Silver Lyan (recently named No.48 in North America’s 50 Best Bars), located in a former bank vault on the lower level of Riggs Washington D.C., has launched its latest cocktail menu: ‘The Butterfly Effect’ building on the bar’s overarching approach of ‘Cultural Exchange’.
Celebrating five years in the capital, Mr Lyan and the team’s newest menu explores the ripple effects that exchanging and sharing knowledge can create, and the unexpected weird and wonderful impacts this can have on people around the world.
Through 17 signature creations, including Silver Lyan classics, The Butterfly Effect invites guests to explore the bigger picture, consider long-term impact, and embrace the playful absurdities of human nature. Each cocktail tells a story, woven with the rich culture of Silver Lyan’s home city, Washington D.C., drawing influence from its music, food, drink and history. The menu reflects the movement of knowledge and ideas around the world, celebrating the unexpected ripple effects they can create. With inspiration from unusual tales of connections and influence, the team have transformed their favourite stories into completely unique serves for guests to enjoy.
Owner of Silver Lyan, Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan says, “Spending time in the US, the birthplace of the cocktail, has always been super inspiring to us, and opening Silver Lyan here five years ago felt like the start of something really exciting, and through the years has allowed us to explore really exciting new ground. D.C. is full of stories that go way beyond food and drink, from music to activism to art, and so much more, and those stories have fuelled our team from day one. That’s what ‘The Butterfly Effect’ is all about; learning, sharing, and growing together, both in the bar and beyond, and exploring how tiny shifts can spark big changes. It’s playful, hopeful, and a little bit magical, just like this city.”
The menu is split into four chapters, each featuring four cocktails: Culture and Media explores the knock-on effects of cultural expression which often takes unexpected turns; Law and Government is the intersection of human predictability with the structures of government and the surprising outcomes of this; Conflict is inspired by the unintended consequences of human disputes; and the Silver Classics, are guest favourites from previous menus which live on.
In Culture & Media, Hokusai Snap is a bold aperitif featuring Fords Gin, starfruit fino, bleu curaçao, Fuji apple, and damson plum EDV. Taking inspiration (via blue cheese) from the accidental invention of Prussian Blue in 1704, a vivid pigment that gave rise to two of the world’s most iconic artworks, illustrating how chance discoveries can shape cultural legacy. It’s Alive! 75 is a bright and bubbly serve made with Patrón Reposado, reanimated berry Madeira, acorns, pandan absinthe, and Champagne (also available in a non-alcoholic “boozeless” version) which draws on the extraordinary chain of events that led to Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein – the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora, which produced an ash cloud and led to a summer spent indoors.
In Law & Government, Pikachu Pop is a zesty spritz, created through a blend of Ketel One, pisco, kiwi ketchup, Sauvignon Blanc, mace, olive leaf, and boldo soda. Inspired by a 2018 story in which a Pokémon-obsessed child in Chile used his mother’s credit card to make $800 worth of purchases, highlighting a cascade of events, and the unpredictable consequences of digital autonomy. Gutenberg High-ball offers a herbal and zesty highball with a float of German aromatics, with Grey Goose, mulberry leaf, burdock soda, Riesling ink, and mint. Inspired by Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press, who was legally barred from following the family business as the royal mint, as his father had married outside of the aristocracy with his Mother, and the chain reaction this caused.
In Conflict, The Mighty O. is a celebration of unexpected contrasts in a whisky sour, with Monkey Shoulder, miyeok mukchim cordial, turbo persimmon, lemon and antler, and available boozeless. Inspired by the pattern of aftereffects human conflict creates space for, from sinking warships that assist with coral growth, to the DMZ between North and South Korea becoming one of the most biodiverse places on the peninsula. Operation Mindf*ck is the perfect serve to end an evening, with garden-fresh notes from a blend of Ocho reposado, woolly calvados, mesquite carrot vermouth, garden peas, secret bitters. Encapsulating the story of science fiction writer Kerry Thornley and Playboy editor Robert Wilson, who jokingly blamed events on the Illuminati as a form of culture jamming and used the attention to encourage second-guessing media narratives.
Finally, Silver Classics stays true to the cocktails that guests know and love, offering playful and innovative twists. Highlights include the elegant Silver Apple Martini, with Belvedere 10, clarified green apple, Capreolus ‘1000 Trees’ and bisongrass. Silver Service Martini is available with Fords gin or Belvedere Vodka and served with house accoutrements for a personal and timeless experience. The bar also offers fun takes on classic shots, including Tots & Shots, available in three blends and served with the American classic tater tots, and Jello Shots, available with Aperol Spritz or Hugo Spritz and served with a champagne chaser. The bar snack menu also offers twists on the American classics, including the Eggplant Sando, Fried Chicken, Halloumi Fries, Hot Dogs and Everything Pretzel Bites.
An opulent and eclectic cocktail bar, Silver Lyan is tempered by raw facets of exposed concrete and a riveted metal ceiling from the original bank vault. The venue reflects the dynamism of the city, ranging from its punk and diverse roots to its grandeur and historic character with spaces like The Cabinet Room, the main bar, and The Dishonesty Bar. The bar is brought to life with the signature Lyan approach of inclusivity and warmth, and the team’s famous theatricality and playfulness.
Founder Ryan Chetiyawardana has been at the forefront of innovation within the drinks industry for over a decade. In 2013, he opened his first groundbreaking bar ‘White Lyan’ in London, the first in the world to have no perishables at all – no ice, no citrus or other fresh fruit. The following year, he launched ‘Dandelyan’ on London’s South Bank, which went on to win a multitude of awards including being named Best Bar in the World in 2017 at TOTC, and in 2018 at The World’s 50 Best Bars. His other venues include ‘Super Lyan’ in Amsterdam and ‘Lyaness’ in London, current holders of The World’s Best Cocktail Menu award from The World’s 50 Best Bars and the world’s only 3 Pin bar. ‘Seed Library’ in One Hundred Shoreditch is his latest bar, featuring on the 50 Best Discovery List.
Silver Lyan, 900 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004, United States – Booking link: here