Science Meets Art at Tongue & Groove Drinkery in Fairhope

A spiraling, cold-drip coffee maker doubles as an infusion machine at Tongue & Groove Drinkery in Fairhope. Photo by Bonnie Thibodeaux-Mitchell.
Tongue & Groove's bar is elevated one foot higher than normal, "almost like an open kitchen with a chef’s table,” the bar manager says. Photo by Bonnie Thibodeaux-Mitchell.
Tongue & Groove may be decked out with familiar elements like reclaimed wood and plush seating, but its true function is much more along the lines of an alien laboratory. Photo by Bonnie Thibodeaux-Mitchell.
Much of the inspiration for the cocktail menu at Tongue & Groove is drawn from research into culinary techniques. Photo by Bonnie Thibodeaux-Mitchell.
At Tongue & Groove, bartenders take beverages one step beyond their familiar formats, often using science. Photo by Bonnie Thibodeaux-Mitchell.
Bartenders at Tongue & Groove typically build each drink around a particular ingredient, just as a chef builds a dish. Photo by Bonnie Thibodeaux-Mitchell.