KC – the city that never ran dry.
By Randy Mason | Photos by Anna Petrow
You may have heard Kansas City referred to as the “Paris of the Plains.”
We do have a lot of fountains, museums and great music, but that’s not what the term referred to originally.
In the 1930s, writers used it to describe the many ways that “sin” flourished here under the protection of Boss Tom Pendergast’s powerful political machine. Prohibition or not, this was a town that liked its liquor — and the jazz clubs that lined the streets weren’t the only places to find it.
Eventually, Pendergast went to prison and a wave of reformers “cleaned up” after him. The underground liquor establishments would vanish into history, but the “Paris of the Plains” would not be gone forever.
Fast forward to 2008, when a speakeasy named Manifesto opened its unmarked door, bringing the thrill of clandestine cocktails back to Main Street.
Though Manifesto has since closed, the iconic basement bar ushered in a new era of speakeasy culture to downtown Kansas City. In 2014, Manifesto owner Ryan Maybee partnered with Andy Rieger to revive the historic J. Rieger & Co. distillery, continuing the legacy started by Manifesto.
J. Rieger & Co. hit the ground running, reviving an old practice of mixing sherry into whiskey for what’s now known as KC Whiskey. And Maybee is back behind the bar again at the speakeasy-inspired Hey! Hey! Club inside Rieger’s Electric Park entertainment complex.
After 95 years without a distillery, it wasn’t long before KC had two.
In 2016, Tom’s Town Distilling Co. (named for the Boss himself) set up shop along the streetcar line, crafting bourbon, gin, whiskey and a line of canned beverages.
A few blocks away, Swordfish Tom’s takes the craft cocktail vibe even further. To reach it, journey through an alley, down some stairs and (if the light is green) into a cozy space that holds around 40.
The Mercury Room, on the other hand, is an elegant 14th-floor experience, featuring a celestially themed bar and great views of downtown through its floor-to-ceiling windows.
The Campground in KC’s historic Stockyards District puts on a rustic face. But drinks like the Desert Paloma are far more complex than what our forefathers poured.
These days, it seems that every corner of the metro has an intriguing place to sip and chill.
In Lee’s Summit, it’s the W. In Shawnee, Drastic Measures and its sister bar Wild Child are playing a key role in the nightlife that’s sprung up along Johnson Drive.
In Weston, step through the local boutique Celtic Ranch to discover The Whisky Snug — a destination tasting room for whiskey, scotch and bourbon.
And in Kansas City, Kansas, the Blue Palm will take you on a tiki trip — with lively libations, campy decor and an outdoor deck that’s perfect for grazing and gazing across the Kansas River.