Olive Or Twist

I was first introduced to this wonderful place through the State of the Art: A Cocktail Extravaganza. Though I don't remember the cocktail from this night, I did remember them for the following night when I was in Baton Rouge.

We showed up around 10 pm, at the tail end of their trivia night. So we decided to sit outside.  Usually, you need to order at the bar, but someone came by to take our order at the table outside. I had their blueberry something. I was worried that it was going to be stronger than I preferred - which it wasn't. It was a great, light drink to sip on while sitting outside enjoying the light summer night.

The inside was nicely lit, comfortable and nicely air-conditioned. Also, the bathrooms are clean too.

If i ever find my way to Baton Rouge again, I'm sure that I'm going to make a stop here for drinks.

Pro-tip: There's a small street side sign for this place, then you need to go all the way in the back past all the parking and trees to be able to find this place.

My first encounter with Olive Or Twist was on Monday evening at the State of the Art Cocktail Extravaganza, where they were sampling one of my favorite drinks of the evening. I'll be honest and tell you that I can't recall what it was, but it was one of the rare drinks that had me coming back for seconds and possibly thirds, who can remember? Upon talking to the friendly gent behind the bar, I came to learn that his establishment is not in NOLA, but in Baton Rouge. What a coincidence! I was scheduled to be in BR the very next evening for their first Yelp Elite Event at Caliente Mexican Craving. I made immediate note that an after party at Olive Or Twist would have to happen.

And yes, it happened and wow, does this place live up to all expectations. We arrived at the tail end of a bustling trivia night, so we opted to sit outside on their small, but lively patio. These 'tenders are serious mixologists, ie, they ain't playing. Spy behind the bar and you'll see juicers and an array of bar paraphernalia. I didn't ask, but I'm sure their sour mix ain't in the gun, if you catch my drift. I was already pretty soused from the earlier party, so I stuck to one fabulous concoction: the Blackberry Sage and it is perfection in a frosty tin cup. Gingery, fruity, boozy and not too sweet. Oh yes, yes yes: (in the spirit of the bar's namesake)

"Please, sir, I want some more!"

LOVE. THIS. PLACE.

The only thing I wish for this bar is that it were located in an area of BR with more bar-hopping traffic because I think it could blow away anything around it.

The first time I went to Olive or Twist, I was wowed. The cocktails, obviously, are fantastic. They are crafted with ingredients I've never even heard of, and they taste like things you've likely never tasted.

One of the owners sat down at the bar and chatted my date and I's ears off for over an hour, which I loved. You could tell he truly loves what he does. My date had been ordering beer (they have a decent selection of craft beer, and he's not a cocktail guy), and by the end of it, the owner offered to comp all of the beer on our tab if my date would agree to buy /enjoy a cocktail. We easily agreed, and all part of his plan, my date loved the cocktail made for him.

Something that more restaurants and bars should do, this place has a VERY well-run social media page. They take the time to update the public with their drink of the day every single day.. and there is always a high quality photo attached. The drinks are constantly rotating, and no experience here is ever the same. Five stars for such a great bar.

EDIT: Do be aware that in a specialty cocktail bar such as this, you do wait longer for a cocktail. I saw posts about not being approached, and while those reviewers may be perfectly right about that, each cocktail takes longer to make. If a bartender is making a 7-minute cocktail, serves, performs payment transaction, etc.. it could be 10 minutes before they approach the next customer. It's the the type of place you walk up and snag a popped Bud Light. And I like that about it.