At Distillery of Modern Art (DoMA), we’re constantly exploring the intersection of craft, culture, and contemporary creativity. As a working distillery, an art space, and a community hub, DoMA is built on the belief that process matters just as much as product. This universal philosophy led our Russell Gottschalk, our Director of Operations and Market Awareness, to create the DoMA Bar Buddy.
The Bar Buddy began its life as a pallet used to transport a ton of grain into the distillery. That pallet was dissembled and several deck boards were cut, stained, and branded into a handcrafted cocktail companion designed for the bar top. Each piece holds a dynamic QR code that links to a living portfolio of dozens of cocktails we’ve served over the past year at DoMA.
More than a keepsake, the Bar Buddy is an experiment in blending tactile craft with adaptable digital storytelling. The QR code connects guests to an evolving archive—one that can grow as our menu, collaborations, and creative partnerships continue to evolve.
At its core, this project is a celebration of collaboration. The cocktail portfolio highlights our 2025 Guest Bartender Series, a program that invites some of the most talented bartenders and creatives in the region to reinterpret DoMA spirits through their own perspective. The series was envisioned and stewarded by Sprouthouse Agency, whose thoughtful approach helped shape a program rooted in both hospitality and artistic exchange. The cocktails themselves are beautifully documented by the incomparable Sarah Cofer, whose photography captures not just the drinks, but the personality and intention behind each one.
Russell made a small run of Bar Buddies to share with the DoMA family, but if you’re interested in one for your home bar, feel free to reach out to him here. We're also sharing the QR code below in case you want to check it out on your personal device.
Cheers!