We are sharing Drink Up specials all July, and we wanted to show off more delicious Raleigh drinks to keep the good times flowing.
Brookside Bodega, 1000 Brookside Dr., Ste. 119, Raleigh | Summer sangrias | Toast to summer with peach and red sangrias paired with great food on this Mordecai-meets-Oakwood patio.
Glasshouse Kitchen, 5 Laboratory Dr., Research Triangle Park | Clear Eyes, Can’t Lose | Walk into this stunning glass box restaurant to enjoy this clarified cocktail made with 19 ingredients including pineapple, coffee beans, two types of rum, brandy, and Amaro Montenegro, but shhh... the rest is a secret.
“It is tangy and tropical and a truly one-of-a-kind experience to drink,” said Beverage Director Zac Rogerson. “Not to mention that it is truly a labor of love. It takes four days to make and four hours to clarify, but once it is done nothing beats it.”
Mandolin, 2519 Fairview Rd., Raleigh | Mirror, Mirror | Bar Manager Kaylah Saffro did it again... this farm-to-glass sip features a clarified milk punch made from Mandolin Farm’s blackberries, fresh lime, orange blossom, vodka, and a shiso leaf picked at the farm, too.
Bonus: Make her special “Knock Knock” cocktail from last year’s Drink Up.
Oak Steakhouse, 417 W. Hargett St., Raleigh | Ginger, Spice, and Everything Nice | This spicy, herbal drink is made with Lunazul Reposado, ginger-infused sunflower seed orgeat, lime, and Montenegro Amaro. Savor this one in the restaurant’s swanky bar after sundown.
O-Ku, 411 W. Hargett St., Raleigh | Bikini Bottom | Enjoy a tiki-style cocktail with Plantation rum, Reposado tequila, dry curacao, lime, and a housemade coconut and rice orgeat syrup alongside Asian food with a southern twist. Perfect date night combo?
Taverna Agora, 326 Hillsborough St., Raleigh | Santorini Smash | Made with Tanqueray gin, elderflower liqueur, housemade mint syrup, and fresh lime juice, this drink makes for the perfect summer refresher — especially when enjoyed on the rooftop.
The Raleigh Times, 14 E. Hargett St., Raleigh | Rest in Pêche Belgian Blonde | A collaboration with White Street Brewing, this beer boasts light Belgian malts, classic Belgian yeast, and subtle notes of hops and peach.
Tonbo Ramen, 211 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh | Yuzu Boozy Slushee | Adult slushee, anyone? This frozen sip is crafted with Bacardi Rum, yuzu sake, ginger simple syrup, and pineapple juice, then frozen, of course. Bonus: Tonbo is the only restaurant in Raleigh to currently serve omurice, a Japanese-style medium rare egg omelet over rice.
STIR, 4242 Six Forks Rd., Ste. 100, Raleigh | Elderflower Sour | This drink is made with vodka, St. Germain, lime, a housemade ginger syrup, and cucumber. With a slice of cooling cucumber, this is a sure way to chill out from the July heat.
Vidrio, 500 Glenwood Ave., Ste. 100, Raleigh | Tiki Torch | Take in the colorful ambiance at Vidrio alongside this tiki-inspired drink made with Don Q white rum, Aperol, St. Germaine, Cointreau, fresh lemon juice, and housemade simple syrup
Wye Hill Kitchen and Brewing, 201 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh | The Black Pearl | Sit and gaze at the Raleigh skyline with this fit-for-a-pirate cocktail made with dark rum, pineapple, guava, fresh citrus, and two types of bitters (one Wye Hill makes in-house).
Alley Twenty Six, 320 E. Chapel Hill St., Durham | Camellia Japonica | Bartender Rob Hall’s drink is a tribute to botanical Japanese flavors. This fresh, spirit-forward cocktail is made with Bermutto Dry Sake vermouth, Roku Gin, lychee, lemon, and grapefruit as part of Islands in the Alley, a summer-long event dedicated to island food and drink.
AVA Rooftop Bar, 301 Fenton Gtwy Dr., Cary | The 5 O’Clock Somewhere | Get the party started at any time of day with this tropical and fruity drink featuring rum, pineapple juice, crème of coconut, lime juice, and ginger beer. Enjoy this drink overlooking Fenton on this Instagrammable rooftop lounge.
Colletta, 1 Fenton Main St., Ste. 170, Cary | Coppa Viola Spritz | Coppa Viola Spritz | Sip this drink made with Butterfly pea tea, gin, lemon, rosemary syrup, and topped with prosecco. Take the sweet and savory flavors to another level with a summer fig pizza as your main course.
Read up on even more Drink Up offerings.
