Sky Waikiki Backbar Speakeasy Debut

SKY Waikiki debuts a new experience hidden behind the walls called: “the BACKBAR speakeasy”. This intimate bar-within-a-bar setting seats approximately 20 guests with a 90 minute time limit each.  Beyond the intimate setting, the featured cocktails will be based on Bar Director Jen Acrkill’s whimsey and reflect her chic, minimalist, fresh style of cocktails.  A price point elevated above that of Sky and Top of Waikiki further expands Acrkill’s creativity by allowing for a wider range of ingredients.

Hawaii Beverage Guide Perspective

Reservations can be made at skywaikiki.com/thebackbar or a password which can be found somewhere on @SKYWaikiki on instagram.  

Summary of the Bars in the Waikiki Business Plaza:

BACKBAR Speakeasy 
Jen Acrkill will often be found behind the bar at this location and will be making cocktails that reflect her personal tastes and style.

Top of Waikiki
Modern interpretations of classic cocktails

​Sky Waikiki
A menu focused on the guest that focus on story telling.

See video below for more about the approach to the different Waikiki Business Plaza Bars

The Opening Menu

Hawaii Beverage Guide was invited to a media event that showcased the first iteration of Backbar's menu.  Here's our perspective on the drinks.

In the Shadow of Palm Trees
Tromba tequila blanco, Carpano Bianco, Ancho Verde, lime, grapefruit cordial​

Hawaii Beverage Guide Commentary:
Margarita like in approach, the tequila, lime and grapefruit, are made more complex by the green poblano chili flavor from ancho verde and aromatic notes of capano’s white wine base fortified and flavored with ginger, cloves, chamomile, slightly minty hyssop.

DDK
Botanist gin, Lagavulin 16yr scotch, Yellow Chartreuse, Luxardo maraschino liqueur, coriander, cardamom, and tea  tincture

Hawaii Beverage Guide Commentary:
This cocktail is basically tea in the form of a cocktail and influenced by the Scottish island of Islay (where both Botanist Gin and Lagavulin are distilled).  Featuring the Aromatic Botanist gin made with 31 botanicals 22 of which are foraged from the island. This is accented by the maraschino cherry sweetness of Luxardo which is paired with herbaceous yellow chartreuse featuring flavors of licorice like annessette, and a coriander, cardamom and tea tincture that help fill in the woody spice notes notes. The peaty lagavulin is experienced in the finish, as it helps bind the flavors together.

photo courtesy of SKY Waikiki

photo courtesy of SKY Waikiki

Hey Yo! Chareau
Tanqueray gin, Chareau aloe liqueur, triple sec, lemon, hopped grapefruit bitters, basil, mint, jalapeno, tonic

Hawaii Beverage Guide Commentary:
 ​In this refreshing, spa-like cocktail, juniper notes from the gin are complimented with the chareau made from aloe , cucumber, brandy, lemon peel, muskmelon, and mint.  Jen’s own Cocktail Artist Triple Sec Syrup provides an orange note. Basil, mint and grapefruit bitters help boost the herbaceousness and amplify notes already found in the chareau, and jalepenos’ soft heat provides a nice mouth feel.

Jealous  Lumberjack
Kikori Japanese whiskey, Saler’s gentian, Midori, lime, citrus syrup, orange bitters

Hawaii Beverage Guide Commentary:
In this cocktail Kikori, is approached as an aged shochu moran than a whiskey. This mellow woodsy  pallet sets a base for the midori melon liqueur sweetness, the tart citrus and orange, and the bitter gentian.  The Saler’s gentian also helps to keep in check the sweetness of the cocktail.

photo courtesy of SKY Waikiki

Devil’s  Swing
El Silencio mezcal Espadin, Punt e Mes, apricot liqueur, thyme-infused olive oil.

Hawaii Beverage Guide Commentary:
​
Apricot and the complex sweet and bitter flavors of Punt e Mes amaro are overlaid with the wood smoke provided by the Espadin (varitial of agave) mezcal.  The thyme-infused olive oil is expressed both in mouth feel and in the thyme’s refreshing aromatic notes on the finish.

Old  Fashioned  AF
Russell’s  10yr and Stagg  Jr. bourbons, Michter’s  straight rye, sugar, Angostura  bitters

Hawaii Beverage Guide Commentary:
Jenn likes split based cocktails.  In this version of the Old Fashioned, Ackrill plays master whiskey blender, and combines different two bourbons with and then pushes the spicy with Michter’s rye.  It’s then made a cocktail with sugar water (from ice) and bitters.

photo courtesy of SKY Waikiki

photo courtesy of SKY Waikiki

That  Pink Drink
Laird’s applejack brandy, Belle de Brillet pear liqueur, pastis

Hawaii Beverage Guide Commentary:
In this stirred cocktail, spiced Apple Cider notes from the combination of Laird’s Applejack and cognac found in the Belle de Brillette, and pear notes are accented by licorice notes found in Pastis.