Drink This Now: Corn to be Wild at Goat & Rabbit

The Corn to be Wild at Goat & Rabbit // Photo by River Louraine

When I saw that Sway Coffee had concocted a limited-edition cornbread latte and I had missed it, I redirected my FOMO and decided to search for more drinks that utilized this unexpected flavor. As a side dish, it’s a delicacy for us Midwesterners with family recipes spanning back generations, and I marveled at the idea of turning it into an alcoholic beverage.

Sarah Sipple pointed me to Goat & Rabbit, a cocktail bar from 916 Hospitality on West 39th Street. It turns out that they had an intriguing cornbread-themed drink, “Corn to be Wild,” which drew me in.

The Corn to be Wild is made with mezcal, roasted jalapeño, corn and honey syrup, lemon, and egg whites for a velvety foam top, paired with an adorable little corn muffin pinned to the side of the glass. This cocktail was an explosion of flavor, each one fighting for prominence.

On the first sip, it was almost savory, coupled with bright, juicy corn. On the second, the roasted jalapeño joined with a biting reminder that it was in the ingredient list. As it further square-danced on my tongue, the honey and lemon were soothing and sweet. It was a tangy slow-sipper, each element harmonizing with the others in a warm and familiar way. I am not normally a person who orders a savory drink over a sweet one, but this cocktail has opened my eyes to a whole new side of the menu.

Cocktails at Goat & Rabbit // Photo by River Louraine

It was so unique and complex that I can confidently say I have never had a cocktail like this before. More establishments should be creating beverages using cornbread, or perhaps other cookout sides, as inspiration.

Matsumoto Mari is the brain behind this cocktail—and every other drink on the menu. She and her team work every morning to make every syrup, infusion, and garnish in-house.

The Corn to be Wild was a creative collaboration between her and her lead bartender, Bailey Wilson, after a lively discussion on their shared obsession with jalapeño cornbread. After an accidental order of ten pounds of corn instead of one, quick thinking and a love for Mezcal Vago Elote led to this drink blessing the menu.

Every drink on the menu was either something I had never seen at any other bar before, like a cocktail made with clarified goat cheese gin, or a seasonal spin on classics, like a pumpkin spice espresso martini.

Goat & Rabbit is one of those cocktail bars where you can lose several hours of your evening just relaxing and chatting with company. The atmosphere is inviting and intimate, and I was able to hold a conversation with my friends without shouting over loud music or an exuberant game of pool.

Call me corny, but this spot should be on your list to liven up your taste buds.

Goat & Rabbit is located at 1804 W. 39th St., Kansas City, MO 64111.