ARTSdiningentertainment
Wisdom
by Monica Cavanaugh, photos by Andrew Lightman
E rik Holzherr keeps using the word “passion.” His eyes are bright and his smile
business brief
wide as he plants himself behind the bar at Wisdom, Capitol Hill’s newest
cocktail lounge. There’s something like a bounce in his speech when he discusses the
mixing of spirits.
“America is the birthplace of the cocktail,” he says, then launches into a history
lesson about prohibition and bathtub gin. “But in the last few years, we’ve gotten
away from what true cocktails are.”
Neon green apple-tinis? Not happening here. Holzherr may be laid back, but
he’s serious about his mixology, and boasts that many of his blends can’t be found
anywhere else in the city.
You’ll also have a heck of a time finding anything like his comprehensive “Wis-
dom Guide to Libations,” a fascinating graph he put together to help patrons decide
which drinks they may like best. Printed inside the front cover of the menu, the
inverted pyramid has four subsets (subtlety and finish among them), each with a
sliding scale from one extreme to the other, and shapes and numbers to correspond.
Each cocktail comes with a combination of these shapes and numbers as a way of
explaining what you’ll expect. It sounds trickier than it is, but customers have taken
quite a shine to it.
Tara Bunch stopped in with her husband, Steve, after reading about the
bar online.
“The drink menu is nifty,” she said, noting the variety of drinks and then com-
ing to the Guide. “We picked using that and the really colorful descriptions, and
were really happy with the drinks.” Tara settled exclusively on the Wealthy Mis-
sionary (a ginger peach martini,) while Steve started off with the Pears of Wisdom
(a sumptuous mix of pear and
elderflower) before moving on
to the bottled beers.
It’s easy to get carried
away with the cocktails here,
but it pays to take a gander
at the full menu. There along
with the wines, whiskeys and
bourbon sits an unusual sight
– absinthe.
But it’s illegal, right? Or at
least the “real” stuff is. Not so,
explained Holzherr, jumping
back in time once again to tell
tales of French wine makers,
spirited artists, and a guerrilla
smear campaign against a liquor
hardly worse than any other.
The whole of the story would
be too long to print here, but
it is certainly worth a Google
search – orbetter yet, a question
posed to Holzherr himself.
A New York native, Hol-
zherr spent six years working
to bring his love of fine drinks
and lounge style to DC. Over
the years he moved west and
116 ★ HillRag | December 2008
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NEW YEAR’S 2008 • MENU
1St: Pan Seared Scallops with Herb Saffron Cream on Puff Pastry • Artichoke, Spinach and Red
Pepper Terrine with Avocado Coulis • Hudson Valley Foie Gras sautéed with Black Walnut Bread & Sour
Cherries • Caramelized Onions and Wild Mushroom Tart with Mont Cabrer Goat Cheese
2nd: Butternut Soup with Gorgonzola Croutons • Lobster Shrimp Bisque • Arugula Salad with a
Meyers Lemon Vinaigrette and Shaved Parmesan
3rd: Grilled Rack of Lamb with Rosemary Mustard Sauce, Dauphine Potatoes and Vegetable Du Jour
• Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Blood Orange Chipotle Cream Sauce, Forbidden Black Rice and
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capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 117
Wisdom east and west and east, picking
up bar experience and funky
furniture along the way.
Cocktail Parlour Has Arrived A year ago he bought the
1432 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, building at 1432 Pennsylvania
Washington D.C. 20003 Avenue, SE. He and his dad
202.543.2323 spent the winter gutting the
info@dcwisdom.com place – without heat. “It’s a
great way to lose 45 pounds,”
Tues - Thurs: 6 pm - 2 am he laughed. Once things were
Fri - Sat: 7pm - 3am
sufficiently wrecked, he began
Sun: 7pm - 2am
decorating – incorporating the
gritty, exposed brick and plaster
Now Serving:
Colombian tapas & apps
into his master plan.
What has come of all that
Happy Hour: hard work is a sweetly unique
Tues-Thurs, Sun 6pm-8pm spot – very bohemian, very cozy.
$5 Imported Drafts
$7 “Cocktail of the Day”
Small enclaves along one wall
allow for guests to sit privately,
while couches and ottomans
Specializing in house-made await those in a more social
DC is ready for the NEXT step: Wisdom cocktails masterfully crafted with
Premium Spirits & fresh juices
mood. Two bars – one in front
and another in back – keep
www.dcwisdom.com “Now offering FULL Absinthe bar” those with a thing for barstools
happy. Draped fabric, low light
and gently pulsing lounge music
(think Buddha Bar) complete
the vibe that many customers
say they’re happy to return to.
Wisdom is a baby on the
A CAPITOL HILL LANDMARK SINCE 1967 Hill – barely a month old –
329 Pennsylvania Ave., SE • 202.543.3300 but it has already developed
www.HawkAndDoveOnline.com a following.
“We’ve got a lot of regulars,”
Inquire online or says Holzherr. “They’ve been re-
ally good about word of mouth,
Run Down to the Hawk bringing people in with them.”
With an entertainment
to Schedule Your endorsement in the works,
the hope is that live music and
Holiday Party DJ opportunities will follow
along shortly.
Dates Are Going Fast... “I’ve got a couple of Ma-
rines in the band over there
who have asked to set up to play
THE PLACE TO BE FOR COLLEGE BALL jazz,” said Holzherr.
More Coverage: The Hawk has ESPN U That alone would certainly
have the Hill abuzz, but Hol-
OPEN CHRISTMAS EVE:
zherr is looking a step ahead. If
Call for Special Menu
traffic really picks up, the hope
• A diverse product line of quality beverages from all over the world
• One of the largest and most unique wine selections on Capitol Hill
is that Wisdom will lead a dou-
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
• A friendly and knowledgeable staff ble life: tea house by day, lounge
• Located just minutes form Downtown, DC and Alexandria, VA by night.
• 1 block south of Eastern Market Metro on the vibrant Barracks Row
• Owned by the Williams Family since 1978; established before 1919 “We have something for
• The best weekly wine tastings on “The Hill”- Sat (3-6pm) everybody,” Holzherr said, a
bit of that passion poking
through. “We just want every-
one to have fun.”
Wisdom offers all manner
of spirits, as well as a menu of
Colombian-inspired tapas. It is
located at 1432 Pennsylvania
Congratulations of Hawk Customer Avenue, SE. For hours, contact
information and menus, go to
President-elect Barack Obama! www.dcwisdom.com. ★
118 ★ HillRag | December 2008