Best of Boston
2017 Best Bartender
Will Thompson, Ruka
Photograph by Toan Trinh, styling by Laura Dillon
Will Thompson honed his cocktail craft at Drink, developed a spot-on classics-focused opening beverage program for gilded supper club Yvonne’s, and has now come up with something entirely fresh for the Peruvian-Japanese-inspired Ruka. Detailed in a 24-page booklet, his cocktail menu is filled with exotic ingredients and over-the-top whimsy—e.g., the Morning Star, a whiskey drink served in a flower pot. Finally, serious cocktail geekery has loosened its tie a little.