The Wicked Wolf, Wrigley’s underrated gem of a watering hole that opened back in 2023, is unveiling its brand new—and rather ambitious—12-cocktail menu for Long Beach Last Call on Mar. 1.
And, per usual, the menu—winding through a spring-meets-Shakespeare vibe that is wonderfully contradictory, simultaneously grasping the esoteric and the accessible—proves the space continues to be Long Beach’s most underrated bar.
“It felt appropriate to debut our new menu for Last Call,” said owner Thea Mercouffer. “We’re pushing the space further into our fairy-in-the-woods-Victorian vibe, adding decorations to make the space even more experiential.”
What began as a neighborhood cocktail bar with an eccentric personality has evolved into a fully realized hospitality space. It is one shaped as much by community intention as by the creativity behind the bar. From hosting afternoon tea service that welcomes guests who might otherwise never step into a cocktail lounge to crafting menus rooted in storytelling, The Wicked Wolf has long resisted easy categorization. It’s a bar, yes, but also a gathering space, a creative outlet, and increasingly, a destination.
The Wicked Wolf’s Isaak Lusic is one of the city’s leading cocktail makers.
The talent of Isaac Lusic, the head barman at Wicked, is undeniable. Echoing Long Beach peers like Gianna Johns at Baby Gee and Kevin Lee at Tokyo Noir, the man is obsessed with melding the esoteric with accessibility.
Isaak approaches cocktails less as trends to follow and more as narratives to build. His passion for America’s National Parks—previously expressed through menus that celebrated and financially supported park preservation—revealed a bartender interested not just in flavor but in purpose.
This was even more evident when I had the chance to judge a cocktail competition recently at Buen Provecho. And yet again, Isaak showcased that his love of National Parks wasn’t just a kind-oh-let’s-support-something-cool-like-nature thing.
His “Smokin’ Sherman” concoction was an ode to the mighty pine tree. Pinecone-infused borubon met pinenut orgeat and Cynar with bits of cranberry juice and black walnut bitters. It was a liquid-gone-lyrical song to the Southern Californian campground, the spaces that dot the mountains surrounding staples like Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead.
The Wicked Wolf isn’t shy about owning itself—and its new menu exemplifies that.
Thea’s latest vision pushes the bar’s identity deeper into its fairy-woods aesthetic—an atmosphere that already feels removed from the outside world. The new menu embraces springtime renewal through the lens of Shakespearean romance and mischief, leaning into whimsy without sacrificing sophistication. Think enchanted forests rather than fantasy cosplay: textured, romantic, and just a touch theatrical.
Behind the stick, Isaak and his team—Raffael Dorian, Austen Farley, and Ebony Ziegler—have answered that vision with their most ambitious cocktail program yet. The new 12-drink lineup moves confidently across mood and palate. From bright, floral expressions that flirt with sweetness… To savory, spirit-forward builds that feel darker and more seductive. It’s a menu designed not merely to impress but to invite exploration, encouraging guests to move between styles rather than settle into a single comfort zone.
That collaborative energy is key. While Isaak’s voice anchors the program, the team’s collective creativity is evident throughout. And it reinforces what has increasingly become The Wicked Wolf’s greatest strength: consistency without stagnation. Regulars return knowing the drinks will be excellent, but also knowing they’ll encounter something new.
A closer look at the new cocktail menu at The Wicked Wolf…
True Love’s Kiss: Van Gogh Acai + Blueberry Vodka | Parfait Amour | Salers Gentian | Creme de Violette | Pomegranate | Butterfly pea syrup | Herb foam
Watermeloncholy: Gran Centenario Plata | Watermelon syrup | Lime | Serrano tincture | Pink peppercorn tincture | Soda | Cilantro
Midnight Trix: Silver Needle Tea-infused Viviente Mezcal | Massenez Peach | Alpe Genepy | Peach-orgeat syrup | Cinnamon tincture
Very Ginberry: Nikka Coffey Gin | Fred Alkemil Bergamot | St. Elder Elderflower | Luxardo Del Santo | Blackberry-tarragon-honey syrup | Lemon
Man in the Moon: Gruyere-infused St. Remy Signature Brandy | Bonal Gentian | Caramelized shallot syrup | Acid-adjusted pomegranate | Black pepper tincture
Forbidden Fruit: Green Apple-infused Ming River Baijiu | Mirin | Dry vermouth | Clear soy sauce | Wolf Pepper Tincture | Umami sauce
Señora Primavera: Tomatillo-infused Desert Door Sotol | Kilinga Bacanora | Ancho Reyes Rojo | Pepita orgeat | Lime | Serrano tincture
Rum Pum Pum: Tikka masala-infused Kuleana Hui Hui Rum | Chinola Mango | Coconut syrup | Cucumber shrub | Lime
Enchanted Mushroom: Shiitake-infused Green River Rye | Fred Alkemil Ratafia Cherry | Ramazzotti Amaro | Cappelletti Amaro | Cacao Bitters
Solstice Sorbet: Botanist Islay Gin | Kin a Peel Banana | Blueberry shrub | Avocado-pistachio orgeat | Lemon
Beelicious: Beeswax-infused Bushmill’s Black Bush | Mad March Hare Poitín | Lemon | Blonde Ale Honey Syrup | Fresno tincture | Chili oil | Fee Foam
Fairie Bubbles: Lillet Blanc | Jelinek Plum | Tawny Port | Champagne | Lemon
The Wicked Wolf is located at 2332 Pacific Ave.
