The Watering Hole: Sully’s Lounge, 1625 Queen Anne Ave. N., QUEEN ANNE
The Atmosphere: Situated on the top of Queen Anne Hill, Sully’s (not to be confused with Phinney’s Snowgoose Saloon) is one of the few establishments open past midnight on a weekday that doesn’t have to wrangle in patrons with the promise of loud music or an easy hookup. Instead, a dog-water dish skillfully placed near the front door lures four-legged creatures and their equally thirsty owners to this modest neighborhood bar. Referred to as an Irish pub, Sully’s lacks any cheesy leprechaun memorabilia, preferring to focus on well-crafted drinks and robust conversation rather than interior design.
The Barkeep: Justin Nisly (pronounced Nice-ly), who juggles working at both Shadowland and Angelina’s in West Seattle—on top of taking care of his 5-month-old daughter Olivia, whom he joked will be nicknamed “Liv Nisly.” Born in Philadelphia, Nisly lived in 13 states before deciding to settle down in the Emerald City.
The Drink: Don’t ask for anything special unless Nisly’s tending bar, as Sully’s is known for beverages on tap rather than over ice. “We usually just give out shots and beer,” Nisly says, adding that occasionally a brave soul will ask for his true favorite: the Irish Trashcan. Just as its name suggests, the drink is a dumpsterful of liquor—gin, vodka, Bacardi, Jameson, and blue curaçao—poured into a pint glass and topped with a splash of Red Bull that serves more as a chaser than an actual mixer. Judging by the look on my face when informed of the drink’s ingredients, Nisly opted to mix up a more stomach-pleasing Gin Gypsy—well gin, grapefruit juice, and Scrappy’s Bitters—before adding, “I don’t want to kill you.”
The Verdict: Not as bitter as I’d imagined. Although one drink wouldn’t leave me stumbling out of the bar like the Irish Trashcan would’ve, the Gin Gypsy could be a perfect early-morning mimosa replacement. Since Sully’s doesn’t have an abundance of freshly squeezed juice, Justin’s improvisation left me hydrated and eager to order it again when the back patio opens for warmer weather. Word of advice: Drink the Gin Gipsy fast, because once the ice melts (and there’s no decorative ring of fruit to squeeze), you’ll be left with a watery beverage that anything with four paws would happily devour.
