Tag Archive for: drink specials

Thrillist: THE BEST DRINK SPECIALS IN 11 ATLANTA NEIGHBORHOODS

It seems like every weekend, a new bar or restaurant is opening in Atlanta — especially in or around Ponce City Market. Because of this, we decided to locate the best drink specials in 11 ATL ‘hoods. (Even Buckhead, where there are much better deals than a $10 Old Fashioned.)

Kirkwood
Ration & Dram

Drink specials don’t necessarily need to be all about the alcohol. Sometimes the food component can be the real draw. On Monday nights, Ration & Dram offers “buck a shuck” oysters, meaning you can fill up on delicious oysters for not a lot of dollars, and wash ‘em down with rotating weekly specials like $25 bottles of rosé, mezcal deals, and more.

Read the full list here.

Creating Loafing: Best Bets: Perfectly paired Oscar cocktails

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.

Culinary Local: Stir Up Your Year – Cocktail Classes at Ration and Dram

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.

AJC: Bars bring winter cheer with warm cocktails

Winter is coming, Atlanta.

Generally, we prepare for this season the only way Southerners know how: with bread, milk and booze. But, forget the run to the grocery store. Head to bars around town, where you can find everything from wassail to toddies that will light a fire in your belly on a cold day.

Here are five hot mugs of good cheer to help bide the time until our patios and porches wake from their winter slumbers.

Hot buttered rum

A well-made hot buttered rum is surprisingly light, despite using butter and brown sugar. Ration and Dram’s rendition is downright addictive — and charming, served in a dainty gold-rimmed tea cup. The batter is the typical mixture of brown sugar, unsalted butter, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg dissolved in hot water in a preheated mug. But that’s where tradition ends and crafting a cocktail begins. Rather than simply pouring a rich, dark rum into the drink, possibly putting it out of reach of imbibers who are turned off by sweetness, Ration combines the smooth, caramel-forward Jamaican Blackwell rum and Bitter Truth’s pimento dram (allspice berries soaked in rum), which mellows the sugary batter with a hint of bitterness. You may find yourself ordering another, and still another, while you read a book and nibble on the daily popcorn offered at the bar.

Ration and Dram, 130 Arizona Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 678-974-8380

Read the article here.

 

 

Creative Loafing: What to drink with Thanksgiving dinner – Part I

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.

Andy Minchow, Ration & Dram

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.

Read the full article here.

Eater: These Atlanta Restaurants Will Save You From Cooking on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving tends to entail a mountain of planning between inviting guests into your home and cooking food for all of the extended family. But, it doesn’t have to be that way: several heroic restaurants across Atlanta recognize these fears and plan to stay open on Thanksgiving Day in order to alleviate the potential burdens of holiday cooking. Ease the stress and take the family to one of these 11 restaurants for turkey meals or something a little more unorthodox this Thursday.

11 Ration and Dram

Ration & Dram will be open from 6 p.m. to midnight serving a limited food and drink menu ranging from $5 to $20. The menu includes options like a turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce and a mashed potato bowl similar to the restaurant’s signature grits bowl.

See full article here.

AJC: 4 rainy day deals around Atlanta

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

 

Read the full article here.

Peachtree Roadies: BEST ATLANTA BRUNCH COCKTAILS

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. 

Full article here.