The display for Honest John Bitters really made you feel as though you were stepping back in time to the days of snake-oil salesmen peddling their wares. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Honest John Bitters Co. Launch @ The Mandate Press 10.15
Honest John Bitters Co. has bottles that look like they should be sitting in an apothecary of some sort. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Aromatic bitters rest on a burlap sack with some wood moss filling to the edge. Photo: Talyn Sherer
The display for Honest John Bitters really made you feel as though you were stepping back in time to the days of snake-oil salesmen peddling their wares. Photo: Talyn Sherer
The bartender prepares my favorite cocktail, The Black Manhattan, which features Honest John’s black walnut bitters. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Precision is key when it comes to crafting the perfect cocktail. Photo: Talyn Sherer
That burnt red work of art being poured over a cherry in a martini glass is what has lead me on a vigorous search for black walnut bitters over the last year. Photo: Talyn Sherer
That snake wants my drink, and I could hardly blame her when it’s made to such a high degree. Photo: Talyn Sherer
The whole squad of bitters rest on their pedestal, framed by the antlers of a former deer. Photo: Talyn Sherer
The laser-engraved gift box from Honest John makes its appearance just in time for the holiday season. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Saturday’s launch event was hosted by The Mandate Press, who also helped in the label creation for Honest John Bitters. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) SLUG Community Development Executive John Ford and Bethanie Monsen-Ford talk shop over a few cocktails created at Saturday nights event. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) The creative geniuses behind Honest John Bitters Co., Brandon Cagle and Sara Lund. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Jake Buntjer aka Mister Pauper has played a huge role in the overall design of The Rest, and he is one snazzy dresser to boot. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Conversations were a-plenty during Saturday night’s launch event at The Mandate Press. Photo: Talyn Sherer
A pseudo gothic piece from Mister Pauper tempts me to break out the checkbook. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) Lisa Archer, Corbin Archer, Shirelle Erb and Chad Pieczonka were thrilled to be a part of so groundbreaking an event as this. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) Chantelle Bourdex of Slow Foods Utah poses with Amber Oothoudt. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) April Gaultney smiles for the camera while John Zebra dreams of his next cocktail. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) Erica New snags a photo with Sara Lund’s parents, Mike and Cheryl Burns. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) Sara Day and Allison Shepard eagerly wait in line for their chance to sample a cocktail from the bar. Photo: Talyn Sherer
You would be hard pressed to find a sad face in the crowd of people that showed up in support for Sara Lund and Honest John Bitters Co. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Book on Tapeworm provided the mood music for the night as well as selling the coolest CD case I have ever seen, featuring a pop-up display. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Sara Lund says a few words to the sea of smiling faces that came out to show her and her newest venture some love. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Scott Shepard from Book on Tapeworm gets intimate with his performance on Saturday night. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Scott Shepard from Book on Tapeworm as that silky, sultry voice that makes you want to drink a hot coffee while watching the rain come trickling down outside. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Book on Tapeworm were the perfect pairing for a night of craft cocktails, intimate conversations and eclectic décor. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Ciera Black from Book on Tapeworm puts us all at ease with her symphonic cello performance. Photo: Talyn Sherer
This curious taxidermied fox wants to get in on the conversation. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Book on Tapeworm perform under the Edison-bulb string lights and the intense focus of the crowd. Photo: Talyn Sherer
As if the venue could not be more perfectly designed, we find ourselves being lost in the soothing tones of Book on Tapeworm. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Between the songs, people rushed to the bar to get their hands on another drink. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Book on Tapeworm continues the performance with the crowd’s respectful silence. Photo: Talyn Sherer
No better way to enjoy a performance by Book on Tapeworm than by sipping down on a craft cocktail made with Honest John Bitters Co. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Stirring became the norm during the musical performance so as not to disrupt the mood created by the band. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L–R) Mister Pauper and Sara Lund were the executive designers of both The Rest and Saturday night’s event. Photo: Talyn Sherer
If you have ever been mysteriously led to the basement of Bodega and sipped on a cocktail while enjoying the hauntingly beautiful décor, chances are you have been the unknowing test subject of a little endeavor called Honest John Bitters Co. This newest venture from Sara Lund was brought about due to the financial constraints required to keep a ready supply of bitters stocked up for her speakeasy, The Rest. Not only was the process becoming arduous to keep the supply well stocked, but the quality of the bitters was not up to par with Sara’s vision to create the perfect cocktail. Most bitters on the market today have lost touch with their roots: Instead of giving you a tonic filled with the elixir of various flavors, they mask it using cheap ingredients like glycerin. As explained by Lund, the name Honest John comes from a time when bitters were marketed as the one-stop shop, cure-all elixir that were sold off the back of wagons by traveling snake-oil salesmen called Honest Johns. Sara herself is far from a snake-oil salesman, and her product does not make claims to cure any diseases—unless the disease stems from a severe lack of flavor in your daily cocktail, in which case there is no better alternative. So, if you find yourself in the market for a locally sourced cocktail additive or are simply curious about comparing flavors, be sure to seek out Honest Johns Bitters at The Rest. Starting Oct. 18,The Rest will hold an exclusive tasting that features four of the five bitters they offer, giving patrons a chance to try bitters in their purest form.
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