Killer football and top notch bites? Here, the 10 hot spots sending our taste buds into overtime.
Head to Ration & Dram to share signature communal cocktails while watching the big game on one of the upstairs or downstairs screens. Pair a Punch Seventy-Five (gin, lemon juice and sparkling wine) with a French dip, and you’ll be cheering for more than just your home team.
Sugar or salt on the rim? If you like your cocktails a little more personalized than just choosing what’s lining your margarita glass, don’t miss these build your own cocktail options at Atlanta’s restaurants and bars.
Ration & Dram. The Kirkwood watering hole is encouraging their customers to step right up and customize their own brunch punch on vintage Brunch Punch Cards, sourced from a local library. Start to build your punch by choosing your sparkle: Sparkling Brut, Rose, or Stiegl Grapefruit Radler, then add in mixers like strawberry puree, pineapple juice, Deep Eddy Vodka, Pimm’s, Cappeletti and Campari then punching your selections on the library card.
Whether it’s the summer heat, or your waistline or alcohol tolerance, sometimes you need a lighter, healthier cocktail. Many metro Atlanta bars are happy to oblige. Here are five local cocktails with health benefits.
Ration + Dram
130 Arizona Ave. NE, Atlanta. 678-974-8380. rationanddram.com
The Ring Around the Rose is a light and slightly sweet cooler that includes Cocchi Rosa, an Italian aperitif, rose water and sparkling rosé. The restaurant‘s ingredients make it lower in alcohol than most. Plus, it has a lot of the same benefits of drinking red wine.
The Atlanta Food and Wine Festival (AFWF) invades Midtown today and runs through June 5. Now in its sixth year, the festival has become one of the city’s premier events, showcasing the South’s finest chefs, wine and spirits producers and artisan food makers.
Atlanta will have its fair share of industry talent at the festival teaching and preaching Southern culinary culture at classes, tasting tents, dinners and even at a temporary vineyard. Where will Atlanta’s cocktail, wine and beer elite drink around town when taking a break from the festival? The city’s star bartenders and beverage experts shared their favorite swilling spots, which means you, too, can drink like a pro.
Cocktails
Ticonderoga Club partners and Atlanta cocktail forefathers Paul Calvert and Greg Best will be back leading sessions on historically-based drinks and ingredients–subjects they love to share with guests at The Club’s bar. When they’re not slinging colonial-style drinks or proselytizing the cocktail masses to their clever imbibes, the boys can be found sipping at some of their favorite bars around town, including Decatur’s Kimball House, The Mercury at Ponce City Market, Kirkwood’s Ration and Dram, Westside’s Little Trouble and Edgewood Avenue’s Noni’s Deli. For post-festival cocktails, you’ll find them tippling at, where else, Empire State South.
Ration & Dram
Shaken or Stirred: Champagne Cocktails
WHEN: June 18, 4 p.m.
COST: $50 (includes four cocktails and hors d’oeuvres)
THE DETAILS: Each month, this eatery hosts its Shaken or Stirred cocktail class to teach guests all they need to know about the tools and spirits that make a great cocktail. And with days of summer on the horizon, Andy Minchow, Ration & Dram’s co-owner and cocktail guru, will be teaching participants how to mix up perfect poolside sips, like the Zombie or Painkiller. Snag your seat by calling 678.974.8380.
Ration & Dram
130 Arizona Ave.
Atlanta 30307
678.974.8380
rationanddram.com
Sometimes, mimosas and bloody marys simply won’t do at brunch. That’s why the “morning cocktail” was invented, and we think you should give these three a try the next time you have a hankering for coffee, scotch and eggs Benedict.
Scottish Breakfast is an iced coffee brunch cocktail containing scotch and cold-brewed nitro, available during brunch at Ration and Dram.
Brunch at Ration and Dram should contain three things: a chicken biscuit, a seat at the bar and an iced coffee cocktail containing scotch and cold-brewed nitro. Bank Note’s smoky blended scotch and nitro coffee form a solid base. Oat milk, vanilla and honey syrup are swirled together to create a creamy cold sipper to perk you up and settle the stomach after a night of overindulging. The drink is neither too sweet nor too bitter, but instead is a perfect balance of both, with a hint of smoky coffee remaining to the very last drop.
Ration and Dram, 130 Arizona Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 678-974-8380, rationanddram.com.
Brunch cocktail hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, 12:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Sundays.
Your drinking guide to the 88th Annual Academy Awards (February 28, 2016, 5:30 PM) is here. We can’t all be at the ceremonies but we can honor the nominated while sipping around Atlanta. We found 8 cocktails that seem to have been made for highly acclaimed flicks. Celebrate the biggest night in Hollywood with a drink that matches the spirit of each Best Picture film. If none of these do the trick, make your own and take a drink every time the “wrap it up” music comes on. And the nominees are…
The Big Short is the story of hedge fund managers and bankers who capitalize on the bursting housing bubble during the financial crisis of 2008. They bet against (shorted) subprime mortgage bonds and waited for the eventual implosion. Time Invested ($11) at Tavernpointe is goes perfectly with the herbaceous tequila, pear, Aperol, lemon, green tea, and celery bartender Madison Burch stirs together. It’s better balanced than the sheets of those bankers. 1545 Peachtree St. NE. Midtown. 404-549-3954. www.tavernpointe.com.
The Courier ($10) at Ticonderoga Club is a suppressor much the silencers used on the CIA agents’ guns in Bridge of Spies. It’s an blend of Spanish red vermouth and sherry boosted by coffee liqueur and orange bitters. Garnished with a lovely and aromatic cardamom leaf, it is subtle and nuanced, like a courier of secret plans during the Cold War. 99 Krog St NE. Inman Park. 404-458-4534. www.ticonderogaclub.com.
There is a love triangle in Brooklyn with an Irish immigrant, an Italian plumber, and a local Irishman back home. Home is two places for Ellis Lacey. She could be the muse for Dual Citizenship ($10) at La Tavola with Hedura blanco tequila, Cappelletti Aperitivo, and grapefruit essence. 992 Virginia Ave. Virginia Highland. 404-873-5430. www.latavolatrattoria.com.
The only cocktail that could withstand the fury of Max and Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road is In the Wind ($10) at The Iberian Pig. What better way to go through a post-apocalyptic chase through wasteland than with a spicy and flavorful amalgam of rye whiskey, yellow chartreuse, Amaro Montenegro, Grand Marnier, and Angostura and Orange bitters. 121 Sycamore Street. Decatur. 404-371-8800. www.theiberianpigatl.com.
Left by his crew on the hostile planet of Mars, Matt Damon’s astronaut character in The Martian thrives by way of science and his sense of humor. Kellie Thornat Empire State South is equally as clever with spirit concoctions. Two World Hero ($12) mixes together tea-infused cognac, rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and red wine syrup. Sublime as space must be. 999 Peachtree Street NE. Midtown. 404-541-1105. www.empirestatesouth.com.
Fueled by grief and revenge, a frontiersman treks across the American wilderness of 1823 in The Revenant. The survival skills of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Hugh Glass, are the stuff of legend. Hunting Season ($12) at Kimball House is an equally fierce cocktail. The bitter elements of rye whiskey, cherry aperitif, absinthe, and earthy sassafras please a daring palate. 303 E. Howard Ave. Decatur. 404-378-3502. www.kimball-house.com.
In Room, five-year-old Jack and his mom are the whole world to each other after being held captive in a shed his entire life. The One and Only ($12) at Miller Union sums up their strong connection in a glass. Vodka, floral St. Germain, grapefruit bitters, and lemon conjure up the sunny flavors of the outside world.999 Brady Ave. NW. Westside. 678-733-8550. www.millerunion.com.
In 2001 a team of Boston Globe journalists go on a mission to uncover allegations of priests molesting boys within their churches in Spotlight. Offset such dark material in the fun atmosphere of Decatur’s S.O.S. Tiki Bar. We suggest The Reverend’s Fancy ($10), a boozy mix of pineapple rum, Reposado tequila, amaro, and a rim of coconut garnish. It’s cheeky, but delicious. 340 Church Street. Decatur. 404-377-9308.
Bonus: It’s not one of the eight candidates but if it were, we would match Star Wars: The Force Awakens with The Dark Side at Ration and Dram. Brandy, rum, porter beer syrup, and Angostura bitters are stirred to make you question where your loyalties lie. 130 Arizona Ave. NE. Kirkwood/Edgewood. 678-974-8380. www.rationanddram.com.
Nothing completes a meal or an evening quite so elegantly as a perfectly balanced cocktail. This February, Edgewood eatery Ration and Dram has launched “Shaken or Stirred,” an exciting series of classes devoted to the art and craft of cocktail making. The modern American spot is well known for its creative cocktail menu (for brunch as well as dinner), so it’s a great destination for anyone who wants to start mixing flavorful, interesting drinks at home.
At 4 PM on Saturday, February 27, Ration and Dram will host a starter class on cocktail fundamentals. But don’t worry if you won’t be able to catch it this weekend. In the months ahead, there will be five more cocktail classes to enjoy, each one focused on a particular base. March’s class will feature whiskey, April’s class brandy. Champagne and tropical drinks will take center stage during the summer. There’s no obligation to attend more than one class, but they will vary enough between months to make each one worth your while.
The talent behind “Shaken or Stirred” is impressive. Owner Andy Minchow, who established Ration and Dram in 2014, previously served as partner and bartender at Holeman and Finch Public House. Bar manager Kysha Cyrus has established herself as a sommelier and craft bartender at a variety of Atlanta spots and was named one of Atlanta’s Top 10 Bartenders by BlackBook Magazine. They will work together to demonstrate expert cocktail-making techniques behind the bar—and serve up some delicious samples of their work.
Minchow and Cyrus have wanted to offer a master class on cocktails for some time now. They get questions every night about how Ration and Dram’s unique drinks are crafted, and now, with this series, they will be able to share in-depth knowledge with the public. The small class format will allow participants to ask as many questions as they like and savor the sensory experiences of cocktail making, including the particular aromas and flavors of the ingredients.
The lineup for the following months is:
March 26: Whiskey
April 30: Brandy (including grappas and piscos)
May 28: Tiki cocktails
June 18: Champagne (and other summer appropriate) cocktails
July 23: Vermouth & Amari cocktails
Cocktail series like this one are still rare in Atlanta, so make your plans soon if you’d like to hone your skills. The February 27 class costs $50, which covers four drinks and hors d’oeuvres during the lesson. Call Ration and Dram for reservations.
Make these cocktails or drink these local beers on Thanksgiving, because they said so.
Still at a loss for what to drink with your Thanksgiving turkey cake and cherumple on Thursday? We asked Atlanta beer, wine, and cocktail experts to share a few of their recommendations. If you’re in need of some turkey-friendly, boozy inspiration, today is your lucky day.
This series comes to you into three parts. Part I covers beer and spirits starting with thoughtful cocktail recipes from talented barkeeps Julian Goglia (the Pinewood), Andy Minchow (Ration & Dram), and Bradford Tolleson (Restaurant Eugene). CL’s resident beer guy Austin L. Ray also chipped in with three fall seasonals from Atlanta breweries that opened in 2014. In parts II and III, we tap into Advanced Sommelier Tim Willard’s near-encyclopedic body of wine knowledge and hear from southern wine geek extraordinaire Steven Grubbs, respectively.
The Plymouth Rocktail
1 ounce Plymouth gin
1 ounce Dolin Blanc (any sweet white vermouth will work)
1 barspoon of cranberry sauce(yes I did. That and the name are the cheesy parts)
2 barspoons of lemon juice
Shake and double strain into a champagne flute or wine glass.
Top with 3 ounces of dry sparkling wine(rose if you have it)
Garnish with an orange twist.
This can also be done as a punch over ice. I think it will be a nice cocktail to start the drinking off and look funny in the hands of any men watching football.
It’s another lonely away-game weekend in Tuscaloosa, leaving many students hankering for a getaway. Tuscaloosa is situated in the middle of the South, making it easy to jump in the car for a road trip to any number of destinations. Birmingham, Memphis, New Orleans, Nashville and Atlanta are all in within five hours of T-Town. So if you’re not following the Crimson Tide to Starkville this weekend, plan a weekend trip to Atlanta, located just 2.5 hours away, and go beyond the malls, aquarium and the World of Coke to experience some of these local hot spots.
Sublime Donuts: College students get 15 percent off with their ID’s at this local donut sensation. Located in the heart of Atlanta, this restaurant offers a large collection of unique donut eats. Flavors range from s’mores to sweet potato cake and even maple bacon cheddar (only offered on Saturdays). They also offer specialty donut ice cream sandwiches, including flavors such as the Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Burger. Donut-lovers will rejoice at the chance to experience any of Sublime Donuts’ unusual flavors.
Ponce City Market: Located in the historic Sears, Roebuck & Co, building in Atlanta and developed by the owners of Chelsea Market in Manhattan, this lively market is perfect for checking out food and shopping. Locals love drinking and dining in the Central Food Hall, and PCM also includes Atlanta favorites such as Dancing Goats Coffee Bar and King of Pops. Visitors can also check out boutiques as well as popular shopping spots like Anthropologie and J. Crew.
The Beltline: The Atlanta Beltline is the perfect place to satisfy a need for outdoor adventure, and to explore the city at the same time. Twenty-two miles of pedestrian-friendly trails situated on an old railroad is the perfect way to see views of the city. Development of the Beltline is expected to continue until 2030, eventually connecting up to 45 Atlanta neighborhoods. But there is still much to enjoy as of now: shops and restaurants line the path, and bikes are also available for rental. Also along the way is Krog Street Market, which locals love for eats and beverages. For information about the Beltline, visit beltline.org.
Terminal West: Located on the West Side, this popular venue showcases music and acts almost every night of the week. The lineup for this weekend is as follows: Friday- Desert Dwellers; Saturday- The Electric Sons; Sunday- The English Beat. Restaurant Stationside is also located at Terminal West, serving refreshments during and after shows. For ticket information visit http://www.terminalwestatl.com/.
Little Trouble: Also located on the West Side is Little Trouble, a “Blade Runner” themed bar that greets visitors with neon lights and a lively atmosphere. Not only is it a bar, but it’s also a great place to grab snacks and appetizers. The menu offers a wide variety of cocktails, wine and beer, as well as Asian-inspired appetizers such as dumplings, buns, slaw and ramen. Be sure to try the $5 drink specials during happy hour, which is Monday-Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Ration and Dram: Check out this local joint for its popular $1 oyster nights on Mondays, or stop by any time for a culinary experience. They serve local food, and they offer an extensive menu for vegans and vegetarians. Try their popular oysters or one the other customer favorites from the menu, including the southern classic, chicken and dumplings, French dip or pan-seared Georgia trout.
Ration & Dram’s Andy Minchow tackles the low-proof cocktail in his #7, which sees Pommeau de Normandie punched up by the herbaceous notes of Cynar and the fizz and acidity of sparkling wine—proving that less booze doesn’t mean less complexity.
Serving: 1
Garnish: lemon peel
Don’t let a rainy day in Atlanta spoil your fun; instead, let the weather inspire you. There are plenty of things to do in Atlanta when it rains, and plenty of places that will reward you for putting on your rain gear and trekking out into the city.
$6 classic cocktails at Ration & Dram (Kirkwood). Ration & Dram recently introduced a new rainy day classics cocktail menu, which is only available on rainy days. Each drink on the menu is $6 and includes classic cocktails like Dark n Stormy, Daiquiri and Horse’s Neck. 130 Arizona Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, Ga. 30307,678-974-8380, www.rationanddram.com
Cold brew coffee—bottled, nitro on tap or built to order—is America’s hottest way to chill out. Unlike iced coffee, which is simply hot brewed coffee or espresso poured over ice, cold brew is made by steeping coffee grinds in room temperature to cold water for half a day or longer. Though a staple at third wave coffee shops for a couple of years now, the drink hit critical mass when Starbucks launched its own brew this past spring. Lauded for a flavorful, smooth and less acidic profile, it was only a matter of time before bartenders decided to get creative with the brew in place of standard coffee. Below, 22 awesome cold brew coffee-spiked libations, from a White Russian-inspired intoxicant to the perfect brunch potion.
RATION + DRAM
Location: 130 Arizona Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA
Bartender: Kysha Cyrus
Cocktail: Rise ‘N’ Shine ($8) with cold brew coffee, Troy & Sons Moonshine, Amaro Averna and vanilla syrup.
“We love a good, or bad, pun at Ration & Dram, and adding coffee into the mix seemed like a natural fit—the coffee being the ‘Rise’ and the moonshine being the ‘Shine’!” explains drink creator Kysha Cyrus. This cocktail drinks bold “with a subtle sweetness and robust flavor from the nitro coffee.”
For the Bookworm: Instead of “bottomless mimosas” or the typical brunch beverages, Ration & Dram is doing “Brunch Punch Cards.” The owners found a ton of these vintage library cards, and in the best example of repurposing we’ve ever come across, ever, they’ve printed a build-your-own brunch punch menu on them. The punch starts with Sparkling Brut, Rose, or Stiegl Grapefruit Radler, then in step two you can add Strawberry Puree, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Ford’s Gin, Deep Eddy Vodka, Pimm’s, Cappeletti, and/or Campari. You make your selection on the card with a hole puncher (to further the punch theme). Bring your bookworm friends, your book club, your favorite librarian…and me to their patio this summer.
Barre to Bar Tip: Ration & Dram is in the Kirkwood area, not far from Decatur.
DEAD END DRINKS
130 Arizona Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30307
678.974.8380
Mon: Closed
Tues: Closed
Wed: 5pm-10pm
Thurs: 5pm-10pm
Fri: 5pm-10pm
Sat: 11am-10pm
Sun: 11am-4pm