If you’re looking for a refreshing summer cocktail that combines old fashioned sensibilities with modern flavors, you can find it at Chiba Bar in downtown Colorado Springs. Their drink called “Meet Hanako at Embers” is reminiscent of a whiskey sour, with a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness, decorated with a thick foam on top. Made with rosemary gin, sweet vermouth, lemon, Campari, earl grey syrup, and egg white, the drink is chilled to perfection and offers an antidote to the summer heat outside. The lemon contrasts with the sweet earl grey syrup, which offers an herbaceous undertone in every sip. The drink is served chilled in a coupe glass, with an option to print an edible image on top of the foam. Chiba Bar’s new edible printer allows customers to select any image they’d like and print it directly on top of their foamy beverage.
Chiba Bar is a Japanese cyberpunk bar that draws inspiration from the culture of izakayas, which are Japanese-style pubs. Inside the bar, neon signs and pictures of anime cartoons line the walls. The dark atmosphere lends itself well to the cyberpunk aesthetic, which is emphasized by TVs playing Japanese cartoons. The name of the drink, “Meet Hanako at Embers,” is an homage to a cyberpunk video game.
The bar’s menu focuses heavily on the cocktail selection, which features a variety of other creations made with ingredients like yuzu, lychee, and shiso leaves. They also sell various Japanese whiskeys, beer, and sake. For food items, the kitchen makes fish and rice bowls with salmon, tuna, or shrimp, as well as miso soup and other appetizers.