Top of the Morning, March 29, 2024
Mar. 29—Bellying up with ...
Mahomet-Seymour High School and University of Illinois grad Doug Roberts has been bartending at Seven Saints in Champaign for nine years now, where he enjoys the chance to be creative and experiment with drinks.
"The alcohol world is really fascinating. It's not just for imbibing, you know, there's also the chemistry behind it, the production behind it," Roberts said.
He specifically appreciates Seven Saints over large chain restaurants where he worked previously because bartenders have more of a chance to experiment.
"It's not just all about 'What can you push out to people,' it's also about 'what can you come up with?'" Roberts said.
The bar has a partial focus on whiskey and brings in a lot of regulars for Whiskey Wednesdays, but Roberts is proud of mixed drinks he and other bartenders create together, too.
One classic example: Roberts made up a cocktail on the spot to celebrate a regular's last day before moving away, but it was so good it became a permanent menu item.
"The Chaz" is even named in honor of that former bar regular.
"When you get the regulars, when you start to know a lot of people's names, before you know it, it makes the bartending side a lot easier," Roberts said. "You know who's coming in."
Roberts said that a lot of his hobbies are a bit like making cocktails: he wants to tinker and experiment with something until its just right.
Currently, he's working on his '99 Firebird and three motorcycles, but he also likes home brewing different kinds of beer.
Right now, Roberts says everyone at Seven Saints is looking forward to the summer and seeing more nightlife out on Market Street with the City of Champaign's Downtown Entertainment District project.
They're still in the early planning stages, but he's hoping the staff will be able to offer some kind of food or drink items to connect with everything going on outside.
