A former bank vault built in 1931 at the First National Center in Oklahoma City has been transformed into The Library of Distilled Spirits. The venue pays homage to the iconic culture of craft cocktails with a selection of more than 200 classics, over 1,500 expressions of distilled spirits, and an archive of rare and fine spirits. 

Opened in June and helmed by hospitality management and development company, Apicii and corporate beverage director Kyle Tran, the Library highlights the rich history of liquor from fermentation through distillation, aging and blending. Patrons enter the basement level, where they are greeted by the iconic steel bank vault door lit up in mesmerizing neon colors to draw them into The Vault.

Colorful art deco tiles line the ceiling, while original safety deposit boxes adorn the walls displaying the collection of distilled spirits. A handful of these spirits are available for guests to purchase and store their chosen bottle, replete with a custom-made plaque with their name.

In addition to encyclopedia of spirits, the Library offers an underground cocktail experience with a 10-seat bar manned by expert barkeepers with vast knowledge of rare spirits and classic cocktails. Patrons can select their spirit of choice – either neat on crystal clear artisanal ice with a side of distilled water, or in a classic cocktail expression. 

The menu features a selection of house-made tinctures, bitters, infusions, vermouth and cordials, as well as fresh juices and syrups. Cocktail highlights include the French Martini, Boulevardier and Vieux Carre, while a Mexican cantina-style food menu provides light bites such as a Crab Tostada and a Raja Poblano Quesadilla with sweet corn and salsa verde.

The Oklahoma City outpost of The Library of Distilled Spirits follows the New York location, which opened in 2017.