Tag: cocktails

Katie Rice, of Inman Park's Barcelona Wine Bar, wants you to fall in love with vermouth. Yes, that vermouth—the stuff we splash into our martinis, Negronis, and Manhattans

There we were, sitting along a black-and-white petrified wood bar twenty-two stories up, looking out at the Atlanta sky, now blood-orange after a summer storm. Many have wondered if Polaris—atop the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, once the tallest building in the city—still has a decent view.

Given that our ubiquitous state fruit has made its way onto our license plates and street signs on practically every corner, it should come as no surprise that local chefs are also tinkering with the Georgia peach in a number of creative ways.

Andy Minchow may be reserved and soft-spoken, but you wouldn’t know it from drinking his assertive cocktails. A former founding partner at Holeman and Finch Public House, Minchow now oversees the cocktail program at his own place, Ration & Dram in Kirkwood.

The reimagined Polaris opens to the public June 10. The iconic revolving restaurant that first opened in 1967 now houses two living room spaces, a bar, and a small restaurant. There's a definite emphasis on cocktails and socializing over dining.

Like many other Atlantans who have made this promise, this summer I too am determined not to complain about the weather—seeing how the winter’s freakish cold and Snowpocalypse part deux hurt our feelings so badly. I have caught myself slipping a few times as we brace ourselves for more steamy days and spotty thunderstorms. What better way to segue into the hot season than a suggested list of refreshing beverages? They calm the mind, ease the spirit, and remind us that this too, shall pass. It’s helpful to know not just where to cool down, but what to drink while you’re doing it. Cheers.

I arrived at Holeman and Finch Public House on a recent Saturday at 7:30 p.m., expecting to wriggle through a surge of bodies to reach the bar. Since it opened in 2008, I’ve introduced the Buckhead trendsetter to dozens of visitors, always prepping them to brace for the crowds, assuring them that the cocktails and the charcuterie and the famous cheeseburger served after 10 p.m. are worth the hassle.

Up until pretty recently, The Wrecking Bar Brewpub did not make my mental checklist of Atlanta’s expanding craft cocktail scene. If you’re like me, then we’ve been collectively missing out. While a weekly rotating list of beers still takes center stage (love that smoky Son of a Beech Rauchbier), the seasonal cocktail menu holds its own court. If you’re like me, then you’ll have to request the menu, but once in hand, you’ll be glad you did.

Ever wanted to return to the days of old when alcohol was illegal and accessible only behind shady fronts? While Atlanta’s speakeasy scene isn’t as historical as New York City, we do have our fair share of bars that utilize secret passwords, hidden passages, and special memberships to recreate history. Below are five local establishments. Dress up and stack your wallet—oh, but do be quiet about it.