The Donovan House’s exclusive rooftop pool bar, ADC (Above DC) ices over this February to become DC’s hottest place to chill.
By Grace Romanowsky
The Ice Luge at ADC. (Photograph by Grace Romanowsky.)
Russian Standard Vodka and the Donovan House have paired up to bring a little bit of Stockholm to the District this February on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5-10. While Sweden is home to the original ice bar, a year-round fixture which uses only the purest, clearest ice from the Torne river in Swedish Lapland, and cruise ship the Norwegian Epic boasts the first ice bar at sea, the ADC ice bar now has bragging rights to one of the best and certainly the chilliest views of our nation’s capital. The hand-carved ice bar is assembled at its rooftop location each day and includes a towering built-in ice luge for those willing to take “on the rocks” to the next level. After all, what better way to celebrate the last month of winter than by taking vodka shots out of an ice sculpture?
The cocktail menu includes unexpected “Fire & Ice” specialties like the Morello Fire (Nigori Sake, chili infused vodka and Morello cherry purée) and Ice Flurry (Russian Standard vodka, lychee crystal, lychee puree and orange bitters), while “Après at Aspen” drinks such as the drunken spiced cocoa and Schuss mulled wine, kick the cold and warm you from the inside out. Multiple heat lamps, fire pits and a DJ spinning house tracks all evening provide guests with plenty of ways to thaw out. Guests can also take advantage of this rare occasion on which fur trapper or pill box hats are socially acceptable to bundle up and remember that at the ice bar, there’s no better accessory than hand warmers.
Ice Bar (Photograph by Grace Romanowsky)
A daring ice luger. (Photograph by Grace Romanowsky)
An icy view of the city. (Photograph by Grace Romanowsky)
