When Logan Clenney moved from serving to bartending at Indo, the bar was still a sushi counter. Now, the beverage program in the intimate Botanical Heights space has expanded its six-drink list of house cocktails to an extensive and rotating list of bartender creations, with favorites like the Toasted Rice Negroni crafted by Clenney himself.
While the cocktail list changes regularly, it currently features two creations of Clenney’s that he is particularly proud of. While he’s more of a beer guy, he appreciates classic cocktails, like the aforementioned Negroni. “The toasted rice really brings out the vanilla notes in the Campari,” he said. His personal favorite, though, is the herby Reckless Abandon, a refreshing combination of Tenjaku Gin, sotol, Velvet Falernum, pho simple, lime and – to the surprise of many customers – fish sauce for salinity. The drink comes garnished with a lime slice and mint leaf. The end result is a drink both warm and bright, something that feels classic but has an unmistakable touch of creativity.
“Logan’s whimsical and creative approach to cocktail development is integral to the personality of Indo,” said Nick Bognar, owner and founder of Indo. “Each beverage plays with nostalgic flavors and ideas, bringing old food and drink memories a fresh new life. His leadership has allowed the beverage team to push unique ideas, and collaboration has become the norm.”
Clenney is always quick to give credit where credit is due, especially to his fellow bartenders, Sophia Butler and Hya Van der Pennen. “We view each other as equals,” he said, and they aim to share equal space on the cocktail list while showing off their unique strengths.
“Logan takes pride in what we do and makes sure to show every guest the ‘Indo way,’” general manager Peter Krause said. Clenney studied art in college for a time, and he described getting into restaurants as happenstance, especially bartending. “I like to go into anything with the mindset, ‘Come correct and do things right,’” he said. “Just like any creative process, it’s a lot of trial and error.” His long-term goal is to go back to school for interior design, and he credits Indo for allowing him to be at the top of the bartending game while having the time to pursue another kind of art.