Dwayne Allen and Danielle Leoni, the folks behind cheerful Jamaican restaurant The Breadfruit, just opened Rum Bar in the space next door to the restaurant, serving nearly 70 kinds of premium rum, from smooth, young spirits to exquisite aged reserve varieties. There are also several kinds of cachaca (Brazil's answer to rum, also made from sugar cane), and a slew of rum and cachaca-based cocktails, daiquiris, and mojitos.
The bar's convivial Caribbean vibe was inspired by the rum bars of Allen's native Jamaica.
Does this newcomer make the intersection of 1st Street and Pierce downtown's most eclectic place to drink? I think so --barhopping here feels like jetsetting. Just around the corner, you can grab a beer or cocktail at The Turf Irish pub, or sip sake at Asian tapas bar Sens.
Rum Bar is open from 5 to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Call 602-267-1266 for details.