trends.

Bar Muse opened in the Lyric Theater in October 2021 with the vision of a neighborhood bar meets a high-end cocktail bar for an intimate, elevated drink experience. Joe aims to get people out of their comfort zone of what they normally drink and says customers show excitement to try something new. Every six to eight weeks, both cocktails and wine are rotated out for something new so the cocktail can capture the moment. Joe draws inspiration for new cocktails from everyday life, classic drinks, and even sometimes an unexpected idea late at night.

The Last Word was invented by the Detroit Athletic Club in 1915, just before prohibition began. There are a few variations, but Joe prefers the classic Last Word and it’s interesting history. Overall popularity for the drink rekindled in the early 2000’s, when bartenders across the country began to add the recipe to their menus. The drink has a beautiful mix of notes from each ingredient, giving a timeless flavor to this storied cocktail.

To make Joe’s favorite cocktail, follow this recipe:
1 oz green chartreuse
3/4 oz dry gin
1/2 oz Luxardo
3/4 oz lime juice