`There’s been a lot of news in the nation’s capital surrounding Tiki bars as of late. The tiki-bar-influenced Coconut Club from restaurateur Adam Greenberg is coming to Union Market in Washington, D.C. later this year. Another big story with some Tiki-Bar influence has been developing at the District Wharf: the December opening of highly-anticipated Potomac Distilling Company. In the heart of the bustling waterfront, the distillery will represent a three-story production facility, producing four styles of Thrasher’s Rum. Nestled in the building will be a neighborhood tavern to be known as Tiki TNT.
The man behind the project is Todd Thrasher, an entrepreneur and mixologist bestowed with Esquire’s “Top 21 Bars in America 2018” honor for the bar program at The Line Hotel in D.C, and a rum enthusiast and aficionado. He operated the bar program at Restaurant Eve and launched Bar PX. Thrasher has for years been an avid scuba diver and his travels have taken him around the South Pacific. These experiences heavily influenced the creation of the Tiki TNT tavern.
“For years I have marveled over authentic South Pacific Tiki bars, the types where you pay for your drink with the soggy money stashed in your swimsuit pocket,” says Thrasher. “It’s time to bring a Polynesian-style concept to D.C.”
Tiki TNT will showcase Polynesian influence, including design elements like exotic floor-to-ceiling murals, banana leaf wall coverings, and a bamboo Tiki hut host stand, and have food prepared from a co-op of chefs focused on island-centric small plates that feature local-Potomac ingredients. Fish will be sourced from the nearby fish market. Thrasher is looking to make this tavern a neighboring waterhole and fun destination.
Potomac Distilling Company and Tiki TNT, 1130 Maine Ave Southwest, Washington, D.C. 20024
Photo credit: simoneink
This post was updated to reflect a new opening month.