Back to the Future: 9 Retro Cocktails Making a Comeback

Laurie Wilson November 9, 2017 3 Comments

What’s old is new again when it comes to drink menus. This week marked National Harvey Wallbanger Day (who knew?), an annual celebration of the classic cocktail poured with vodka, Galliano, and orange juice debuted in the ‘50s. And, so, in that spirit, we’ve got nine retro cocktails to celebrate our spirited past — some have stayed true to their origins, while others have been reimagined with some millennial-friendly ingredients. Here’s to you, Harvey!

Last Word, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Chicago, Illinois
The bar menu here features the classics from the 1800s to the 1900s, including sips like the boozy gin-based prohibition cocktail the Last Word. It’s created with Death’s Door gin that is stirred with Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino, and fresh lime juice. Let us have the last word: one is enough. Make a reservation at Morton’s The Steakhouse.

Do-It-Yourself Daiquiri, Railstop Restaurant & Bar, Brighton, Massachusetts
A riff on the 1900’s standard, this beverage is made with butterfly pea extract, Privateer Silver Rum, and pure cane simple syrup. It’s garnished with lavender, lime, and a poem: “Thank you for choosing the Do-It-Yourself Daquiri, if you do not like it, that is blasphemy. We encourage you to take part in making this drink, squeeze the limes, it’s easier than you think, swirl it around with the lavender and watch it turn pink.” Make a reservation at Railstop Restaurant & Bar.

Gaelic Grasshopper, Seamstress, New York, New York
Hop to it and order the timeless, typically green grasshopper cocktail that’s been given an Irish update at this Upper East Side restaurant. The drink is made with Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur, Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey, Brancamenta, and Crème de Cacao. A handful of mint leaves and shaved chocolate garnish the sweet — but not green — cocktail. Make a reservation at Seamstress.

Painkiller, Harvest Table, St. Helena, California
Lead bartender Joel Pfeifle pours this proper cocktail with light and dark rums, housemade crème de coconut, pineapple juice, orange juice, lime, and bitters plus a garnish topping of grated nutmeg. Sure to cure whatever ails you tonight — but no promises for tomorrow morning. Make a reservation at Harvest Table.

Bring on the Brain Freeze: 9 Fantastic Frozen Cocktails

Nevin Martell August 17, 2017 Leave a Comment

Between the blazing sun beating down, the record-breaking temperatures, and the high-level humidity of late summer, tipplers are seeking icy refreshments. To celebrate this #ThirstyThursday, here are 9 fantastic frozen cocktails worth the brain freeze.

Blood Orange Margarita at Avenue, Long Beach, New Jersey
This tasty tipple follows the KISS rule: Keep It Simple, Stupid. It’s made with tequila, fresh lime juice, fresh blood orange juice, and ice. Simple and simply delicious. Make a reservation at Avenue.

Frozen Negroni at Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, California
Bar manager Nicky Beyries has come up with an ingenious use for the restaurant’s slushy machine. She fills it with Nolet’s Silver Gin, Cocchi Americano, and just-squeezed grapefruit juice. After adding a touch of Campari to the glass, she pours the icy mixture on top and finishes it all with a wheel of blood orange. Make a reservation at Foreign Cinema.

Summer Time Love at DÔA, Miami Beach, Florida
Consider it a cross between a daiquiri and a piña colada. Ron Barceló Platinum is blended with coconut cream, pineapple chunks, strawberry, and fresh basil. It’s topped off with coconut flakes and a strawberry. Make a reservation at DÔA.

Frozen Zombie at Spoonbar, Healdsburg, California
Get freaky with the tiki! The Polynesian-themed potable is powered by a trio of rums: Rum Fire, Plantation dark rum, and Flor de Caña Grand Reserve. Grapefruit, lime, pomegranate, and cinnamon add to its tropical sensibility. Make a reservation at Spoonbar.

Spicy Strawberry at I|O Godfrey, Chicago, Illinois
Drink pink. Basil-infused mezcal, strawberry and rhubarb shrub, habañero syrup, and freshly squeezed lime juice create a cocktail that’s sweet, smoky, and spicy. We’ll take two, thanks. Make a reservation at I|O Godfrey.

The LN2 Caipirinha at The Bazaar by José Andrés, Los Angeles, California
Standing at the table, a magician-like mixologist will add liquid nitrogen to the cocktail’s core components. Guests get a front row seat for an enchanting display as it transforms into a frozen boozy treat. Have your spoon ready to dig in once it has iced up. Make a reservation at The Bazaar by José Andrés.

Frosé and Bourbon Slushies at Evening Star Café, Alexandria, Virginia
Sit outside on the restaurant’s Front Porch to score these polar potables. It’s your choice of going the frosé way or belting down some bourbon. Either way, you’ve chosen wisely. Make a reservation at Evening Star Café.

Sweet Days of Summer at Westbound, Los Angeles, California
The restaurant partnered up with ice cream maker Coolhaus to create a series of cooling cocktails. This one features the scoop shop’s mango sorbet, as well as Avuá cachaça, fresh lime juice, pandan (a vanilla accented leaf), coconut, and ginger. For a flash of fire, it’s finished off with a chili pepper. Make a reservation at Westbound.

The Butt Dial Slush at DNV Rooftop Lounge, Washington, D.C.
We would order this cocktail for its name alone. The pale green sipper made with Absolut Citron, Midori sour, mint tea, shiso, and lime. Its BFF is the Pocket Text Slush, a ruddy cocktail featuring Absolut Mandarin, Drambuie, grapefruit juice, and red pepper puree. Make a reservation at DNV Rooftop Lounge.

Where have you been ordering frozen cocktails this summer? Let us know here or over on Facebook, G+, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter. And, remember to snap + share your #dishpics with us on Instagram for a chance to win in our weekly giveaway.

Nevin Martell is a Washington, D.C.-based food and travel writer and the author of several books, including Freak Show Without A Tent: Swimming with Piranhas, Getting Stoned in Fiji and Other Family Vacations. Find him on Twitter @nevinmartell and Instagram @nevinmartell.

Big Sippin’: 11 Large Format Cocktails Great for Group Drinking

Nevin Martell May 4, 2017 5 Comments

Going out with a group can be sheer mayhem when it comes time to get the drink orders in order. Simplify your sipping by opting for a colossal beverage. Here are 11 large format cocktails perfect for a posse.

Farmers & Distillers, Washington, D.C.
Whether there are two, four, or six tipplers in your group, the Suffering Candidate can be scaled up to accommodate. Made with Founding Farmers rye whiskey and Founding Farmers gin, it gets a zingy-sweet boost from lemon, ginger, and cane syrup. Served over pebbled ice, it’s garnished with candied ginger and fresh mint. Make a reservation at Farmers & Distillers.

Miss Lily’s, New York, New York
Meet the Watamelon. And whatta melon it is! Sorry, we couldn’t resist. The scooped out fruit is filled with fresh watermelon juice, Starr African rum, mint, and lime and serves up to five lucky souls. Make a reservation at Miss Lily’s.

Three Dots and a Dash, Chicago, Illinois
This Zombie cocktail is en fuego. No, really. It’s served on fire. Inside the smoking skull drinkers find a potent mixture of four rums, lime juice, grapefruit juice, pomegranate juice, and a touch of cinnamon. Make a reservation at Three Dots and a Dash.

False Idol, San Diego, California
Kneel down and pay your respects to Alkaka the Fierce. This godly tiki tipple is made with chai-infused bourbon, aged and dark rum, pimento dram, and orgeat. Absolutely worthy of your fealty (and the ensuing hangover if you attempt to drink it alone). Make a reservation at False Idol.

Palm House, San Francisco, California
Any cocktail that comes with a rubber ducky – especially one named Donald Palmer – is a winner in our book. Intended for up to six guests, the summery sipper is made with rum, pisco, lime juice, and cucumber-basil puree. And, yes, you get to keep the rubber ducky. Make a reservation at Palm House.

Nikki Beach, Miami Beach, Florida
The Mojito Bowl costs $350, but it’s a good investment for groups. That’s because it includes half a bottle of white rum and another half a bottle of lemon rum. For flavor, there’s freshly muddled mint, lime, and cane sugar — plus lemon-lime soda. Make a reservation at Nikki Beach.

Borgne, New Orleans, Louisiana
Looking to cool the gang during summer madness? This will do the trick nicely. Forged from Ford’s gin, Pimm’s Cup, blood orange juice, and cucumbers, it’s cause for celebration. Make a reservation at Borgne.

Speedy Romeo, New York, New York
We are Brass Monkey junkies. The shareable punch – which serves up to eight – features Stolen smoked rum, El Dorado 151 rum, fresh orange juice, and grilled oranges. It arrives with the guest’s choice of a pack of Miller High Life on ice or three bottles of prosecco. Make a reservation at Speedy Romeo.

Brunch in a Glass: Bloody Good Bloody Marys

Caroline Potter April 7, 2017 3 Comments

The brunch staple and fave of fliers of the friendly skies (because tomato juice tastes better at 30,000 feet – and, dare we say, vodka, too?), we’ve never met a Bloody Mary we didn’t love. Whether they’re classic takes on or inventive interpretations of the universally beloved hangover cure, Bloody Marys are the ideal way to toast the weekend.

Argyle Steakhouse, Carlsbad, California
At the Argyle Steakhouse, located at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & manage-mixologist Anamaria Osborne stirs up The 25 Bloody Mary. “A unique blend of 25 ingredients perfectly balanced to revive your spirit and provide a little hair of the dog boost to rejuvenate the body” notes Osborne. Some of the ingredients include housemade Bloody Mary mix, olives, onions, celery, cucumbers, and, of course vodka. Make a reservation at Argyle Steakhouse.

Bar Lupo, Chicago, Illinois
Oh my spaghetti (and meatballs)! The Spaghetti and Meatball Bloody balances a meaty, spicy, citrusy tomato base with classic spaghetti and meatballs. The base mixes tomato juice with a secret blend of herbs and spices, giardiniera, and drippings from roasting the meatballs. A forkful of saucy spaghetti topped with a delicate meatball tops things off with crunchy celery, a fried mozzarella stick cheese curd, and a pickled pepperoncino. Of course, there is a beer sidecar to complete the set. Of course. Make a reservation at Bar Lupo.

Cosmos at Loews Minneapolis Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dear Cosmos – you had us at meat stick straw. This stunner of a brunch Bloody Mary is adorned with bacon, celery, a Fresno pepper, house pickles, a charcuterie skewer, shrimp cocktail, a meat stick straw (!), and a beer snit back (we’ll let you Google that if you’re not from the Midwest). Make a reservation at Cosmos at Loews Minneapolis Hotel.

Party Fowl, Nashville, Tennessee
The Brunch for Two at Nashville hot chicken joint Party Fowl from executive chef just might nourish more than even the most ravenous duo. The feast features a 55-ounce Bloody Mary topped with two Nashville-hot Cornish game hens, fried okra, avocado, Scotch eggs, and more. Make a reservation at Party Fowl.

Beatrix-Streeterville, Chicago, Illinois
This Make Your Own Bloody Mary Bar has the ‘write’ stuff. Head over on the weekend, and your server will bring you a sheet of paper. Check off everything you want, and then bring it to bartender for them to build your base, from an array of options including amped up tomato juices, various liquors, and mix-ins, like kung pao Brussels sprouts, potato salad deviled eggs, pepper jack cubes, and more. Make a reservation at Beatrix-Streeterville.

Upland, Miami, Florida
We’re not much on DIY – except when it comes to doing it ourselves with these bottomless Bloody Mary’s. Upland Miami invites you to build your own of epic proportions. A carafe of Upland’s signature Bloody Mary mix and Wodka Vodka are presented alongside a pickle board featuring cornichons, heirloom tomatoes, housemade pickles, and jalapeños. Onward and Upland-ward. Make a reservation at Upland.

Sunda, Chicago, Illinois
Call this one brunch in a glass. The new Sumo Mary at Sunda is served in a hulking 32-ounce Mason jar and is adorned with strips of bacon, half a grilled cheese-and-tocino sandwich, a duck bao, braised pork belly, a crab sushi roll, a lumpia stick, several stalks of Chinese broccoli, pickled daikon radish, roasted potatoes, and shishito peppers. Make a reservation at Sunda.

The Ribbon, New York, New York
Who will not wear the ribbon? Okay, Seinfeld references aside, we’re not sure who will not drink The Ribbon’s famous Bloody Mary. Tabasco, Worcester sauce, pepper, celery salt, hot sauce, Old Bay seasoning, and horseradish macerate for a fortnight, at which point fat-washed bourbon with bacon is added to create a smoky, savory quality. Black peppercorns are infused in the tequila to accentuate the peppery flavor of some tequilas. Expect a dash of Clamato for another level of flavor, and choose from a garnish of bacon, shrimp, or pickled peppers. Make a reservation at The Ribbon.

Lolo’s Surf Cantina, Miami, Florida
Ave, Maria! Spice up your morning with the Bloody Maria made with El Jimador Silver tequila and Lolo’s special grandmother sauce. We could tell you what’s in the secret sauce, but…we won’t. It’s blended with a splash of salsa roja and tangy lime, and for the finishing touch, they put tajin and sal de gusano on the rim. Garnished with carnitas fluttua, cherry tomatoes, and a celery stick, it kicks brunch off on a high note. Make a reservation at Lolo’s Surf Cantina.

Tarallucci E Vino, New York, New York
The usual suspects are present – vodka? Check. Tomato juice? Check. But then things get really interesting with mustard and balsamic vinegar. Finished with unusually delicious additions of a grilled pineapple wedge, a carrot, and a housemade pickled pearl onion, the drink’s flourishes are always seasonal. Look for radishes and pickled strawberries in the coming months. Make a reservation at Tarallucci e Vino.

Borgne, New Orleans, Louisiana
Large format cocktails just got a lot larger. Like, a LOT. The Ultimate Bloody Mary at this seafood-focused NOLA standout is made for the ultimate brunchers, serving six to eight people and priced at $95. Cathead vodka, housemade Bloody Mary mix, and pickled vegetables will make you wish every day were a weekend day. Make a reservation at Borgne.

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, Chicago, Illinois
Build your own bloody good Bloody Mary every weekend. The drink gets a Spanish accent with Uncle Dougie’s Torpedo Juice, Bloody Mary mix, or Gazpacho Andaluz. Coronate it with an array of garnishes like shrimp, date-glazed bacon, Gilda olives, pickles, jamón, and more. A buck scores you a beer back. Make a reservation at Café Ba-Ba-Reeba.

Boqueria, New York, New York
The Gilda Maria is a Spanish twist on this brunch staple. Sweet carrot juice, guindilla pepper, and sherry vinegar make it stand out from the crowd. Choose your spirit from gin, tequila, or vodka. We dare you not to destroy the garnish – a boqueron, guindilla pepper, and olive – as soon as your server sets it in front of you. Make a reservation at Boqueria.

Holeman and Finch Public House, Atlanta, Georgia
The original recipe for the signature Bloody Mary was created in chef Linton Hopkins’s kitchen with bright citrus, tangy Georgia tomatoes, and savory spices, after hundreds of attempts with wildly obscure ingredients. Chef Hopkins prides himself on utilizing local, fresh ingredients in all his creations, and this is no exception. Taste trumps flash in this bev. Served at the restaurant, the proprietary mix can also be purchased at Holeman and Finch Bottle Shop for bewitched imbibers. Make a reservation at Holeman and Finch Public House.

21 Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York
The Ugly Carrie isn’t named after Bizarro Carrie Bradshaw from SATC. It’s actually a nod to the restaurant’s dedication to minimizing food waste. This alterna Bloody Mary from bartender Garrett Jones takes “ugly carrot” juice and mixes it with turmeric, Crop Organic cucumber vodka, ancho reyes verde, and lemon juice. Make a reservation at 21 Greenpoint.

EPIC Steak, San Francisco, California
Looking for an epic Bloody Mary with an epic view? Right this way. Waterfront EPIC Steak serves the EPIC Bloody Mary! Made with V8, fresh horseradish, Siracha, Worcestershire, sugar, salt, Tabasco, and a blend of spices, including coriander, fennel seed and black pepper, the cocktail is topped off with a skewer of house-brined pearl onions, Castelvetrano olives, and charcuterie from Boccalone Salumeria in the San Francisco Ferry Building, such as Coppa and Mortadella. Make a reservation at EPIC Steak.