Cocktail Pop-Up Deadshot Will Start Slinging Drinks in Its Permanent Location Next Week

Saddle up and get ready to ride to Ladd’s Addition — Deadshot is set to open May 25 in the former Associated space, according to a press release from the cocktail pop-up. For those who don’t know, Deadshot is the Monday-night cocktail bar pop-up for Holdfast Dining, its future roommate in the SE 11th Avenue restaurant. The two announced their plans to re-inhabit the abandoned space in February, after Associated chef Nick Ford moved South to open Pizzeria sul Lago in Lake Oswego. While Holdfast prepares its private dining room, Deadshot will be slinging drinks and “unusual forms of nachos” (The Oregonian noted a crispy-fried chicken skin rendition last year) in the main bar area. In fact, the two spaces will be more neighbors than roommates — a new wall separates the two restaurants, and Holdfast will have its own entrance.

Deadshot, the pet project of Rum Club alum Adam Robinson and Holdfast chefs Will Preisch and Joel Stocks, specializes in out-there, breathtaking cocktails and creative takes on Southern-skewed bar food, from the aforementioned fried chicken skin nachos to cornbread madelines. Stocks says the food will borrow from its previous iterations of pop-ups, building off some new stuff as well. “We’re definitely still in the R&D stages of what we’re doing, but we’re getting very close,” Stocks says.

As for the drinks, Robinson will continue to shake, stir, and serve his innovative drinks from behind the bar, but the team has added a few new characters: Joel Westrom, another Rum Club alum, will join Robinson crafting cocktails, while Fimbul somm Matthew Hunt has been tinkering on a wine list. The spot will also have taps with “really small list of some awesome breweries.” In the kitchen, Brennan Bowers (Park Kitchen) will be helping out as the Holdfast boys work on the other restaurant on the block. Speaking of, Holdfast should be opening a few weeks after Deadshot, and the reservation book is almost ready for names. Stay tuned for updates on that restaurant as spring continues.

• Deadshot [Official]
• Associated Bar To Close; Holdfast Dining To Partly Take Its Space Over [EPDX]
• Chef Nick Ford is Leaving Associated For Something New [EPDX]
• Deadshot hits a bullseye with unusual cocktails, bar snacks [The O]