Enter Leawood's newest speakeasy: The Blacklist

How it works: Co-owner and sommelier Laramie Busch tells Axios the long-term plan is to create a membership list for the speakeasy side, with payment information kept on file, similar to a country club.

• Members can invite friends with a one-time passcode.
• The details are still being finalized, Busch says.

What they're saying: The goal is familiarity, not exclusivity for its own sake, per Busch.

• "Think of it like an upscale, classy Cheers," Busch tells Axios. "We want our friends to come in, and we want them to make new friends. It's a community."
• Pricing reflects that approach, he says. "The prices are not meant to gouge. They are meant to make sure there's something for everyone."

Zoom in: The space is divided between wine and cocktails, and both sides feel intentional.

• The wine bar focuses on small-production bottles from around the world, selected by Busch alongside co-owners Jeff Gabrielson and Megan Allen.
• The speakeasy side emphasizes Prohibition-era cocktails and classic riffs, with a gin-forward lineup and housemade syrups.

What to try: The Out South mixes gin, cucumber, lime, basil, celery bitters and soda, finished with mint. It's $12, basil-forward, and refreshing without feeling heavy on alcohol.

• The Razzing combines botanical gin, Benedictine, lemon, raspberry herbal tea and egg white, topped with fresh raspberries. Priced at $13, this cocktail leads with raspberry, while the tea and egg white foam keep it balanced.

My thought bubble: I think it will be a great place to get away from downtown when it gets too packed during the World Cup.

The bottom line: The Blacklist is betting that familiarity — not flash — is what will keep people coming back.