Cocktail Bar
Unclaimed profileThe Black Salt
Hamtramck, MI · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The Black Salt pairs a spell-themed cocktail menu with a spirits list that takes absinthe seriously. Eight absinthe options are poured at one ounce with fountain service, and the whiskey range spans twelve bourbons, eleven ryes, imported bottles, and eight scotches. Beer runs from $4 Hamm's to Ayinger Brauweisse and North Coast Old Rasputin, with mead and rotating Michigan cider. Wine is straightforward: Cava Brut at $14 and a rotating glass at $16. Cocktails like VIRGO anchor the ritual concept.
- What should I order?
- Start with the VIRGO, a vodka cocktail with plum, lavender, lemon, violet, and rosemary, then explore the absinthe list with a one-ounce pour of Absinthe Ordinaire and fountain service. For whiskey, W.L. Weller Antique bourbon at two ounces neat or rocks is a solid reference point.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Drinkers who want a cocktail menu with a concept and a spirits list with real absinthe depth will find both here. The beer range covers lager, hefeweizen, IPA, stout, amber, mead, and cider, so groups with mixed preferences can settle in without compromise.
- When should I go?
- An evening visit suits the spell menu and tarot decks available for rent at $3. The full beer, wine, and spirits offerings are always available, so the program does not depend on a particular service window.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Beer runs $4 to $9, with cider at $6. Wine by the glass is $14 for Cava Brut or $16 for a rotating white, red, or rosé. Spirits range from $8 for a one-ounce absinthe to $50 for Glenfiddich 18 Year scotch. Top spells are $5.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The spell menu pairs cocktails with personal spells and rents tarot decks for $3, giving the cocktail list a ritual framework. The absinthe service, with eight options poured at one ounce and fountain service, is a specific draw that most bars do not attempt.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Craft cocktails are built around metaphysical ingredients and paired with personal spells on a spell-themed menu. VIRGO combines vodka, plum, lavender, lemon, violet, and rosemary. The liquor menu notes cocktails to go. Reviewers consistently describe the cocktails as excellent and varied, with a wide selection to suit different tastes.
Menu strengths
- — Spell menu pairs each cocktail with a personal spell, with top spells priced at $5.
- — VIRGO is a named cocktail with a specific six-ingredient build including plum, lavender, violet, and rosemary.
- — Cocktails to go are noted on the liquor menu.
Standout selections
- — VIRGO: vodka, plum, lavender, lemon, violet, and rosemary.
- — VIRGO — Vodka, plum, lavender, lemon, violet, rosemary.
Pricing: Top spells $5; cocktails priced separately; tarot decks $3 to rent
Wine
The Beer & Wine menu lists Cava Brut Poema, SPN, 12%, at $14 by the glass. Full wine offerings are always available. The list is compact and functional rather than deep, with sparkling and a rotating still pour covering the basic ground.
Menu strengths
- — Cava Brut Poema, SPN, 12% is a named sparkling wine at $14 by the glass.
- — A rotating white, red, or rosé selection at $16 gives the list a changing option.
Standout selections
- — Cava Brut, Poema, SPN, 12% at $14.; Glass of wine, white, red, or rosé, at $16.
- — Cava Brut, Poema, SPN, 12% — $14 — Sparkling wine by the glass.
Pricing: Cava Brut $14; glass of wine $16
Beer
The beer and cider list moves from $4 Hamm's, Miller High Life, and Short's Local Light through Modelo Especial at $5, then into Florian East All the Pudding Polish Pilsner, Ayinger Brauweisse Hefeweizen, Fat Orange Cat Hazy NE IPA, North Coast Old Rasputin Stout, and Alpena Amber Ale. Black Madonna St. Ambrose Mead and rotating Michigan cider round out the selection.
Menu strengths
- — Diverse styles including pilsner, hefeweizen, IPA, stout, amber, mead, and cider.
- — Prices run $4 to $9 for beer, with cider at $6 and mead at $8.
- — Hamm on Rye combines Hamm's with a shot of Old Forester Rye for $9.
Standout selections
- — Ayinger Brauweisse Hefeweizen, 5.1%, at $7.; Fat Orange Cat Hazy NE IPA, 5.9%, at $6.
- — Florian East All the Pudding Polish Pilsner, 5.2%, at $5.
- — Hamm on Rye, Hamm's plus a shot of Old Forester Rye, at $9.
Pricing: Beer $4–$9; cider $6; mead $8
Nonalcoholic
Non-alcoholic drinks, coffee, and tea are always available. The range includes NA spirits and beers, coffee, pop, and tea. The tea selection and iced latte are specifically praised. The category is a supporting option rather than a focus, but it covers the standard non-drinking choices with a few that earn mention.
Menu strengths
- — Non-alcoholic drinks, coffee, and tea are always available.
- — NA spirits and beers are part of the range.
- — The tea selection and iced latte are specifically praised.
Standout selections
- — Non-alcoholic drinks, coffee, and tea are always available.
Spirits
The liquor menu lists eight absinthe options with one-ounce pours and fountain service at $8 to $18, twelve bourbons at $11 to $25, eleven ryes at $11 to $18, imported whiskeys including Glendalough, Hibiki, Lot No. 40, Nikka, Pike Creek, Redbreast, Slane, and The Dead Rabbit at $11 to $35, and eight scotches at $16 to $50. Full spirits offerings are always available.
Menu strengths
- — Eight absinthe options with one-ounce pours and fountain service, $8 to $18.
- — Twelve bourbons and eleven ryes at two ounces neat or rocks.
- — Imported whiskey list spans Glendalough, Hibiki, Lot No. 40, Nikka, Pike Creek, Redbreast, Slane, and The Dead Rabbit.
Standout selections
- — Absinthe Ordinaire, one-ounce pour with fountain service, $8.
- — W.L. Weller Antique bourbon, two ounces neat or rocks, $25.
- — Hibiki imported whiskey, two ounces neat or rocks, $35.
- — Glenfiddich 18 Year scotch, two ounces neat or rocks, $50.
Pricing: Absinthe $8–$18; bourbon $11–$25; rye $11–$18; imported whiskey $11–$35; scotch $16–$50
Community reviews
Anyone with a free Inebrious account can rate the drinks here. Community ratings are kept entirely separate from the Inebrious editorial score above.
No community reviews yet. Be the first to write one.