5 Fusion & Sushi Bar

from Source Weekly Cocktails and Mocktails Guide

Best of Drinks

821 NW Wall St. #100 Bend, OR 541-323-2328

5fusion.com

5 Fusion is a local restaurant focused on creating first class dining experiences for Central Oregon. Our commitment to community is at the forefront of our business approach.

Voted the Best in Bend multiple times by Source readers, Five Fusion offers an exciting and sophisticated cocktail program led by celebrated mixologist, Zackary Ottesen. Come join us at the bar to experience expertly crafted cocktails or dive deep into our extensive sake and wine list, and of course, enjoy the sushi! So many exciting things in the works for 2023 — introducing Japanese and French cuisine. Stay tuned. Cheers!

Bend Cider Co.

64649 Wharton Ave. Bend, OR bendcider.com

@bendcider

Bend Cider Co. is a botanically focused cider company specializing in dry to semi-sweet hard cider. Cider maker, Kelly Roark has been perfecting his recipe for over a decade and produces his unique offerings in a pumice-crete facility, with pumice mined locally. Come sip cider in our garden space or get cozy inside with a cheese plate and pint. Our taproom has live music and events throughout the year, make sure to check our website for hours and updates.

Richard Sitts (Copy Editor/Boomer, Baby!

Jack Harvel (Reporter/Millennial)

Our team guide led us to the outside secret elevator that whisked us up to the second floor and into a tropical escape from the wintry Northwest. We nearly bumped heads sucking on straws stuck in the bulbous sphere containing fruit flavors, while the faint white rum and tequila sashayed in tandem. I’ll come back one day for a coconut drink and to watch the “Gilligan’s Island” episodes playing on the TV, a favorite show from my youth. The lounge could enhance its tiki vibe by piping in the “Retro Cocktail Hour.” (Streaming anytime at retrococktail.org and streaming live 5-7pm Saturdays at kansaspublicradio.org.) These swinging tunes mix well with all cocktails!

Nicole Vulcan, (Editor/Generation Xceptionalism

Drink: Chilled Monkey Brains

(Serves 4)

Location: Rapa Nui Tiki Lounge, Old Mill Ingredients: Lime juice, pineapple juice, passionfruit, house grenadine, velvet falernum, tequila, white rum, chopped strawberries, with 151 flaming lime added to the top.

The film “Clueless” was a hit the year I graduated high school, all about a Type A Gen Xer who meddles in the love lives of everyone she knows. While I didn’t exactly meddle in any love lives this night, I DID meddle enough to paint myself as the Type A Gen Xer when I dictated to the rest of the crew that 1. They’d be part of this generational experiment, and 2. They’d all be drinking from the SAME drink at this tiki bar. The flavors were tropical and the flaming Bacardi 151 made this something I’d definitely order again with a group of friends before an amphitheater show. But did we share straws?! “As if!”

I was slightly disappointed that the Chilled Monkey Brains didn’t come in a monkey head like the famous(ly problematic) scene in “Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom,” but the massive pineapple glass was charming in its own way and the flaming lime is a nice touch. But the drink overall didn’t have much kick to it and was too heavy on the pineapple for my taste. Also, all the faux moai, fishnets and other island knickknacks didn’t mesh with my millennial sensibilities — it’s like if someone learned about the South Pacific strictly through listening to Jimmy Buffett. I think that’s kind of the point of Tiki bars, but it’s not my thing.

Allie Noland (Reporter/Gen Zer)

This drink reminded me of a sophisticated version of “jungle juice” from my college days— random liquors, random fruit juices and chopped fruit in a big vat. The fruit-forward sharable added another level of goofiness to our experience. Trying to keep track of straws, taking turns sipping from the pineapple vessel and being in a tiki wonderland was an experience I never thought I would have with my co-workers, but I would hands down do it again. If you’re looking to escape the real world and crave a sugar hit, try “Chilled Money Brains” at Rapa Nui. If you’re looking to feel your drink, maybe opt for the Mai Tai with a tad more booziness.