Silver Lyan, the acclaimed cocktail bar from Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan), has launched its latest menu, ‘The Butterfly Effect,’ celebrating the bar’s fifth anniversary inside Riggs Washington D.C. Recently ranked No. 48 in North America’s 50 Best Bars, Silver Lyan continues to push the boundaries of creativity and storytelling in mixology.
Inspired by the ripple effects of knowledge sharing and cultural exchange, the new menu builds on the bar’s overarching ethos and features 17 unique cocktails split into four thematic chapters: Culture & Media, Law & Government, Conflict, and Silver Classics.
Each cocktail offers a narrative twist that ties together history, invention, and playful absurdity. Through flavors, textures, and storytelling, guests are invited to consider how small actions can spark global impact—mirroring the “butterfly effect” concept that inspired the name.
In Culture & Media, drinks like Hokusai Snap (with Fords Gin, starfruit fino, bleu curaçao, and damson plum) celebrate accidental discoveries like the invention of Prussian Blue. Meanwhile, It’s Alive! 75, a Champagne-based cocktail with Patrón Reposado and pandan absinthe, draws inspiration from the ash-clouded summer that led to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
Law & Government explores unintended consequences in digital and legal systems. Pikachu Pop, a spritz with kiwi ketchup and pisco, tells the story of a child’s gaming spree in Chile. Gutenberg High-ball, made with Grey Goose and mulberry leaf, references the surprising legal ban that kept Gutenberg from minting coins—and led him to invent the printing press instead.
In Conflict, The Mighty O. reimagines a whisky sour through the lens of ecological aftermaths of war, while Operation Mindf*ck uses garden peas and mesquite carrot vermouth to explore culture jamming and disinformation, inspired by authors Kerry Thornley and Robert Wilson.
The Silver Classics section celebrates fan favorites with creative twists. These include the elegant Silver Apple Martini, Silver Service Martini with custom accoutrements, and whimsical offerings like Tots & Shots and Jello Shots, all served with Silver Lyan’s signature flair.
The venue itself remains one of the most atmospheric in the U.S., set inside a former bank vault and layered with both opulence and grit—raw concrete, riveted ceilings, and thoughtful design accents. Alongside theatrical presentation and a warm sense of hospitality, the new menu continues Mr Lyan’s legacy of innovation, creativity, and fun.
