The Return of EDGAR ALLAN POE SPEAKEASY — Chapter Two
- Apr 5
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 6
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
About the Event from the Hosts
⭐ The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy returns to Huntsville for a haunting sequel that delves even deeper into the macabre. This time, the Poe Historians bring four new tales from Poe's dark imagination to life, each paired with a fresh selection of classic cocktails.
Highlights
✨ Step into the world of Edgar Allan Poe in this 4-part chilling cocktail experience
🍸 Sip on delicious themed cocktails, each expertly crafted and paired with each tale
😱 Hear Edgar Allan Poe's work reimagined, as told by the Poe Historians
📚 No need to have seen the original Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy to enjoy the thrilling Chapter Two!
An Evening of Macabre Theater, Spirited Pairings, and Gothic Glamour at Burritt on the Mountain
Our Thoughts
There are themed events—and then there are nights that feel like stepping through a trapdoor into another world. The Return of Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy: Chapter Two promised a theatrical descent into the macabre, complete with cocktails inspired by Poe’s most haunting works. And on a cool evening atop Burritt on the Mountain, we joined a room full of black‑clad strangers ready to be unsettled, entertained, and—let’s be honest—deliciously over-served.
This traveling troupe from Nashville transformed a simple room into a gothic stage, proving that atmosphere doesn’t require elaborate sets—just good actors, good lighting, and a willingness from the audience to lean in.
And lean in we did.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
🕯️ The Vibe: Gothic, Playful, and Surprisingly Fashion‑Forward
The dress code encouraged Victorian, gothic, or “enigmatic cocktail attire,” and people committed.
Most guests arrived draped in black—lace, velvet, corsets, gloves, dramatic hats—but a handful went full Victorian, and they were breathtaking. It added a layer of immersive fun that made the room feel like a séance waiting to happen.
The actors themselves looked the part: pale faces, dark coats, and a touch of theatrical madness. Their performances were dark, yes, but also unexpectedly funny. Poe would’ve approved of the humor—they understood that horror and comedy are cousins.
🍸 The Four Stories & Their Cocktails
Each performance was paired with a themed drink, delivered quickly and generously. Maybe too generously, considering we consumed four cocktails in about 90 minutes with no snacks in sight. Delicious? Absolutely. Dangerous? Also yes.
1. The Pit and the Pendulum
Excerpt:
A prisoner wakes in darkness, terror mounting as unseen judges condemn him. A swinging blade descends, time slipping away as he fights to escape the tightening grip of death.
Cocktail: Swing of Fate
A tantalizing blend of flavors that shifts between sweet and sharp, like the relentless motion of the pendulum, delivering a final, refreshing twist with its Prosecco float.
Nancy Fae: Loved the balance and the theatrical tie‑in.
Jeff: “Great drink. Well balanced.”
2. Cask of Amontillado
Excerpt:
A vengeful host lures his unsuspecting rival deep into winding catacombs. Laughter echoes off damp stone as a sinister plan seals their final, chilling encounter.
Cocktail: Montresor’s Revenge
Rich amontillado hide beneath bright fresh orange juice, a layered mix as intoxicating as the revenge sealed behind stone.
Nancy Fae: Paired beautifully with the performance.
Jeff: Another hit. “Really great drink.”
3. Annabel Lee
Excerpt:
A grieving voice recalls a love so pure it defied the sea and the heavens. Even in death, the memory of his beloved lingers like a tide that refuses to recede.
Cocktail: Lover’s Lament
A bittersweet blend of bourbon and lemonade with floral hibiscus, capturing the eternal longing of love lost by the sea.
Nancy Fae: A favorite of the night.
Jeff: Balanced and easy to sip.
4. The Fall of the House of Usher
Excerpt:
A decaying mansion mirrors the unraveling minds within. As dread thickens, buried secrets rise, and the house itself seems to tremble under the weight of doom.
Cocktail: Roderick’s Ruin
Dark cold brew and pomegranate juice twist together with creamy mocha and vanilla vodka, conjuring the erie collapse of a doomed house and mind.
Nancy Fae: Perfectly matched to the story’s eerie collapse.
Jeff: Loved the creativity.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
🎭 The Performances: A Traveling Troupe with Big Energy
The Nashville troupe handled everything—acting, ushering, bartending—and they did it with charm.
The monologues were well‑performed, leaning into Poe’s melodrama without becoming heavy. The humor was unexpected and welcome.
The only challenge? The venue.
🏛️ The Venue: Burritt on the Mountain—Beautiful, but Not Built for This
Let’s be honest: calling this event a “speakeasy” was a stretch.
It was a theatrical cocktail show, not a speakeasy experience—and Burritt, while gorgeous, wasn’t the ideal setting.
• We were five rows back, and it was still hard to see.
• The seating was theater‑style, not tables, which made sipping four cocktails in quick succession… ambitious.
• The acoustics weren’t perfect, especially for guests with hearing challenges. Jeff noted that closed captioning or projected text would’ve made the experience more accessible.
Still, the staff and actors coordinated the evening well, and the overall vibe carried the night.
🍽️ A Note on the Cocktails (and the Missing Snacks)
Four cocktails in 90 minutes is a commitment.
Delicious? Yes.
Fast? Very.
Supported by food? Not at all.
Jeff put it best:
“It would’ve been nice if they had some light snacks to help with the cocktails.”
We agree. Even a small charcuterie box would’ve elevated the experience and slowed the pace.
⭐ Final Thoughts: A Darkly Fun Night with a Few Practical Hiccups
Nancy Fae:
“A great experience overall. The actors were fantastic, the drinks were delicious, and the costumes made the night feel special. I just wish the venue had been better suited for the performance.”
Jeff:
“Enjoyable, but I wouldn’t do it again. Hard to hear, hard to see, and too many drinks too fast. But the cocktails themselves? Excellent.”
Our Verdict:
A memorable, theatrical, cocktail‑driven night—perfect for Poe lovers, goth romantics, and anyone who enjoys a little drama with their drink. With a more immersive venue and a slower cocktail pace, it could be spectacular.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Disclaimer: Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age. Life’s Rants promotes the responsible and legal enjoyment of premium cigars and alcohol by individuals of legal age. We do not endorse or encourage smoking or drinking among minors.
Comments