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Featured Bartender: Jason Lam

Jason Lam, the Head Bartender at Zuma in Boston, recently won the 2023 Boston Bartender Battle, competing against contestants from top restaurants throughout the city.

His winning cocktail, the Thai ChiliVesper made with tequila and mezcal(see recipe below), was inspired by his personal drinking experiences at home, as well as witnessing the evolution of Boston cocktail trends.“I was never a huge fan of tequila or mezcal, and I rarely made a tequila cocktail that wasn’t a margarita,”Lam says. “But as tequila grew in popularity, and I grew as a bartender,I fully embraced the change and constantly looked for ways to innovate a spirit that was so attached to shots and margaritas.”Playing off of the spicy margarita trend, Lam’s idea for the Thai Chili Vesper was to create a spicy martini, with an Asian twist.

Having worked in several Asian-themed restaurants, he noticed that Asian inspired cocktails tend to lean more Japanese, so beingVietnamese, he wanted to incorporate some Southeast Asian elements.“The moment came to me when I saw some Thai chili peppers growing in my mother’s garden and I picked a bundle to experiment, resulting in a pretty spicy week for me. I felt like the chilies played perfectly with the cocktail and given that Boston has such a huge number of Thai and Vietnamese restaurants, the flavor would be familiar toBostonians. The added touch of vanilla helps round out the spice,” he says.

The Wig Shop Cocktail Lounge. Boston, MA

Led by the team behind the adjacent jm Curley and Bogie’s Place, the upscale cocktail lounge transports guests through its retro ambiance and inventive menus.

The Wig Shop, Boston’s newest cocktail lounge, boasts retro-inspired beverages, an exclusive champagne list and inventive small plates. The cocktail destination transformed what was once Wig World, turning the space into a cocktail hideaway while paying homage to the previous business through symbolic hair-themed elements.

The Wig Shop is led by multiple hospitality industry veterans, including restaurateur Babak Bina, who owns and operates the bar and other concepts (Bin26, jm Curley, and Bogie’s Place), along with partner Andy Cartin; Managing Partner Kevin Mabry, whose hospitality roots began as early as childhood at his parents’ Connecticut sports bar, followed by positions at notable restaurants including Seasons in the Ocean House Hotel in Watch Hill, RI, Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain at Mohegan Sun and Capo Restaurant & Supper Club; Oscar Simoza, The Wig Shop’s bar manager, who is known for his impressive work at jm Curley and holds the title of “Culture Shaker of 2021” awarded by Jack Daniels; and Executive Chef John Malone, who is no stranger to the Boston food scene, having spent time in the kitchen at Capo, Lucy’s American Tavern, and jm Curley.

“After seeing the success of jm Curley and Bogie’s Place, it was a no-brainer to add The Wig Shop to our repertoire of bars and restaurants in the area,” says Mabry. “Though I may be biased since The Wig Shop is a dream come true for me, I know it will be a fun addition to the Downtown Crossing scene and I hope all guests come ready to dress up and show out.”

Upon entering what appears to be a wig shop with retro wig stands outfitting the window display, guests are welcomed into chic lounge-style space that exudes a playful and elegant ambiance. In the dining area, blue and maroon velvet booths and chairs surround gold accented tables, each separated by a sheer gold floor-to-ceiling drape to create a sense of intimacy. A standout L-shaped bar made of sleek black quartz and a custom-built back bar sit beyond the dining area, offering bar seating for smaller parties. Gold sconces furnish the walls and black metal light fixtures hang delicately over the bar to illuminate the space.

Located at 27 Temple Place in Boston, MA, The Wig Shop is open seven days a week from 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.