Happy birthday to The Drop. Eddie Crane’s Martini Corner mainstay opened four years ago, though it probably feels like much longer to him. If you haven’t been before, today’s a good day to go—all-day happy hour with $5 drinks and free snackies. But just dropping in for a drink doesn’t do this place justice.
Crane’s helped fuel Kansas City’s cocktail renaissance by insisting on excellent technique, but he also possesses boundless energy and creativity. He was the first local bartender to delve into the molecular mixology trend, creating two-bite “drops” that are barely solidified cocktails. He continues to drive the bar scene, most recently by tapping into ’80s nostalgia with martinis that recall the grape freeze pops, Tang and cherry limeades of his teenage years. These are a far cry from the esoteric craft cocktail drinks you’ll find elsewhere, but excellent none the less and certainly worthy of a birthday toast.