Is there anything better than sipping a delicious cocktail as the sun sets on a hot summer day? As I perused Bavel’s cocktail list, however, I was a little disappointed that there were only eight items, and, while they seemed creative enough (and were possibly inventions of the Bavel bartenders and not available elsewhere), some of the drinks described contained off-putting ingredients, like the “Nebuchadnezzar,” which contains lamb fat apparently, or the “Abaddon,” which contains pickled carrot. Moreover, most of the cocktails here appear to be tequila-based, and I’m definitely not a fan. Still, I was determined to get my cocktail on, so after much deliberation over the drinks menu, I chose the “Hadar,” described as a shandy that mixes IPA with mezcal, pineapple, and genepy. Our bartender (who also took our order), was a very helpful guide to the cocktails and their ingredients, and I appreciated her patience as I hemmed and hawed my way down the eight items on the menu, which makes me feel bad that I can’t remember her name. I know it was something unique that starts with a “P”… like “Pyro,” or “Pivo,” or “Puro,” except it wasn’t any of those. Anyway, the “Hadar” she made startled me. It looked harmless and refreshing in its highball glass, but as I took my first sip, I was shocked by the smoky, exotic flavor that washed over my taste buds. That initial sip was more unpleasant surprise than pleasure. But I was thirsty, so, I kept drinking. With each subsequent sip, the taste became less repellent and more interesting. M. Night Shyamalanian twist to the end of this story: By the time I finished the glass, I decided that I kinda enjoyed it, and in fact, if I’m ever going back to Bavel again (the odds aren’t great), it would mostly be for the Hadar. It really was very smoky, though. Even after I got home, I could still taste the smokiness in my mouth, and I even felt that the aroma had spread to my hair and clothes and was coming out of my pores. It took toothpaste, mouthwash, two showers, and a chemical peel to get that smoky smell out of my system.