‘Tis the season to celebrate, and these cocktail bars are serving libations that live up to the holiday spirit hype. Warm up and wet your whistle while experiencing the magic of the season with winter cocktails that hone in on the sweet, savory and herbaceous elements inspired by the wonder of wintertime. Some libations will stick around after the holiday decorations are put away, so if you don’t see them on the menu, ask and you might still receive.
503W
503W brings forth its special blend of Asian-fusion with exclusive ingredients guaranteed to transport your palate to a Christmas-in-Hawaii state of mind.
Start with the tradewind inspirations of rum and Philippine purple yam, ube. The Ube Pain Killer “is quick to warm you with three different rums, yet soft enough to reel you in with the tropical notes of the islands,” co-owner Emilio Ortiz says.
The cocktail features white, dark and overproof rums, plus pineapple and orange juice, coconut, ube, nutmeg, a mint bouquet and a fresh orange slice served in a pineapple glass.
Feeling complex? The Temptress is made with Japanese whisky, apple brandy, fig-infused blanc vermouth, Benedictine and Angostura bitters and garnished with dehydrated candied apple slices. Ortiz says the cocktail is inspired by O-Ren Ishii’s character from Kill Bill, who is “strong in command but soft in approach.”
“Plum and apple support the spicy and sweet backbone of the whisky, while the Benedictine and bitters secure the bold finish,” Ortiz says. “Seductive yet deadly in taste.”
The Korean Zombie comes with a dancing flame at your table, thanks to the lime garnish that is lit on fire and sprinkled with cinnamon. Inside the glass, there are overproof, Jamaican and pineapple rums, plus cinnamon infused soju, passionfruit, grapefruit, house grenadine, fresh lime and bitters, finished with an absinthe spritz, dehydrated lime and Luxardo cherry. Only two allowed per guest.
Find it at 503w.co.
Shrunken Head Tiki
If snowy weather isn’t your favorite but festive flavors are, schedule a tropical mini-staycation to sip on Tiki’s holiday party approved ingredients.
If eggnog is your jam, this is your bevie. The Shrunken Noggin Around the Christmas Tree is a blend of almond eggnog and chai syrup with an exotic tequila kick.
The absence of color in this winter cocktail takes your mind elsewhere, pointing toward white sandy beaches. As a seasonal take on the ’rita, the White Margarita brings together vodka, white cranberry, coconut cream, triple sec and lime juice.
Cheers to the Lindsay Lohan, a blend of gingerbread almond milk, amaretto and cognac. It’s a little bit of sweetness and a little bit of trouble, kind of like its namesake.
“With this new winter cocktail menu, May, our bar manager, really wanted to bring some new flavors into our portfolio,” says Audriana Crane, co-owner of Shrunken Head Tiki. “We want to bring a different overall experience to downtown Colorado Springs.”
Find it at shrunkenheadtiki.com.
The Archives
The Archives shares its love for both modern and classic cocktail culture, and it reignites tradition with consistently well-executed drinks.
The Rubicon was created by nationally known bartender Jamie Boudreau in 2011. It begins with a rosemary “wreath” soaked in Green Chartreuse at the bottom of a rocks glass The remainder of the cocktail (lemon juice, maraschino liqueur and Colorado’s Family Jones gin) is built in a mixing tin. For giggles, the fragrant garnish gets lit on fire, and the cocktail gets a shake before extinguishing the rosemary round by straining the mixture into a glass and topping it off with ice.
“This is one of the few cocktails we have brought back year after year,” says Dylan Currier, barkeep at The Archives. “It’s perfect for the holiday season.”
Fun fact: Green Chartreuse is the oldest continually produced liqueur in the world. It contains a secret mix of 130 different botanicals and weighs in at 110 proof.
Find it at thearchivescos.com.
Neat Whiskey House
Playing on popular Christmas themes and hometown nostalgia, the east-side Neat Whiskey House whips up some creative winter cocktails that are reminiscent of being home for the holidays.
Cranny Got Run Over showcases blanco tequila, fresh lime and cranberry juices, crème de cassis and aromatic bitters. A sugar-lined rim acts as the perfect, candied entrance to this drink, with a pop of color and tartness from cranberries and greenery from a well placed rosemary sprig.
Home Sweet Home is named for bar manager Drew Rice’s home in upstate New York where his dad spent time working on a historical apple orchard. This delight is made with Liard’s “bottled in bond” apple brandy, housemade vanilla syrup, smoked cinnamon bitters and aromatic bitters with a dehydrated apple ring and grated cinnamon.
Find it at neatwhiskeyhouse.com.
Shame & Regret
Shame & Regret is known for its original and ever-evolving cocktail list — which makes it the perfect place to escape and savor these foodie focused, holiday-esque beverages.
Order The Sweet Revenge as a spiced dessert cocktail. It highlights housemade sweet potato puree, maple brown sugar syrup, Bittercube blackstrap bitters and allspice dram with vanilla vodka. “[It] offers depth and tastes like sweet potato pie,” says Cleary Akers, assistant general manager at S&R.
Want a lower alcohol by volume (ABV) cocktail? The Gold Digger is a unique one made with charred pineapple-infused Cynar and an artichoke amaro. It offers the gratification of a complex cocktail without the intensity of traditional spirits.
Find it shameandregret.com.
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