Classic Cocktails & Where to Find Them
November 16, 2023
Find Your Favorite Classic Cocktail at Columbia, MO’s Best Restaurants & Bars
Craving a classic? Satisfy your need with some of the most well-known classic cocktails, all found at your favorite Columbia restaurants and bars. From the traditional Old Fashioned to the well-loved Gimlet, Savor Magazine is breaking down where to find your favorite classic cocktails and how to enjoy them. Discover why Columbia is a haven for classic cocktail lovers.
The Gimlet
Where to Find It: Cherry Street Cellar
The Gimlet is a refreshing favorite for those who appreciate the botanical flavor of gin and the refreshing zest of lime. Shaken with ice and served straight up, a Gimlet is a blend of three simple ingredients: gin, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. If you crave this classic cocktail, visit Cherry Street Cellar in downtown Columbia. Our preference? Sit at the bar and watch the master mixers at Cherry Street Cellar do what they do best.
Dirty Gin Martini
Where to Find It: Flyover
When you want to live your best Lucille Bluth life, go for a Dirty Gin Martini at Flyover. Sure, you can ask for your Dirty Martini with vodka, but that would be offensive to the traditional spirit of all martinis: gin. Shaken with dry vermouth and olive brine, the Dirty Gin Martini is garnished with olives (bonus snack!) and served with style. Add your favorite Flyover shareable and feel sophisticated all evening long.
The Sazerac
Where to Find It: Ozark Mountain Biscuit & Bar
Meet the Sazerac. Not quite a Manhattan, not quite an Old Fashioned, most definitely its own thing, and most definitely delicious when enjoyed at Ozark Mountain Biscuit & Bar. The Sazerac has storied roots in New Orleans and is crafted with rye whiskey, absinthe, Peychaud's Bitters, and a sugar cube. While notably sweeter than an Old Fashioned but less fruity than a Manhattan, the Sazerac is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a little Louisiana flair in their cocktail.
The Old Fashioned
Where to Find It: Six-Mile Ordinary
To us, “classic cocktail” and “Old Fashioned” go hand in hand. There’s a reason this elevated cocktail has remained on bar menus for over two centuries. While just about anyone can make an Old Fashioned, we like to take ours at Six-Mile Ordinary. After all, this classic cocktail blends beautifully with the upscale vibe created by this distillery's new tasting room. Begin with whiskey, add Demerara Syrup, Angostura bitters, Regan's Orange Bitters and an orange twist with Luxardo Cherry, then sit back, knowing you’re the most sophisticated person in the room.
The Manhattan
Where to Find It: Dive Bar
Choose the Manhattan at Dive Bar if you prefer your rye whiskey cocktails to be a little on the sweet side. Not only is it a classic, but it’s just plain good. Dive Bar starts with a rye whiskey, bitters, and sweet red vermouth and garnishes with a cherry (yay, bonus snacks!). Visit Dive Bar for live music, a killer weekend brunch spread, and the best Manhattan in Columbia. Trust us.
The Moscow Mule
Where to Find It: Midway Golf & Games
When you’re busy playing hard, your cocktail should be refreshing and zippy. Let us introduce you to 44 Tavern at Midway Golf & Games’ Moscow Mule. This vodka-based cocktail has a bite thanks to the ginger beer but can be sweetened with orange, peach, or cherry. Our recommendation? Get your golf on or take a spin on the go-karts, and then enjoy a classic craft cocktail mixed by the masters at 44 Tavern.