CLAWSON, Mich. – Stepping into Weiss Distilling Co. this spring is like entering a seductive green enclave that immediately delights every one of your senses.
From its moody lighting and colors to down-right delicious smells wafting through the air, this speakeasy-style cocktail bar is sparing no expense to tempt you inside and threaten you with a good time. And that’s even before drinks are served.
The cocktail bar -- one of the newest in Downtown Clawson -- is greeting this season with its latest theme: Weiss in the Wild. It’s the second year that this jungle-inspired theme has taken over Weiss’ menu and interior for a limited time.
Weiss specializes in a rotation of seasonal, pop-up style themes at its permanent space. With each new menu and interior design makeover, the bar-lounge expertly walks the line of magical and adult. Silly and chic.
As an avid fan (clearly) who tests out each new theme, I always expect to and have a great experience. But the 2024 Weiss in the Wild experience might have been the best yet -- here’s why.
A menu of perfection
Weiss’ ability to transform each season is certainly unique, but that’s not the only thing that sets it apart from other local cocktail bars. In addition to making and using its own spirits, the seasonal menus feature experimental drinks that you just won’t find anywhere else.
I say experimental because that’s exactly what the team at Weiss is. Together, the staff curate their own recipes, taste them, refine them, and present them in beautiful ways. In the end, the team always winds up with a distinct and diverse menu that has a little something for every taste; from delicate to bold, bright to medicinal, and everything in between.
This particular menu, which lists about 30 drink options, was an absolute home run. Each drink I tasted was as exciting and captivating as the last.
Here were my favorites:
- Purple Lotus: The most perfect, creamy absinthe-based cocktail around. The drink was light, like a cloud, but full of flavors that worked oddly well together. The ube (purple yam) offered a richness that blended with sweet pineapple, sharp lime, plum bitters, and the black licorice taste of the absinthe. It’s a marriage I never knew I needed. Tasted like a desert but was slightly bitter. Overall, complex but easy to drink (and enjoy).
- Mowgli’s Muse: A delicious rum cocktail with a dominant apple flavor. This drink was so juicy, but also tart, and also warm from the cinnamon. It was a well-balanced, sweet-sour drink that felt so sharp and citrusy. I was a big fan.
- Mile High: This apple brandy-based drink was very complex. The apple and coffee liqueur were strong at the front, while a fruity flavor hung in the middle, and finished off with a flash of spearmint. It was tart with the citric acid, but sweet from the pineapple and vanilla. It was a unique experience. This drink would take me a while to sip on.
- Silly Rabbit: This cocktail is definitely not for kids. It’s vodka-based and was extremely boozy, but also extremely tasty. It smelled and tasted like an adult, liquified version of cotton candy -- and was actually made with Trix cereal clarified milk. The lemon elevated the orange liqueur, and the fruit flavors harmonized beautifully. This drink was sweet on all fronts, but a giant ice cube helps cut the sweetness.
- Enter The Dragon: I was surprised at how much I loved this drink. It’s a gin base with ginger, honey, rice wine, lime and wasabi. Yes, wasabi. But the wasabi hit was quite subtle; sort of left hanging there at the back of your throat. The drink overall was light, crisp, sour, and really acidic. The flavors paired perfectly with the citrus. This one may trigger some heartburn, but it was worth it for me.
- Banana Hammock: The bourbon was strong in this drink, but not harsh. Rum was mixed into the bourbon, alongside chocolate bitters and banana. The boozy drink still tasted of banana, with a rich and bitter taste brought by the chocolate bitters. Liquor was the dominant flavor. This one is for those who enjoy a heavier, more medicinal cocktail. Definitely a sipper.
- PB&J: This mixed shot smelled of moonshine right away -- but the boozy flavor was not as potent as the smell. This flavor was sweet and rich. Definitely resembled a beloved peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Their mixed shots are perfect for sipping on, but this would also go down smoothly in one swig.
- Posh Parrot: The only other mixed shot on their menu, and my favorite between the two. The smell of cucumber was strong and inviting up front. The juiciness of the shot mixed with the coolness of the cucumber and tartness of the fruits was perfection. Passionfruit and cucumber are the wonderful pair here. I sipped on this one only to savor it as long as I could.
The distilling company also just began making a version of aquavit, which is featured on this season’s menu for the first time. Aquavit is a gin-like spirit that originated in Scandinavia.
The staff told me that while their gin is a more traditional take, their take on aquavit is more modern. They have two aquavit-based drinks on their menu -- and on its own, the new spirit was tasty.
I didn’t try any of their spiritless drinks this time around, but they do offer four. Truthfully, I’m confident that their alcohol-free drink options are just as delicious as their boozy companions.
Execution of the theme
Weiss’ dark and vampy interior always feels special to me. It’s a space that feels comfortable and high-end at the same time.
That atmosphere wasn’t compromised by this season’s quirky jungle-themed decorations, or the disco ball spinning in the center of the room.
The dim yet vibrant green and orange lighting bounced off the fauna spilling from the ceiling, walls, and bar. Also hanging from the ceiling were monkeys and snakes -- including a giant python-like creature that was both sinister and fun.
Occasionally, the sound of light rain would fall over the bar, and flashes of faux lightning would illuminate the ceiling. The decor felt even more elaborate than last time Weiss in the Wild was around.
Even the staff were on theme, working behind the large wraparound bar in their colorful clothes. Their effort and enthusiasm was obvious and welcomed.
Details are important to them, too: Each drink is served in a specific glass -- sometimes a playful tiki glass -- that is often adorned with a garnish, edible and not. The Purple Lotus cocktail, for example, was served with a flower and a literal fire on top. The Banana Hammock was served with freeze-dried banana slices and a tiny monkey hanging from the glass.
If the drinks themselves aren’t smoking, the staff can often be seen burning palo santo or cherrywood -- both of which made the room smell incredible. I even smelled what seemed like toasted marshmallows at one point, but that was not confirmed.
There’s rarely a lull in smells. The scent of fresh popcorn, which is delivered upon your arrival, pleasantly sweeps across your face every now and again.
My second Weiss in the Wild experience left me satisfied, yet eager for more. I’ll definitely be back to taste more of this menu -- and I encourage every cocktail lover to do the same this spring.
Weiss is located at 34 East 14 Mile Road in Clawson and is open Wednesday through Sunday. Reservations are encouraged. You can check out the complete Weiss in the Wild menu on the bar’s website here.
A look a previous Weiss themes: