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How do you feel about going off the beaten path for your next cocktail?
Bars around Philly are getting inventive and creating out-of-the-box (some may even say wackadoodle) cocktails. While many drinkers feel great sticking to their go-to order, those bold enough may dare to try one of the drinks on our list. Instead of an orange peel or simple bitters, these drinks get weird with additions like caesar dressing, duck fat, pickled green beans and dirty pasta water.
Here is our list of fun and crazy cocktails.
The “Dirty” Caesar at O’Jungs
Ever wondered what it’s like to drink a Caesar salad? Well now you can! “The ‘Dirty’ Caesar” at O’Jungs contains martini classics like vodka, vermouth and olive juice with some homemade caesar dressing and buffalo sauce thrown in. Add some blue cheese stuffed olives, banana peppers and grated parmesan and you have yourself something truly unique.
Nine Six One at Emmett
While lamb-fat might not seem like it would make for a good and balanced cocktail, it’s an important ingredient in the “Nine Six One” at Emmett. The drink contains lamb fat-washed rye, za’atar and plum bitters.
Saul’s Revenge at Friday Saturday Sunday
You might think that banana is the strangest ingredient in the “Saul’s Revenge” cocktail at Friday Saturday Sunday, which contains quinquina, distillate, pineapple and coffee. However, we think adding malört is what truly puts it over the edge. The famous bäsk liqueur is a staple in Chicago for its off-putting, gasoline-like taste. Recently, Hillary Duff tried it for the first time and had this reaction.
Dirty Pasta Water Martini at Fiorella
Dirty pasta water has magical qualities. It can turn a loose sauce into an emulsified triumph, and it also can make for an interesting cocktail. The “Dirty Pasta Water Martini” at Fiorella is simple. Choose between gin or vodka, throw in some pasta water and top it off with an olive.
New Kid on the Block at a.bar
The cocktails at a.bar are thoughtful and inventive — and that level of detail extends to their mocktail list. The “New Kid on the Block” is a bit like an artisanal cola, but with fun extras thrown in. The drink contains a “nightcap” mushroom spirit, soda water, cinnamon, spiced brown sugar and balsamic.
Persephone’s Garden at Lillian’s
Another salad that inspired a cocktail is “Persephone’s Garden” at Lillian’s, where it is a bit like a greek salad in a gin martini glass. Ingredients include lemon, Lillet, pickle juice, celery seed, toasted black pepper and greek yogurt.
Taste Me Like One of Your French Onions at Franklin Mortgage
It’s not just salad-themed cocktails. Soup is also on the list. The “Taste Me Like One of Your French Onions” not only has a hilarious name, but is also a play on the classic French onion soup. Ingredients include beef and onion vodka (imagine taking a shot of that), cognac, genever, thyme and a cute little gruyere tuile on top.
Jerk Chicken Manhattan at Franklin Mortgage
We really couldn’t decide which drink at Franklin Mortgage was weirder. In addition to the French onion soup cocktail, they have a “Jerk Chicken Manhattan.” The barbecue-inspired drink contains brown butter rye, jerk chicken vodka, sweet vermouth, allspice, thyme and maple wood smoke.
The Mallard at Lark
Lark, a restaurant whose name is synonymous with an adorable songbird, is putting a different bird on their cocktail list. The Mallard cocktail has sazerac rye, cocchi americano, carpano antica, combier and, of course, duck fat.
Dirty Dog at White Dog Cafe
Everyone knows that pickled ingredients can make for a delicious cocktail, however the “Dirty Dog” at White Dog Cafe is leveling things up for all pickle lovers. The cocktail has three simple but unexpected ingredients: vodka, spicy pickle brine and pickled green beans.
What the Phở at Andra Hem
If you love Vietnamese soup but wish it had alcohol added to it, then the “What the Phở” at Andra Hem might be for you. The Pho-inspired drink is gaining in popularity, as Gabriella’s Vietnam has also done a version of it. The cocktail at Andra Hem contains phở-spiced gin, rum, thai basil vermouth, ginger and jalapeno.
