Between the years 1920 and 1933, anybody who produced, imported, transported, or sold alcoholic drinks in the U.S. could face fines, imprisonment, or both. Despite the risks, secret drinking establishments cropped up in the back of restaurants, shops and other businesses. Known as “speakeasies,” these illicit bars flourished as the adventurous sought an escape from the restrictions of Prohibition. Fast forward a century later, and today anyone 21 or over is free to consumer alcohol. Yet the era when drinking required a sense of adventure and willingness to break the law hasn't lost hold of the public imagination. For one glass studio in Lexington, Kentucky, nostalgia for the speakeasy has become a way to enhance their engagement with glassmaking and present a unique blend of art, craft, and glamour to their patrons.
Hidden behind a mirrored door, Trifecta Glass Art reveals more than an elegant and sophisticated cocktail lounge: the discovery of its glass studio and art gallery adds a surprising dimension to the whole experience, creating an intimate and immersive space enveloped in the air of secrecy that traditionally defines speakeasies. An atmosphere which immediately takes back in time, yet reimagined through the innovative combination of glass.
The owner and artist Travis Adams describes the uniqueness of its business as a fusion of the creative process around glass and the one around the cocktail and entertainment. By bringing these elements together, the team of Trifecta Glass Art creates a multisensory and elevated experience that sets the speakeasy apart from others across the country. According to Adams, this connection is deepened by the use of hand-blown drinkware crafted directly in the glass studio to serve cocktails, creating what he describes as a “studio-to-table environment,” where the artistry of glassmaking becomes part of the drinking experience.
Going back to its early days, the project began about 15 years ago from the desire to make glassblowing a more immersive and performative experience. From there, Adams told Glass, the idea evolved with the question “What if we made a kind of cocktail experience, or bar atmosphere surrounding that?” This is how the original vision eventually turned into the speakeasy concept, allowing to welcome people in a sophisticated space for relaxation and libations in the process of viewing the glass studio. Adams also shares “we felt confident that this was the model that we wanted to present, and it clearly works.”
However, challenges are always part of the process. From the high costs of specialized equipment to finding the right mix of skilled collaborators took time and energy. But now Trifecta Glass Art Lounge proudly counts on a talented team of glassblowers dedicated to creating sculptural works, luxury products and bespoke designs. Glass is, in fact, at the heart of the lounge's identity.
“We wanted to create a glass and fine art experience that moves beyond four white walls and track lighting and immerses the viewer and the collector into the art itself and the process of that art.” According to Adams, rather than presenting art in a traditional way, works’ installations across the various lounge environments differ in positioning, lighting, and atmospheres, reflecting how it may be viewed at home or in individual collections. Moreover, visitors are given hands-on introduction to glassblowing, through live demonstrations and “blow-your-own” experiences. The main goal is to educate guests and potential future collectors about the skill and process behind glassmaking, while develop more appreciation for glass as a fine-art medium.
Trifecta has received national attention after a panel of experts recently selected 20 standout speakeasies to compete for reader votes in USA TODAY 10 Best national contest for the title of "Best Speakeasy" in the U.S. Asked about the competition, Adams expresses a strong sense of honor and gratitude toward his business and its development from a local to an international level. He concludes: "To be nominated for this accolade is just reassurance to myself as owner and our team as creative force behind it that what we're doing is right and that there is a needed space for us in the market.” Thus, winning the contest would further affirm the strong bond between glass art and the speakeasy culture that Trifecta has been shaping over the years.
These already seems a very good foundation for Trifecta Glass Art to claim a spot among the 10 best speakeasies in the U.S. However, the decision is now in the readers’ hands.
If you would like to show your support, voting is open until noon ET on Monday, October 12, on the USA TODAY 10 Best website. The 10 winners will be then revealed on the same website on Wednesday, October 21, at noon ET.