25 June 1st–June 7th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | cONTeNTs | feeDBacK | OPiNiON | NeWs | feaTuRe | NighT+Day | culTuRe | film | cafe | music | “People would show up … trying to buy antiques, but then say, ‘Oh, fuck it, I’ll go drink at the bar.’ It was really strange,” Kailee recalls with a laugh. Although it permanently closed in 2017, Counter Intuitive was just the beginning for the Barter & Shake team. The group opened UnderTow in 2016 in the basement of Sip Coffee in Phoenix. When the opportunity to acquire a larger building next door presented itself, Asher and Furnari began thinking of other uses for the space. Kailee recalls the duo stepping into the building and being reminded of a large train station. “They immediately were like, ‘How can we create a story around a train station? Can we build a fake train?’” she says. They found their through-line in the story of the Transcontinental Railroad. Before the team began working on the beverage menu, they created an entirely fictional narrative around the aforementioned Mr. Pennington’s life in the South. “All of the ingredients and the flavors we use have to correlate with that location,” Kailee says. “It’s all about the sense of time and place.” Platform 18’s story takes place in and out of the bayous of Louisiana, explains Executive Vice President of Operations, and the narrative’s author, Mat Snapp, so the cocktail menu focuses on drinks that are “refreshing and light, with a nod to Cajun, Creole and warm-weather stan- dards.” Guests will find twists on prohibi- tion-era favorites, like the Hot Pants and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, alongside a vast selection of original drinks. One of the team’s favorite creations is the Blame the Dutch, which features a coconut oil-washed gin, makrut lime, chile oil, lemongrass and ginger. Jason Asher explains the beverage is inspired by tom kha gai, a sour yet fragrant Thai soup. Similar to the dish, this drink features a dash of chile oil that floats on the top of the surface. “The cocktail is light, but still brings the most complexity we possibly could,” he adds. Wondering why a drink inspired by a Thai dish is on the menu of a bar inspired by prohibition-era New Orleans? Look no further than the history books. The Transcontinental Railroad was built off the labor of freed slaves and immigrants, many of whom were from Asian countries. With this cocktail, the team pays homage to the people who contributed to the United States’ westward expansion. “We wanted to find a creative way to tell the stories of the people that built the railroad [versus] the rich white dudes,” Kailee says. “We collectively believe if you don’t learn from history, you allow it to repeat itself.” Looking to the future Off the heels of their win, the team is turning their attention away from the past and towards the future. They’re optimistic about the possibilities for expansion that could come from their new accolade and are currently weighing a few options. It’s been reported that Barter & Shake is opening another Platform 18 in Tucson, but at this point, it’s too early to tell. Kailee explains that the team signed a Letter of Intent with the City of Tucson, but are still conducting market research to gauge what concept would be the right fit, if any. “If Barter & Shake and Platform 18 go to Tucson — and there’s a high probability that it will — this project is not slated for completion until 2024 or 2025,” Kailee says. “We’ve got a long road ahead.” In the meantime, the team hopes to coordinate pop-up events in other markets or host fellow bartenders for collabora- tions. Above all, they want to focus on finding innovative ways to elevate their award-winning concept to new heights. “My husband is very competitive,” Kailee says. “The first thing he said [after winning the award] was, ‘How are we going to get higher on the list next year?’” Platform 18 at Century Grand 3626 E. Indian School Road centurygrandphx.com Blame the Dutch is an original Platform 18 drink modeled after a Thai soup. Barter & Shake Cocktail Entertainment Platform 18 from p 23
