The People Have Spoken: Locals’ Favorite Bars and Cocktails

!–paging_filter–pIt’s that time of year again, when every type of pundit (good and bad) puts together his or her end-of-the-year picks. But this year (see last year’s a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/people-have-spoken-locals-favorite-bars-and-co…” target=”_blank”People Have Spoken post i/af you missed it), I wanted to get some end-of-year cocktail, bar and spirit favs from those who don’t write about the stuff for a living, but just enjoy it. Thanks to the following five tipplers for weighing in with their spirit-minded thoughts on new and old bar and drink favorites around Seattle./p
pstrongimg src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/medium_jackie-micucci.jpg” style=”float: left; margin: 10px;” height=”120″ width=”120″Jacqueline Micucci, BallardbrWhat’s your all-time favorite cocktail?/strongbrCall me old-fashioned, but I love a good Old Fashioned. Lots of places have their own twist on this classic, which is fine with me as long as they use rye./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite new cocktail from this past year, and where did you get it?/strongbrNot sure if this classifies as a cocktail per say but, my go-to drink this past summer was a shandy of Rainier beer and a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/rachels-ginger-beer-open-pike-place-ma…” target=”_blank”Rachel’s Ginger Beer./a I first had it at a href=”http://www.montanainseattle.com” target=”_blank”Montana/a on Capitol Hill. It was the perfect light and refreshing sunny-day drink./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite Seattle area bar for a cocktail?/strongbrI like the a href=”http://www.thegeraldseattle.com” target=”_blank”Gerald/a in Ballard. It’s laid back, has a nice mid-century vibe and a good mix of signature and classic cocktails. Plus, it has a great grilled cheese that soaks up the alcohol nicely./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite new Seattle area bar?/stronga href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/gone-fishin-bait-shops-midwest-charm” target=”_blank”brBait Shop/a. Its frozen concoctions, especially the Painkiller, make you feel like you’re in Hawaii even on the grayest Seattle day.nbsp;/p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite local spirit/liqueur?/strongbrCherry Bounce from a href=”http://www.oldballardliquorco.com“Old Ballard Liquor Company/a. It’s like boozy cherry pie in a glass./p
pnbsp;/p
pstrongimg src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/medium_elizabeth-liu.jpg” style=”float: left; margin: 10px;” height=”120″ width=”120″Elizabeth Liu, Queen AnnebrWhat’s your all-time favorite cocktail?/strongbrThe Last Word (gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, lime juice) is always my first word./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite new cocktail from the past year, and where did you get it?/strongbrThe Boulevardier (a bourbon-based Negroni) is a classic but a href=”http://artusibar.com” target=”_blank”Artusi/a makes a beautiful version. Also, sake slushies at a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/reviewed-tom-douglas-tanakasan” target=”_blank”TanakaSan/a were a memorable summer fling with Aperol and Chartreuse–you sling?/p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite Seattle area bar for a cocktail?/stronga href=”http://www.robroyseattle.com/” target=”_blank”brRob Roy /ais like an older boyfriend–strong, balanced, always delivers–and I love its diverse cocktail program. Afterhours I prefer a href=”http://www.tavernlaw.com” target=”_blank”Needle Thread /ato be seen not heard and the a href=”http://www.backdooratroxys.com” target=”_blank”Backdoor at Roxy’s/a for a good unwind./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite new Seattle area bar?/stronga href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/radiator-whiskey-pike-place-market” target=”_blank”brRadiator Whiskey/a for barrel-aged comfort./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite local spirit/liqueur?/stronga href=”http://www.sunliquor.com/spirits/ ” target=”_blank”brSun Liquor Gun Club/a gin–classic, bold–or a href=”http://www.woodinvillewhiskeyco.com/products/” target=”_blank”Woodinville rye whiskey/a, which is perfectly spiced./p
pstrongimg src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/medium_scott-eichelberger.jpg” style=”float: left; margin: 10px;” height=”120″ width=”120″Scott Eichelberger, MagnoliabrWhat’s your all-time favorite cocktail?/strongbrSazerac. Such a lovely combo of flavors./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite new cocktail from the past year, and where did you get it?/strongbrMai Tai.nbsp; Started making ’em at home this year and drank ’em all summer.nbsp; Got into making my own orgeat, which really elevated things, and then got crazy trying different rum (and rhum and cacacha!) combinations.nbsp; Really fun drink to play with./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite Seattle area bar for a cocktail?/strongbrWhile I haven’t been there in a while, I really like a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/dining/reviews/bar-hop-knee-high-15” target=”_blank”Knee High Stocking Co/a.nbsp; What’s not to like about happy hour punch?nbsp; It’s nice and cozy, and I’ve always left happy after sitting at the bar./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite new Seattle area bar?/strongbrThis year I’ve been frequenting the a href=”http://www.dillerroom.com” target=”_blank”Diller Room /apre/post Seahawks games. It’s way better than just a place to grab a drink around a football game, though. Solid drink menu and it’s got a nice chill vibe.nbsp;/p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite local spirit/liqueur?/strongbrI just picked up a bottle of a href=”http://www.bluewaterdistilling.com” target=”_blank”Bluewater Halcyon/a gin, and it’s quite tasty in a Martini.nbsp; London dry gin as it should be./p
pnbsp;/p
pstrongimg src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/medium_michelle-broderick.jpg” style=”float: left; margin: 10px;” height=”120″ width=”120″Michelle Broderick, West SeattlebrWhat’s your all-time favorite cocktail?/strongbrThe Americano. Most bartenders will get a puzzled look on their faces since it sounds like you want a coffee but it’s really just the Negroni’s little sister. You use the same amounts of Campari and sweet vermouth, but replace the Gin with soda water so you don’t get Negronked./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite new cocktail from the past year, and where did you get it?/strongbrI’m always on the hunt for the perfect Flip. Erik Hakkinen at a href=”http://zigzagseattle.com/” target=”_blank”Zig Zag/a was able to take my string of words and turn them into the perfect cocktail. It obviously has no name because he’ll make you the perfect cocktail if you give him any string of words./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite Seattle area bar for a cocktail?/strongbrI don’t care about the bar, I care about the bartender. If Anna Wallace is willing to make me a cocktail I am willing to go anywhere she is at./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite new Seattle area bar?/stronga href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com/article/restaurant-review-bar-sajor” target=”_blank”brBar Sajor/a–Jay Kuehner is back in action. And the beauty of the interior makes me want to slow down and stay awhile./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite local spirit/liqueur?/stronga href=”http://www.sunliquor.com/spirits/ ” target=”_blank”brSun Liquor’s Hedge Trimmer gin/a. It’s local and available on Alaska Airlines. You’ll find me in the sky more often than you’ll find me in a bar./p
pstrongimg src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/medium_eric-berg.jpg” style=”float: left; margin: 10px;” height=”120″ width=”120″Eric Berg, BallardbrWhat’s your all-time favorite cocktail?/strongbrI do like a nice Manhattan!/p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite new cocktail from the past year, and where did you get it?/strongbrTo be honest, it was one I had at home, Prosecco mixed with a little bit of homemade rhubarb-orange syrup, made with rhubarb from our own garden. But I also really liked the last year’s cocktail menu at a href=”http://www.poppyseattle.com/” target=”_blank”Poppy/a./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite Seattle area bar for a cocktail?/strongbrProbably a href=”http://www.oliverstwistseattle.com/” target=”_blank”Oliver’s Twist/a, for a couple reasons. First, I am a bit fan of the the peppery Duff Blathers, and my wife is darn fond of the Miss Nancy. But also because we can ride our bikes there, and then have a nice downhill ride home after having a few delicious drinks./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite new Seattle area bar?/strongbrI really like a href=”http://www.percysseattle.com” target=”_blank”Percy’s/a. The drinks are well crafted, the tinctures you can have added to the drinks are fun (and healthy!), and the outdoor tables, when the sun is shining, are fantastic./p
pstrongWhat’s your favorite local spirit/liqueur?/strongbrI was recently pleasantly surprised by the a href=”http://www.projectvdistillery.com/spirits/” target=”_blank”Project V Single Silo vodka/a, from Woodinville. It didn’t taste like firewater, but instead had a really nice grain-forward flavor, and it is very smooth./p