Cache Bouren recently celebrated the 15th anniversary of Haberdasher, the subterranean cocktail lounge he opened as Singlebarrel in 2010. However, his focus is quickly shifting to his upcoming project, Bitterbuck, which is set to open in downtown San Jose’s Fountain Alley within weeks.
Bitterbuck represents Bouren’s third bar in downtown San Jose, or fourth if Singlebarrel’s 2015 transformation into Haberdasher is separately considered. This new establishment is slated to feature a unique concept, distinguishing itself from his previous ventures. While Haberdasher focused more on traditional craft cocktails, Bitterbuck will introduce a blend of premium coffee and specialty cocktails, particularly amaro drinks.
During daytime hours, Bitterbuck will serve high-quality pour-over coffee using an automatic machine from Brooklyn’s Poursteady, renowned for producing precise brews. The evening will see a shift towards cocktails featuring bitter liqueurs and sparkling wines. Bouren aims to develop a signature drink, a revamped Garibaldi made with Campari and orange juice, creating a “fluffy” orange juice blend reminiscent of an alcoholic Orange Julius.
The bar’s interior, designed by Notch Gonzalez—who previously infused creativity into renowned tiki bars—will embrace dark wood and stained glass inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. Notably, Bouren intends to incorporate whimsical taxidermy, featuring cute, costumed mice, to add a quirky charm to the decor.
For tiki enthusiasts, an upcoming documentary titled “The Donn of Tiki,” exploring the story of tiki culture’s founding father Donn Beach, will screen at 3Below Theatres in downtown San Jose. Additional events are also taking place in the area, enhancing the local cultural scene.
To stay informed about the developments at Bitterbuck and local events, keep an eye on Bitterbuck’s website and consider attending the screening of the tiki documentary at The Donn of Tiki.