People

Friendly Pours

Bartender Aubrey Russell of The Corner pours blast-from-the-past cocktails in a forward-thinking bar that allows dogs.
Text Rony Mo. Photos by Christopher Almeida | June 5, 2018 | People

Much like John Deering’s Vizcaya was an ode to the Italian villas of The Renaissance, The Corner’s speakeasy style looks like it was brought brick-by-brick from Brooklyn, yet both maintain their Miami roots. In the same vein as Goirgio Rapicavoli’s pop-up bar, Drinking Room, and permanent pop-up Broken Shaker, this is a bartender’s bar. In-the-biz workers clamor to get Aubrey Russell’s timeless concoctions made from local fruits and herbs, liquor infusions and a museum-quality collection of more than 18 types of bitters. “Whatever we’re putting in the drinks is in plain sight on the bar,” says Russell. “We always use fresh ingredients over commercially produced syrups and flavors.”
Whatever ingredients you fancy, one thing’s certain: The concept of mixology is alive and well at The Corner and customers can expect rotating taps and an ever-changing lineup of cocktails. “We feature a different cocktail every week, and a select style of beer every month,” says Russell. Besides mixed drinks, The Corner offers draft, rare and large-format bottled beers, wine and bubbly by the glass, and non-alcoholic craft soft drinks. There’s also a kitchen that serves an international menu of comfort foods like pan con tomate with your choice of manchego cheese or serrano ham, filling croque madames, pickles & olives cured in-house, deviled egg platters, and the occasional paella cooked onsite.
Their location in Downtown Miami has benefited from a recent economic and cultural facelift thanks in part to hosting the filming of Rock Of Ages. Now it’s possible to hop to The Corner for an aperitif, skip next door to Nemesis Urban Bistro for dinner, and jog over to Grand Central for a show before dancing the night away at E11even, and heading back to The Corner for a nightcap because they’re open as late/early as 8 a.m. on weekends!
There’s no typical crowd at The Corner because everyone’s welcome. On any given day, the patios see everyone from Critical Mass cycling enthusiasts, to pre-gamers en-route to Vagabond, to Heat fans celebrating a victory…or drowning their sorrows. So bring your canine compadres to meet and mingle with the regulars, while enjoying happy-hour from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. including select draft beers and well liquor specials. Just don’t ask anybody if cats are welcome…

Vieux Carré
½ oz. Hennessy
½ oz. Bulleit Rye Whiskey
½ oz. Sweet Vermouth
Splash of Benedictine Liqueur, Bitter Truth Creole Bitters & Angostura Bitters
Lemon Twist