Bartender’s or Barista’s Choice
There’s Nothing ‘Mad’ About This Drink ‘Scientist’ Story By Randy Gross rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com
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S’mores Old Fashioned 6 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE AUGUST 2022
hen she was young, Lauren Hench didn’t dream about becoming a bartender. In fact, by the time she was debating what college to attend, her sights were set on working as an Air Traffic Controller. “I thought that was the most wonderful, fascinating path,” she says, “that was my dream.” However, once she realized “how much schooling that took, and how few universities actually had a program for something like that,” it seemed a little bit out of reach. Hench also didn’t dream about becoming a mad scientist. Which is how her co-workers at Old Trail Tavern in Liverpool sometimes refer to her. “They all laugh at me when they say, ‘mad scientist Lauren came to work today,’” she muses, “because they see me standing behind the bar when they arrive for their shift, and I’m there with bottles everywhere, and mixers everywhere, and there are like all these different versions of a drink that I’m trying to come up with.” But there’s nothing ‘mad’ about the genius behind the plethora of potent potables that Hench regularly “gives life” to as the eatery’s General Manager and “all things bar” drink scientist. Which is why the cocktails at Old Trail, which range from the popular S’mores Old Fashioned to an Almond Whiskey Sour (set to debut in mid-August), are even bigger sellers than beer. And it’s also why we have selected Hench to be this month’s featured bartender. While owner (and live-in romantic partner) Devon Lawrence handles “everything back-ofhouse, including menu creation,” it falls upon Hench to handle everything front-of-house, which includes the training of the service staff. “I love the partnership [with Lawrence], and the team, and family atmosphere,” she says. “I love that we’re constantly growing, constantly getting better. And I love getting to watch people figure out that they want to be a bartender, too.” Because Hench loves her job – and especially the creative control she has over drink creation - Old Trail has become a place frequented by locals and travelers alike. “Our cocktail list is very, very popular,” she says with pride.
