10 local cold-weather cocktails to warm you up this season
Now that the first frost has hit the city, it’s time to do away with the margaritas and mojitos.
These cocktails from Charlotte watering holes will make nights out during the winter months just as glamorous as their warmer counterparts:
Carolina Apple Cider at Dot Dot Dot
4237 Park Rd. B
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Dot Dot Dot (@dotdotdotclt) on Nov 6, 2018 at 12:52pm PST
Price: $12 (but note that Dot Dot Dot is a members-only speakeasy — and membership costs $10/year)
What’s in it: Buck bourbon, Laird’s Applejack brandy, apple cider and fall-flavored syrup make this cocktail look as much like autumn as it tastes.
What else to order: Get a cheese board ($18) featuring the chef’s selection off artisan cheeses, or share an order of the Ricotta Gnudi ($13) featuring crispy ricotta, tomato sauce, pecorino toscano and fresh herbs.
Yorkshire at Soul Gastrolounge
1500-B Central Ave
Price: $13
What’s in it: If you’re looking for a drink that packs a punch, the Yorkshire — made with cardamom-and-orange aperitif Zucca Rabarbaro, Cynar, Cardamaro and plenty of bitters — is for you. This cocktail doesn’t do sweet.
What else to order: Grab an order of the sashimi tuna tacos ($11), served in fried wonton shells — or order a few sushi rolls of your choosing ($6 – $15).
Hot Toddy from Broken Spoke
227 Southside Dr., A1
Price: $10
What’s in it: Nothing quite says “cozy up” like a hot toddy. At Broken Spoke, yours gets the choice of apple cinnamon, caramel, honey or pumpkin spice. (Our vote goes to the honey.)
What else to order: Broken Spoke has a great bar menu. Try the pretzel, which comes with beer cheese ($7), the stuffed brie garlic bread topped with house-made herb compound butter ($10) or the classic five cheese pizza ($10).
The Rye Manna-Hata from Hattie’s Tap & Tavern
2918 The Plaza
Price: $11
What’s in it: Another drink not for the faint of heart, Hattie’s Rye Manna-Hata mixes whiskey, luxardo liqueur and rich luxardo cherries.
What else to order: A beer of course, because you can’t go to Hattie’s without ordering at least one ($2 – $7).
Gettin’ Figgy With It at The Suffolk Punch
2911 Griffith St.
Price: $12
What’s in it: Bourbon, fig, lemon, thyme and ginger beer, over a cold brew coffee ice cube. Garnished with thyme.
What else to order: Pair this amped-up cocktail with the baked pimento cheese ($9) or if you’re feeling something sweeter, the bananas foster ($7).
Winter Ginger Smash from Essex Bar & Bistro
101 South Tryon St., #14
Price: $15
What’s in it: The Winter Ginger Smash brings plenty of sweetness from its lemon juice, sugar and apple liqueur base. It’s the muddled ginger and cranberries that give it its kick.
What else to order: Pair with a plate of potato gnocchi ($13), the roasted beet salad with pecans, fig and pears ($14), or the expertly crafted charcuterie platter ($17).
Rosemary Gin Fizz from 5Church Charlotte
127 North Tryon St., #8
Price: $12
What’s in it: This creamy, wintry cocktail is made with egg white and rosemary simple syrup, a combo perfect for settling into a festive, holiday mood.
What else to order: For dinner, the pan roasted veal chops, which comes with roasted fingerling potatoes and broccolini ($42). If you’re sipping late-night, the simple but delicious three cheese pizza, made with fontina, local mozzarella, and parmesan ($12).
M&T Ol’ Fashion from Merchant & Trade
303 South Church St.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Merchant & Trade (@merchantandtrade) on Aug 2, 2018 at 6:58pm PDT
Price: $13
What’s in it: Known for their wide selection of whiskies, Merchant & Trade is the only place to enjoy this cold-weather classic.
What else to order: The (expensive but worth it) foot-long cubano to share ($18) or the short rib burger, which comes topped with a sunny fried egg, aged cheddar and spicy dijon ($16).
Seasonal G+T from Sea Level NC
129 East 5th St.
Price: $14
What’s in it: If you’re looking to get your hygge on, a seafood restaurant might not be the first spot that comes to mind. But this season’s G+T from Sea Level has all the right fixings: Local gin, house-made tonic, and a brewed syrup made from black mission figs, vanilla bean and sage.
What else to order: A few fresh oysters ($1.75-$3.95 each) and shrimp steam buns ($5.50 each).
Quinn’s Mule from Queen Park Social
4125 Yancey Rd.
Price: $11
What’s in it: Queen Park Social’s mule is perfectly sweet and simple. It’s made with just two main staples: Great Wagon Wheel Distillery’s poitín (the distillery describes this spirit as “essentially Irish moonshine”) and fizzy ginger beer.
What else to order: Tacos, tacos, and more tacos. Get the pork carnitas ($11) and the veggie ($10) for sure.
This story was originally published November 16, 2018 at 12:01 AM with the headline "10 local cold-weather cocktails to warm you up this season."