Add These Innovative Drinks to Your Must-Sip Bucket List
Testing your discipline with Dry January? Giving up alcohol is a great way to start the new year on a healthy note, but weād be lying if we said we werenāt counting down the days until itās over. Thankfully, weāve got a list of delicious cocktails in Los Angeles that weāre going to sip as soon as February hits! From savory martinis to a sweet sāmores cocktail, the Los Angeles dining scene boasts creative cocktails that you canāt find anywhere else. These are the seven cocktails weāre most looking forward to sipping once Dry January ends.Ā
Drink Name: Extremely Rare SamplerĀ
Ingredients: Strathclyde 31yr, Adr Bottling, Caperdonich 26yr Smws Bottling #38.24, Glentauchers 40yr, G&M Private Collection (subject to change based on availability)
Order at: Tam OāShanter
For more than 100 years, Tam OāShanter has been offering a true taste of Scottish cuisine in Atwater Village. This cozy and casual pub doubles as a steakhouse and sits in a Tudor-style building that truly transports guests to Scotland. Even the waiters and waitresses don their best plaid, and thereās of course an extensive array of scotch to choose from. Though there are a handful of tasting flights available, the $219 Extremely Rare Sampler is worth every penny. As the name suggests, this flight features the rarest whiskys available from closed distilleries. While the featured spirits are subject to change based on availability, the current Extremely Rare Sampler features an unbeatable selection of three whiskys. Start with a 31-year-old single grain from Strathclyde before moving on to a 26 year-old Caperdonich. Finally, the tasting concludes with a 40-year-old bottle from Glentauchers, which is sure to tantalize your taste buds. This tasting is the ultimate way to bid adieu to Dry January.
Location: Atwater Village
Drink Name: Meat and Potato Martini
Ingredients: Chopin Potato Vodka, Prime Rib and Horseradish-stuffed olives, Shaken Tableside
Order at: Lawryās The Prime Rib
Whether youāre celebrating an anniversary or a birthday, Lawryās The Prime Rib is a Beverly Hills staple that has been around since 1938. Of course, the famous prime rib is obviously the star of the show, but the cocktails are a close second. Looking to keep things classic? The Meat and Potato Martini might sound hearty, but itās actually one of the sleekest drinks on the menu. Made with ice-cold Chopin Potato Vodka, this elegant martini is always shaken tableside, ensuring that you can indulge in the freshest sip as soon as the icy liquid hits your glass. That said, the garnish is what truly sets this martini apart from the rest. Rather than garlic or blue cheese-stuffed olives, this libation relies on prime rib and horseradish-stuffed olives to blow your taste buds away. In true Lawryās fashion, even the cocktails canāt escape the establishment’s mouthwatering and tender prime rib. Donāt forget to order a side of butter mashed potatoes to tie it all together.Ā
Location: Beverly Hills
Drink Name: Molise
Ingredients: Italian Chili-infused El Tesoro Blanco Tequila, lime, watermelon, agave, mango, yuzu, firewater, blood orange oleo, cilantro, smoked chili, and fire
Order at: Sparrow ItaliaĀ
Sparrow Italia is a chic and upscale Los Angeles restaurant that specializes in all things coastal Italian. Located at the historic Hotel Figueroa, Sparrow Italia provides a romantic backdrop that features velvet drapes, modern chandeliers and alluring artwork. When it comes to cocktails, the Molise is a spicy and fruity beverage that is made with an Italian Chili-infused El Tesoro Blanco Tequila. Fresh flavors of watermelon, mango, yuzu and blood orange balance out the spice, and the cocktail is actually served with a garnish that is set on fire. Admire the 10/10 appreciation before sipping on the Molise alongside wood-fired pizzas and hand-made pastas.Ā
Location: DTLAĀ
Drink Name: TNC Old Fashioned
Ingredients: Coconut Washed Bourbon, Apple Brandy, Spiced Almond Demerara, Angostura Bitters, and Dehydrated Apple Chip
Order at: The Normandie Club
The Normandie Club is one of the coolest spots for craft cocktails and good vibes in K-Town. Though there are plenty of creative drinks to explore, the TNC Old Fashioned blends timeless flavors with new-world techniques, resulting in a flavor-blasting beverage that is beyond smooth. The key detail that sets this old fashioned apart from others is the use of coconut-washed bourbon. In addition to adding a nutty and somewhat tropical taste, the process of coconut washing the whiskey takes some of the bite out of the spirit, making it easier to drink and pair with other flavors like apple brandy and Spiced Almond Demerara.
Location: Koreatown
Drink Name: The Benjamin Sāmores Cocktail
Order at: Cold Shoulder Bar
Want to celebrate the end of Dry January with something sweet? This sāmores cocktail from Cold Shoulder Bar in the Fairfax District should be at the top of your list. Though the drink itself features a stiff and spirit-forward taste, the actual sāmores garnish is what ties the entire recipe together. Youāll also notice a thick, foamy layer at the top of the cocktail, which adds a soft texture and taste. Take a few sips before biting into your perfectly charred sāmore that features classic Herseyās milk chocolate and crunchy graham crackers.Ā
Location: Fairfax District
Drink Name: Liquids and Solids
Ingredients: Russellās 10 Year Bourbon, roasted peanuts, Apero, strawberries, Lo-Fi Sweet Vermouth
Order at: Ladies and Gentlemen
Sexy and sleek, Ladies and Gentlemen is a mysterious and sultry cocktail bar that is located in the charming town of Pasadena. When visiting Ladies and Gentlemen, guests embark on a tasting journey that costs $75 per person. The unique cocktails are crafted using high-end technology and innovative techniques, but one of the most impressive drinks is none other than the Liquids and Solids. In addition to being beautifully presented, this bourbon-based libation is topped with a tart cranberry ācaviarā that adds both taste and texture. When we say youāve truly never had anything quite like the Liquids and Solids, we mean it.Ā
Location: PasadenaĀ
Drink Name: Belle
Ingredients: Ketel One Peach & Orange Blossom Vodka, St. Germain, clarified lemon, essence rose and plumeria.Ā
Order at: Castaway
Whether youāre visiting for lunch or dinner, Castaway boasts some of the best views in Burbank. The modern dining room leads out onto a spacious patio that overlooks the entire valley, creating a romantic and upscale ambiance that is best enjoyed with a cocktail in hand. The Belle is a fresh and effervescent libation that is both delicate and balanced. This vodka-based cocktail boasts notes of peach and citrus, while the use of St. Germain adds the perfect hint of sweetness. On the nose, aromas of rose and plumeria are prevalent, making this floral and fruity cocktail a one-of-a-kind winner.Ā
Location: Burbank
Allie Lebos graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2017 with a BA in Communication. While in school she was a staff writer at The Daily Nexus for nearly two years. Since graduating she has written for The Palisades Magazine, as well as Hidden Hills Magazine. Currently living in Santa Monica, Allie loves to indulge in good food, hot yoga, and daily walks along the beach; writing articles on travel, special events, as well as features on local businesses and individuals.
