Punk rock and highballs have the power to unite talented people. 213 Hospitality teamed with The Varnish co-founder Eric Alperin and veteran New York bartender Richard Boccato on The Slipper Clutch behind Bar Clacson in DTLA.

GM Dustin Newsome called The Slipper Clutch a “punk rock bar inspired by New York punk rock bars and the movie “Mean Streets.”’ He wheat-pasted walls with punk rock show flyers and motorcycle magazine pages. Beyond the scene, entertainment involves pinball machines and a Ms. Pac Man arcade game. No mixed drinks, shaker tins or stirring glasses come into play. Instead, highballs come off the soda gun as complete cocktails cocktails built for speed. Reinterpretations of dive bar classics arrive with consistent proportions and carbonation. I certainly enjoyed the simple pleasures of Bourbon & Root Beer with Old Forrester Signature 100-proof Bourbon and house-made root beer.