Though the official start of Winter is a couple of weeks away, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy these cold and frosty times. One specifically delicious reason is Zauber’s craft cocktails, created and served by their team of awesome bartenders, using a variety of seasonal (and seasonal-themed) spirits and ingredients. Like the Spring drink menu, Zauber’s Winter cocktails are full of flavor, easy to drink, and epic in every way, from presentation to taste – truly spectacular taste.
Blueberry Spice
OYO Bourbon joins up with muddled blueberries, simple syrup, lemon juice, and nutmeg to create a drink that has quite a few characteristics. Vanilla and a mellow char slide in beneath fresh blueberry sweetness and tart lemon, while herbal notes float in from the sides. Faint oak arrives towards the end, while the bourbon rumbles across the back of your throat.
Twisted Mule
OYO Vodka, Luxardo, and Goslings Ginger Beer are splashed with a touch of fresh lime juice and soda to create one of the tastiest drinks out there. Served in a copper mug, this drink is sweet and herbal, showcasing cedar wood and ginger spice. A mild tang sits at the back of the tongue, while hints of mild earth and herbs add a spicy snap at the sides. The alcohol is completely hidden, and the drink is crisp and refreshing, ensuring that you’ll go through a few before realizing it.
Sweet Ginger
Gingersnap liqueur, Butterscotch schnapps, and nutmeg create a drink with prominent spice and booziness. The ginger and nutmeg notes create a seasonal spiciness, while butterscotch helps to soothe the potent alcohol burn. An underlying nuttiness offers up a touch of burnt sugars, countering a blossoming herbal roughness at the back of throat, and ultimately creating a drink that will have you warm in no time.
Manhattan
Taking a page out of the old school book, OYO Bourbon, sweet Vermouth, bitters, and a cherry form a classic Manhattan cocktail. Notes of vanilla char and toasted coconut hit the tongue first, followed by a mild smokiness. The roughness of the bourbon is immediate but is quickly soothed by its woodsy notes. Nice and dry, the burn fades fairly quickly, leaving the heat behind, as well as a touch of herbs and earth.
Rootbeer Float
After the dryness of the Manhattan, the Rootbeer Float follows a different path completely. Made with OYO Vanilla Vodka, Art in the Age Rootbeer Liqueur, and almond milk, this drink is ultra creamy, and just as herbal. The Rootbeer liqueur (simply named Root), offers up a laundry list of herbs and spices to create that rootbeer flavor. Additional heat from the vodka creates an additional rawness that butts heads with the almond milk for control. A slight sweetness allows a hint of vanilla to emerge, but not enough to diminish the herbal punch.
Grandma’s Pie
Another using an Art in the Age neutral spirit, Grandma’s Pie brings Art in the Age Rhubarb, Grand Marnier, Jackie-O’s pumpkin beer, cinnamon, and nutmeg together as a mighty powerful drink. Initially boozy and in your face, the fruity sweetness of the Rhubarb liqueur cuts the burn and allows mild pie spices to mellow on the tongue. The beer adds a decent amount of body, giving each drink a palpable mouthfeel.
Orange Shake-Up
OYO Bourbon, lemonade, Goslings ginger beer, muddled sugar and oranges, and Domaine De Canton liqueur create a slightly heavier twist on the uber-popular Lemon Shake-Up. Underlying bourbon notes hide beneath aromatic orange and lemon, while ginger spices things up from the sides, creating a perfect trio of flavors. The sweetness is present but never overpowering, achieving balanced tastiness from beginning to end. This is another drink that is almost impossible to put down.
Barrel-Aged Boulevardier
I’m happy to report that the superbly epic Boulevardier from the Spring menu is still available, and much more mature (but only if you ask for it – you won’t find it on the menu). Like before, the combination of smoke, orange, and bourbon is nothing short of perfect, though now with several additional months of age under its belt, the potency has risen quite noticeably. The bourbon shines through with a bit more strength, while the sweetness of the orange fades toward the back. Basically, it’s the same Boulevardier, but now it wears a pinstripe suit.
Zauber’s Craft-tails capture the essence of the Winter season with supreme deliciousness, highlighted by awesome creativity and a vision for detail. Whether you’re looking for something sweet, something potent, a combination of the two, or simply a classic cocktail, you can’t go wrong here. They’ll be sure to bring the heat as the temperatures drop.
full disclosure: Zauber is a client
