Spirits: Where to Get Cocktails
That Are SoIn for The Holidays
STORY & PHOTOS BY ERICA RUCKER
Holiday spirits aren’t just for Ebenezer Scrooge. In Southern Indiana, we’ve
got spirits of Christmas past, present and future. These aren’t ghosts we’re
talking about. We mean spirits of the Christmas cheer kind.
At some of our local bars and eateries, mixologists are concocting magical
holiday libations sure to get your holidays off to the merriest of starts. The
following is merely the tiniest of samples of what Southern Indiana has to
offer to eat and drink.
THE VINYL LOUNGE
353 Spring St. | Jeffersonville | Facebook.com/VinylLounge812
The Vinyl Lounge, located above HM Franks, is one of the newest
additions to the cocktail, nightlife scene in Southern Indiana. The
bar features a 60’s-inspired vibe with rainbow stairs and a vinyl
playlist chosen by patrons from the bar’s scores of vintage albums.
Beverage Director Chris Palmer offers three cocktails for our
holiday list.
Any fan of classic rock will want to try BRANDY YOU’RE A
FINE GIRL. This drink is made with brandy, luxardo, fresh lemon
juice, cointreau, house-made apple-cinnamon syrup, angostura
and orange bitters.
Palmer says, “This cocktail is well balanced with sweet and tart
elements. It brings to mind, aspects of a toddy, but is served
chilled in a Coupe glass. It’s a wonderful touch for this time of
year and pairs well with a great Bing Crosby tune.”
MESA
216 Pearl St. | New Albany | MesaChefs.com
The RASPBERRY BERET is a little nod to the late Prince
Rogers Nelson and was created by mixologist from Indianapolis,
Jessica Taylor, CSS (that’s Certified Specialist of Spirits for those
of you who don’t know).
“My goal for this cocktail (and all the cocktails on the Mesa menu)
was to offer something fresh, simple and replicable,” she said. “I
drew inspiration from the sour family of cocktails. Sours include
cocktails such as: Margarita, Sidecar, Daiquiri, Whiskey Sour.”
The Raspberry Beret blends Absolut Vodka, fresh squeezed
lemon juice, Hella hibiscus, Wilks and Wilson raspberry gomme.
While technically not a holiday drink, we felt it was an important
drink in the Southern Indiana spirit repertoire. The ingredients
for the Raspberry Beret are sourced from all over the world but
the raspberry gomme is made in Indiana.
“The Wilks and Wilson raspberry gomme is made in Indiana and
contains gum arabic, real raspberry juice and organic evaporated
cane. Gum arabic adds a silky texture to cocktails,” said Taylor.
Mesa is a reservation/ticket-only culinary experience. Please visit
their website for the menu and chef calendar. The Raspberry
Beret is always available.
THE VINYL WORD is a mixture of gin, green chartreuse,
luxardo, fresh lime, and mint bitters. It is garnished with cherry
and rosemary.
This drink according to Palmer “invokes elements of evergreen
trees and should inspire anyone to seek out their beau under the
mistletoe.”
Vinyl’s HOLIDAY OLD FASHIONED, which Palmer describes
as a “seasonal twist on the classic whiskey cocktail,” is the drink
that “you’ll want to be sipping while the Yule Log crackles.”
It is a combination of rye, house-made apple-cinnamon simple
syrup, rhubarb bitters, and flamed orange peel.
“Like your grandmother’s favorite dessert at Christmas dinner,
this seasonal old fashioned is a blue ribbon winner.”
Vinyl Lounge is open 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday
and 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday. It’s the perfect place
for a real nightcap.
10 EXTOL SPORTS / DECEMBER 2017
RASPBERRY
BERET