Vincent Laresca founded Blue Collar, the mixology-forward bar on South Fairfax ten years ago. Blue Collar never had a menu—patrons told the bartenders their spirit and flavor profile of choice, and the bartenders would whip up original cocktails. Each new creation was written on an index card with the patron’s name. The Blue Collar team claims to have gathered more than 1,000 recipes over its ten-year history. From these, the bar team picked their 36 favorites to create the menu for Cold Shoulder, the speakeasy that opened in September 2023 in the adjoining space.
You can access Cold Shoulder through the gold-rimmed door on the right wall as you enter Blue Collar. You may need a password, but the team adds clues to their Instagram page to make it easy to guess. Enter a topsy turvy world with picture frames flipped upside down and bar stools riding the ceiling. The cocktail list comes in a colorfully illustrated book describing the staples and seasonal drinks. Cocktails may be expensive—ranging from $20 to $50 for when they are made with top-shelf spirits—but they are some of the most creative in Los Angeles. Try the savory Bugs Bunny, made from fresh carrot, lemon and celery juice mixed with Amsterdam Vodka, ginger and turmeric, or the decadent Bananas Foster—black walnut liqueur, Koloa rum and chocolate bitters are served in a rocks glass and brought out on a platter along with vanilla ice cream, crispy bacon and banana so you can create your own sweet or savory experience. Showmanship enhances an already diverse and intriguing menu, making Cold Shoulder a great source of entertainment along with its drinks—and a must-visit for cocktail enthusiasts.
Based in Los Angeles, California, Alissa Bica is the Associate Editor and Spirits Critic at Wine & Spirits. She is also a sommelier at 71 Above and co-runs the home wine tasting company, Côte Brune and Blonde. In any rare moments of free time, she writes about obscure grape varieties in the blog Off the Beaten Wine Path.
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