White tablecloths. Dim lighting. Quiet and elevated dining. It is for those reasons that I have patronized Cadwalladers Cafe for over 30 years. Lauded for its sumptuous refined American fare and boast-worthy wine collection, I recently discovered yet another facet to the gem that is Cadwalladers: their high-end craft cocktail menu.
Even as an avid wine drinker, I have always known Cad’s bar was well-stocked with spirits. (After all, it is here that I had my first experience with Pappy Van Winkle many years ago.) But I always assumed their cocktails were conservative, staid classics, never straying too far from the expected. That is, until recently.
<enter CASEY, stage left, whose drinks are absolutely crushable>
MORE: Naked Epicurean: Summer sipping at Ironwood Tavern
Casey, who has been behind this bar for about a year, has panache for developing cocktail recipes. She makes an array of seasonal riffs on classic cocktails, infusing them with a spark of whimsy without compromising their conventional integrity. Her passion for fresh ingredients drives her to create new and interesting experiences in the drink space. Her ultimate aim? To take your taste buds on an adventure.
Case in point, Casey’s Basil Gimlet is with its basil-infused simple syrup is an herby seasonal play on a classic gimlet. The syrup is not only a beautiful greeting to the nose, it also does its due diligence by amplifying the herbaceousness of the gin. Serving it in debonair stemware pulls it altogether to make this a sleekly elegant cocktail.
MORE: Naked Epicurean: Taste Wine Room
Soft, floral botanicals abound in the Stormy Morning. Its moody hue and plethora of romantic components–sparkling wine, St Germain Elderflower Liqueur and Crème de Violette Liqueur–comprise this tempest in a glass, reminiscent of sweet summer showers. A spritz of juicy lime adds a bright layer of complexity to this sophisticated tipple.
The Blackberry Hibiscus Margarita is a symphony of blackberry brandy, house hibiscus syrup, and Corazon Blanco. It’s sweet but not cloying thanks to a wrist’s flick of lime juice. Casey then sugars its rim and bejewels it with a blackberry kiss garnish. This marg is floral, citrusy and is the perfectly radiant tint for a fruity summer sipper.
The clever mixology is just one more reason to visit Cadwalladers Cafe, nestled behind a pink stucco façade near West Town Market Square. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Saturday for dinner 5 p.m. until. The menu at Cadwalladers Cafe changes weekly, as do the specialty items, so be sure to visit them often. And don’t forget to tell them nakedepicurean sent you. 💋
Cadwalladers Cafe, 106 Davis Rd., Martinez
(706) 860-7444
Ann Beth Strelec is known around town as the Naked Epicurean, sampling the finest cocktails known to Augustans. Find out about adult beverages at The Augusta Press on the first and third Friday or on Instagram @NakedEpicurean
