TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) -- A new restaurant downtown is hoping you didn't give up sweets for New Year's.
Batch specializes in doughnuts and whiskey, and held it's grand opening on Friday. As the line stretched out the door, more than 400 free deep-fried desserts were given away.
"Doughnuts have been around forever," said owner Kade Mislinski. "It's one of those emotionally connected things, and business wise there are no doughnut stores downtown."
Mislinski helped start HUB Restaurant & Ice Creamery, and runs Saguaro Corners Restaurant & Bar. He was inspired by popular chains like Voodoo Doughnut in Portland, Oregon. Batch makes unique flavors of doughnuts like maple bourbon glaze, and carries 70 different types of whiskey.
"A lot of people are wondering, why the two go together?" Mislinski said. "They're both made with grains, they're that kind of thing. But really they're just playful, fun things."
Mislinski says there are doughnut and whiskey joints in other bigger cities, and he's hoping his new place will catch on with local foodies, like KC Harmer and her family.
"We're really excited about it," Harmer said. "You know we love when the food truck movement started, and we really enjoy seeing these concepts that we know are in bigger cities starting to come to Tucson."
Earlier this year Highwire Lounge debuted downtown. It is Tucson's first molecular mixology bar where drinks are part of the show. Batch can now be added to the list of unique Tucson eateries.
"I really want to be a part of the fabric of downtown, where people go to 47 Scott or HUB and other restaurants and come to me after," Mislinski said.
Mislinski hopes to expand the menu offering more food. He says they also will serve bacon and crème brulee doughnuts.
Batch is located at 118 E. Congrees Street.
