#15 | LiQ Bar, Düsseldorf, Germany
Last Visit: May 2023
The LiQ Bar in Düsseldorf is one of many that tries (and in this case succeeds) to not take itself too seriously and provide a good time and positive energy for its thoroughly mixed audience in the beautiful and cozy Pempelfort district. The fact that it works completely without any artificial pressure to convey an unobtrusive yet noticeable retro concept in the interior design and menu, even without losing focus on the previously mentioned aspects, is a happy outcome.
What do I mean by "outcome"? Well, the rebirth of a small institution of the Düsseldorf bar scene. Because the LiQ Bar has already existed a good 10 years before its closure during the times of Covid and in 2022 was taken over after 2 years of that closure, by the mind behind the Square Bar (just a 5-minute walk away), David Rippen.
The Square Bar too always conveys a good atmosphere and humor in their creative menus and designs. Reading Rippen's statements in Mixology magazine, though, the new concept of LiQ was mainly chosen due to their already existing interior. There was simply already this slight retro flair, maybe already a bit outdated during their best times. If you want to put it less politely, it is just "set" in the late 80s to 90s: Purple, LEDs, the iconic lips on the wall, "a bit peculiar", you could say? In any case, David Rippen, who knew the previous owners for decades, has taken this as a starting point and logically continues it, even in the menu.
With this menu, the wink to guests already starts when it's handed to you. Black, purple, the font, and when you open it, drinks in pixel aesthetics, 80s kitsch, just before it hurts. But it still brings a smile to the lips, especially for a generation like me, who only know it as a fashion trend of the last decade and didn't actually experience it.
What immediately caught my attention: Almost exactly as many non-alcoholic drinks as their intoxicating counterparts, quite intentional as part of the concept, as they assured me. Actually quite amusing, if one continues the thought: You commit yourself to the 1980s and the one place where you break the theme consciously and clearly is suddenly the "missing" alcohol, not at all 80s like. On the other hand, if it's charming to "break" your premise and theme a little bit and bet on your guests having that suspension of disbelief, then here. One can respect that, I therefore also decided consciously after a long time to once again try a non-alcoholic drink. Which are always much discussed and often a hyped topic in (German) magazines like Mixology & Co, but in the fewest bars they actually get that equal weight and respect, as for example here in the LiQ Bar.
Copyright: Mixology magazine
The extremely friendly bar team helps you navigate through the retro menu, professionally and courteously, but also with a certain casualness, without it ever seeming artificial. For example, I could try out a new bourbon in the portfolio (on the house) or test the new creation for their pop-up bar in the Café Kwadrat. As well as talk about the crazy coincidence that we, the bartender and me, were by chance in Athens at the same time 2 weeks earlier and even spent time in the same locations, the (bar) world is so small…
The cooperation with the café (just around the corner from the LiQ Bar) is also important for you, the reader, because this actually means for the next summer weeks the bar is completely closed on weekdays and only open Friday and Saturday, from 10 pm, at their actual location. All the better opportunity to drop by Café Kwadrat and test the special and new 5-6 signature drinks made for the Café, Tuesday to Saturday from 7 pm. As soon as this summer phase is over, we will update this part in the article.
Cuba Libre Spezi Style:
| Orange Infused Havana 7y
| Rock Candy
| Lime
| Afri Cola Espuma
| Bitters
Deconstructed drinks are always interesting, whether a Piña Colada Old Fashioned (already seen several times, for example, at the Jaded Monkey in Munich, great one) or as we have here, a Cuba Libre, basically as a Daiquiri with highly aromatic espuma on top. My favorite of the evening, the orange comes across beautifully zesty, as it was also infused including the peels of the fruit. The rock candy syrup instead of normal simple syrup delivers a small, concentrated spark and volume, the espuma was simply fantastic. Espumas should get more of a comeback in my opinion, since in the few cases I stumbled upon them in the last year or so, it was every single time an enriching experience, adding a whole new dimension of aromas to the drinks. This one was no exception.
Herr Nilsson:
| Wild Turkey Bourbon
| Plantation Original Dark
| Triple Juice
| Pancake Syrup
| Bananacurd
| Kefir
| Sesame
A short explanation: "Triple Juice" means the combo Orange-Lime-Lemon, "Pancake Syrup" actually the syrup that you just add onto your (American) pancakes, a mix of maple syrup and honey in this case. Overall quite easy-to-drink, maybe almost a bit flat. As I was more looking for bold flavors, this one came in last for me during this day, as rather little of the spirits could shine through as well. But keep in mind, this one is intended to be creamy, bring a good mood and awake fond memories of sweet treats (and also convey this slight retro charm) and it does that great, certainly others will find pleasure in this one.
Mexican Standoff:
| Lavender Mezcal
| Amaro Montenegro
| Campari
| Orange Blossom Water
Mezcal Negronis, always interesting how differently they are interpreted. Here quite expanded with a lavender infusion, Montenegro instead of red vermouth and a few drops of orange blossom water. A contrast of florality and the actually more tart and rough mezcal, the outcome is quite successful and pleasing. Surprisingly smooth, the Montenegro with its own bitter orange notes also rounds off the Campari (to which I am otherwise somewhat sensitive) nicely, the lavender is exactly on a level where it is not too soapy, as I sadly had to experience in other bars with lavender drinks. Sophisticated Negroni craftsmanship!
Like A Virgin:
| Tanqueray 0,0%
| Spruce Cordial
| Eucalyptus Tincture
There it is, the non-alcoholic drink of choice, when I asked which one was the one with the most intense aroma. And I was not disappointed as far as that is concerned, the spruce cordial is of course the star here, helps the "gin" without % to get that certain punch. The mocktail has a full body and is quite aromatic, even the eucalyptus is discreet and yet noticeably integrated at the end of the taste experience. As it will probably always be with non-alcoholics, you notice a little shorter and more elegant finish due to the lack of flavor and power delivering alcohol. Nevertheless, one of the best non-alcoholic drinks I have ever tasted. Especially in the summer, a no-brainer and after the deconstructed Cuba Libre even my second favorite of the ones mentioned here.
The LiQ Bar is that typical kind of bar that would be a great, little addition to the local bar community in almost any city. Relaxed, yet creative, in its menu composition, not overly artificially ambitious or the opposite, too geared to a mainstream tourist crowd (that's rather unlikely to happen here).
The drinks offer something for various tastes, especially the claim to meet the ever-growing non-alcoholic trend is up-to-date and commendable. So this act of reviving an almost lost bar name will definitely find its way into our and my recommendation pool for barflies looking around Düsseldorf in the future. The proximity to the other institutions of the bar community in the city, the big brother, Square Bar (review coming soon), as well as Petit Punch are further factors that make a visit a no-brainer.
