Researching cocktail eras is a pastime, and lately, one particular time period has been the highlight of conversation among spirits writers: the fern bar era. The much-maligned tavern of the 1970s — characterized by its ferns, wood paneling, and overly cloying drinks — was discussed at length in seminars at this year's Tales of the Cocktail and SF Cocktail Week.
To learn more about this era, I spoke to Martin Cate of Smuggler's Cove, the historian who led both discussions. I asked him if the fern bar was due for a revival. His answer, after the jump.
