Tea Light: Jason Basa Nemec

Meet Jason Basa Nemec, the bartender we recently collaborated with for our Sip Slowly series.

Jason crafted the Golden Root Gimlet, a tea-infused cocktail that beautifully showcases two teas from our Togetherness collection: Velvet Root and Silver Tip Reserve. Originally from Akron, Ohio, Jason has called Chicago home on and off since 2014, drawn back by the city's undeniable charm. His expertise and creativity behind the bar bring a unique depth to our exploration of tea in cocktails, blending tradition with innovation in every sip.

How long have you been a bartender?

Almost 20 years! I first learned how at a basement bar in Cambridge where they had James Brown 45s on the jukebox and I was making a lot of mediocre Old Fashioneds (with muddled maraschino cherries and orange wedges!) for all the wicked smaht Harvard professors.

What's your favorite part of making cocktails?

Mainly that I don't make mediocre Old Fashioneds anymore! For real though, I get a lot of satisfaction from making cocktails. I've also been a writer for my whole life, and while the rewards in that field are few and far between, the act of creating a delicious drink for someone often results in genuine appreciation from a specific individual at a specific moment of time. That appreciation, quite simply, feels good.

Tell us the backstory behind In Bar Cocktails.

Whenever our family went to friends' places or when we had them over at ours, I was always the guy tapped to make cocktails. I often tapped myself, because I loved doing it (even if I had to stir with a chopstick and shake with two glasses that didn't fit together)! At some point my partner said, “You should do this as a business,” and eventually, I did. I've always wanted to own a bar, and yet I know it takes a tremendous amount of grit to be successful with a brick and mortar space in this industry. In Bar allows me to build up to that, while offering people a chance to enjoy very high-level cocktails in the comfort of their own home.

What are your favorite cocktail bars to visit in Chicago?

 That's tough because there are so many good ones! Best Intentions, Queen Mary, and Meadowlark are high on the list. And of course Scofflaw, which I'm biased toward because I work there from time to time. For a treat experience and the best highball in the city, it's Kumiko, where I also used to work. Two relative newcomers to the scene that impressed me are Truce and Lemon. There are so many more, especially when you consider spots positioned mainly as restaurants, but the added reality is that I have two fairly young kids whom I cook for on weeknights and help get ready for school in the morning, and so I don't get out as often as I used to. Bars I still have yet to check out but I hear are awesome include Nine Bar, Gus' Sip & Dip, and The Hi-Lo.