Never-Before-Seen Spirits at Birmingham’s Newest Cocktail Bar

Mexico City cocktails and ambiance come to Birmingham by way of Adiõs, a lively downtown space scheduled to open November 1, 2022. Longtime members of Birmingham’s restaurant industry José Medina Camacho and Jesús Méndez will use their new concept to introduce diners to imported Mexican spirits making their first debut in Alabama. 

Signature cocktails, domestic and imported beers, wine, and nonalcoholic options can be enjoyed in the cozy-meets-sleek space, with terra cotta-colored lounge chairs, abundant tropical plants, and art from Mexican artists adorning the walls. The far corner draws the eye with the Dia de los Muertos ofrenda, a space for all visitors to celebrate the lives of passed loved ones. 

Owners Camacho and Méndez both immigrated with their families to northern Alabama from Mexico in the 1990s. They began their careers in food and beverage at a young age and have since made their mark on the area’s food scene. Méndez owns several restaurants including Unos Tacos and The Louis in the Pizitz Food Hall. Camacho oversaw the beverage programs at Little Donkey, Octane, the Marble Ring, and Automatic Seafood & Oysters. 

The pair long dreamed of opening Adiõs, according to Méndez. “Our goal is to introduce new ingredients and flavors to guests, while welcoming them into a place that immediately feels like home. […] We want this to be a space for people to celebrate, grieve, meet new friends, or just sit at the bar and tell us about their day.” He and Camacho hope this new space will introduce visitors to the ingredients and artwork of their birth country.

The menu extends well beyond traditional margaritas and micheladas (though you can order those here, too). With carefully sourced ingredients like raicilla (an agave spirit), epazote (a cooking herb native to south Mexico and Central and South America), and Sidral Mundet (an apple-flavored soft drink), the menu premieres native flavors to Alabama diners. Camacho and Mendez worked closely with the ABC board to import new spirits specifically for Adiõs. 

TLP took a look at Adiõs’ full drink menu. Rich drinks such as Amour à la Mexicana, a blend of cognac, cyan, Mexican coffee-cola syrup, and egg, feel perfectly warming for autumn evenings. Others are brighter, like the Thirteen Heaven, which uses joven mezcal, Pasubio, blueberry, epazote, lime, and tonic. Check out the full menu below:

A First Look At Adiõs in Birmingham

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