This week seemed like a good time to continue my quest for cocktails by visiting the newly opened bar called Blush. The bar is operated as a cooperative with young queer and transgendered individuals providing art, music, and yes, cocktails, at this establishment located at 18 N 1st Ave W in Duluth. They have a rather small cocktail list, but some interesting things are deals like the “Happy Meal,” which consists of a PBR and shot of Jameson, and the “Crappy Meal,” a High Life and shot of Old Crow. However, there are a couple of legitimate cocktails on the list and I figured I’d try one since I was there. Overall, this bar is fairly reasonably priced.

Featured Bartender: Ezra Hagstrom. Ezra has some experience with bar service, at the age of 19, it wasn’t uncommon to see her serving drinks as a waitress at a show at R.T. Quinlan’s. She now can be found working at Blush on various nights and is one of the founders of the establishment. 

Interests and Activities: Ezra plays bass with the band Secret Badass, does graphic design, and hangs out with her cat named Artemis. 

Favorite Music: Ezra likes The Florists out of Minneapolis, Alex G, and her own group, Secret Badass. 

Featured Cocktail: The Rosemary Whiskey Sour. This drink gets a good shot of Jim Beam Whiskey Bourbon, some rosemary simple syrup with actual sprigs of rosemary inside the bottle, she then twists in a lemon. The concoction is then shaken together, then strained with a little ginger beer added.

How is it?: This drink is a lot like a Moscow Mule, but it of course has Jim Beam giving it that bourbon flavor, and it’s not served in a copper cup. The real difference is the rosemary that sits well with the ginger beer and notes of lemon. Jim Beam is not a go to whiskey type drink for me, but the medley works nicely together and keeps the booze flavor pretty toned down. This drink plays on some things that go well together, but then comes with a little twist. Satisfying and delicious overall.