Mud + Taipei, Taiwan

DJ Spinning his records

A recent visit to Taipei had me overwhelmed with their food and beverage scene. Luckily, I found Mud. 

Bartender Alan's Signature Cocktail: Thai Tea Tonic

This was an amazing basement bar without all the basement feels. Walking down into the belly of the beast, I was greeted with lighting that was on-point and a well decorated chilled-out vibe. The live DJ was spinning an ambient soundtrack that was low enough to allow conversations, yet loud enough to fill the voids. More importantly, the bar was well stocked and the menu had a nice set of signature cocktails for all tastes. Alan, one of the bartenders, was a friendly guy who has been slinging drinks for 13 years. He mixed up his specialty - a Thai Tea Tonic with tea infused gin. Such a great tipple for the tongue.

After much tasting and deciding, I also ordered the Smoking Gun and a Bourbon Buck. Obviously, I was feeling the brown liquids that night. The Smoking Gun was an interesting cocktail that combined mescal, bourbon, oregeat syrup, cacao, and aromatic bitters for a very strong and almost scotch-y taste. It’s a bold taste and probably not so much for the lighter pallet. My second drink, the Bourbon Buck, is far more classic and really just a version of a Mule with a combination of bourbon, lime, ginger beer, and cinnamon in a copper cup. Very refreshing and light considering the bourbon base.

In addition to fine cocktails, I am always on the looking for a place I can curl up with a book and read. The very fact that a quality mixed drink is available just makes me all the more excited. Mud is a pretty solid choice. Definitely low key on a weeknight with mood lighting just bright enough, and some out of the way seats to crack the spine of a book and get to reading… and drinking.