November 14, 2006

Miami Ice

Barton G’s Below Zero Nitro Bar

The Ice Hotel: It’s cool (no pun intended) in theory. But who wants to guzzle spiked Swiss Miss just to stay warm? We’ll take our climates toasty and our beverages cold.

To satisfy the thrill of the chill, Barton G has opened Below Zero Nitro Bar, where cocktails are infused with liquid nitrogen, which is colder than dry ice. For those ditched chem 101, this means the alcohol freezes, and your drink gets progressively stronger as it melts.

Ask mad scientist/chef/bartender Richard Blais for a Classic Nitro-tini, which includes Ciroc Snap Frost vodka, a nitrogenized vermouth swizzle stick, a frozen olive, and frostbitten blue cheese pearls. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a Pink Elephant, a combo of Absolut Ruby Red vodka and ruby red grapefruit juice. It has a popsicle-like consistency.

Only three nitro cocktails are available so far, but more are in the works.

Cool, huh? And this time, not just in theory.

Below Zero Nitro Bar at Barton G, 1427 West Avenue, Miami Beach (305-672-8881 or bartong.com).