Call them Pre-Prohibition, classic or craft cocktails — creative drinks carefully made with quality ingredients are being offered in more bars and restaurants around metro Atlanta, right along with better beer lists and wine programs.
And though summer usually means light and refreshing libations, the rise of more sophisticated cocktails has brought bigger, more complex flavors front and center, no matter the season.
In Sandy Springs, Three Sheets blends cocktails, small plates and music with a sexy lounge aura. A few years ago, at a similar sort of place, you might have expected the likes of a green apple martini shaken with a pre-made mix.
But bartender Eric Marcus, who heads the cocktail program at Three Sheets, is offering classics such as a Pimm’s Cup and a Bulleit Rye Manhattan along with some of his own inventions, like the Infusion, his cucumber-dill-infused vodka mixed with lime, sugar and specially made ice.
“My approach to cocktails is to go the extra mile,” Marcus said. “All our juices are fresh-squeezed. We make our own mixes and infusions, and we use spices, herbs and fresh fruit. There’s a story to these cocktails and customers appreciate that.”
Marcus described his sparkling Summer Nights, made with champagne, elderflower liqueur and a twist of orange, as a “delicate, aromatic drink that smells like a garden.”
One of his current favorites is a classic Hemingway Daiquiri made with Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva rum, fresh limes and sugar. “It’s incredibly simple but the rum is so flavorful, with hints of vanilla, brown sugar and caramel.”
On the wilder side, his ink-colored Kraken Up, with Kraken Black spiced rum, lightly muddled mint, passion fruit puree and lime, has proven surprisingly popular.
“It’s made a lot like a mojito,” Marcus said. “But the black spiced rum is almost like a syrup, with so many different flavors going on, cinnamon, mace, molasses and vanilla. And then you have the fresh mint, tart lime and passion fruit. People drink those all night long out on the patio.”
Just up the street from Three Sheets, the new Double Zero Napoletana is a high concept Italian restaurant with an upscale bar that features classic and barrel-aged cocktails.
“We’re focusing on well proportioned, balanced Pre-Prohibition era cocktails, but we’ve tried to use Italian spirits and liqueurs,” said owner Federico Castellucci III. “A great example is the Double Zero Manhattan. Instead of traditional vermouth, we use Barolo Chinato, which is essentially Barolo wine.”
Castellucci is excited about the Barrel Aged Negroni developed by bartender Chris Dobson. The traditional combination of gin, Campari and Carpano Antica vermouth is aged in bourbon barrels for six weeks.
“The oak aging adds flavor and mouthfeel and creates a long, lingering finish with a touch of whiskey,” Castellucci said. “It’s a very intense, spirit forward drink.”
Another Italian cocktail, the LPR, is a fruity, wine-based mix of Ca’De Medici lambrusco rosso, Dolin blanc vermouth, balsamic syrup and muddled strawberry.
“Lambrusco gets a bad rap,” Castellucci said. “But it’s a really nice beverage that’s good with food. The white vermouth, balsamic and strawberry take it in a different direction. It’s a sweeter cocktail but it has some acidity for balance.”
“Balance is where cocktail culture is going. Years ago it was all about fruity martinis and crazy sweet, nasty drinks. The reemergence of classic cocktail culture is happening all around the country and we’re seeing that here in Atlanta now.”
Three Sheets, 6017 Sandy Springs Circle Northeast, Atlanta, 404-303-8423, threesheetsatlanta.com
Double Zero Napoletana, 5825 Roswell Road, Atlanta, 404-991-3666, doublezeroatl.com
Here’s a sampler of some more cocktails to sip this summer:
The Backwards Bloody Mary at Drinkshop in Atlanta
Ice comes in all sorts shapes, sizes and flavors at Drinkshop, where pepper infused vodka is poured over two large cubes of frozen Bloody Mary mix for a cocktail that’s made as it melts. 45 Ivan Allen Junior Boulevard, 404-582-5789, watlantadowntown.com/drinkshop
Georgia Peach Madness at Village Tavern in Alpharetta
This salute to a few of Georgia’s favorite flavors by bartender Michael Mocney mixes Ketel One Citroen, peach schnapps and Southern-style sweet tea. 11555 Rainwater Drive, 770-777-6490, villagetavern.com
Farmer's Daughter at Woodfire Grill in Atlanta
Created by bartender Blake Everett, this cool combo sparkles with vodka, muddled mint and cucumber, lemon, ginger shrub and ginger beer. 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road, 404-347-9055, woodfiregrill.com
Acapulco Sunset Margarita at INC. Street Food In Roswell
Made for a sunny day at the beach or on the patio, Ocho Tequila Blanco meets with flavorful blood orange and agave nectars for a light, crisp sweetness. 948 Canton Street, 770-998-3114, incstreetfood.com
Mary's Garden at Bacchanalia in Atlanta
Bacchanalia’s embrace of simple, fresh ingredients extends to its cocktail list, where a chef’s selection of seasonal vegetables blends with Hendrick’s gin for a taste of a summer garden. 1198 Howell Mill Road, 404-365-0410, starprovisions.com
Mojita Bonita at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse in Dunwoody
Created by Director of Wine Maeve Pesquera, this skinny cocktail of Stoli Vanil Vodka, pineapple juice, sugar-free vanilla syrup, fresh lime juice, mint leaves and club soda is only 99 calories. 4501 Old Perimeter Way, 770-698-8112, flemingssteakhouse.com
My Favorite Mechanic is a Woman at Cakes & Ale in Decatur
Bartender Corina Darold makes bourbon, Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, limoncello, lemon juice, egg white and Luxardo cherries into a refreshing but potent libation. 254 West Ponce De Leon Avenue, 404-377-7994, cakesandalerestaurant.com
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