Best Signature Cocktails In Sacramento

Northern California is known world-wide for producing exceptional wines and unique craft beers, but Sacramento mixologists are also pushing the envelope of traditional standards of excellence with handcrafted, signature cocktails.

Shady Lady is a casual, hipster saloon with a dimly-lit speakeasy vibe; featuring stamped tin ceilings, Prohibition-era nudes on the walls and red, flocked velvet wallpaper with matching tufted chairs and settees. Signature cocktails include the Netflix & Chill, a take on Irish coffee which includes Au 79 Salted Caramel spirit along with Irish whiskey and sea salt. For a tropical experience, try the signature Expatriate, with lime, pomegranate, bergamot, fresh nutmeg, distilled sugarcane Cachaça and Old Tom gin. The food has southern roots and modern culinary flair, with dishes like duck confit tots, meatloaf wrapped in bacon and pulled-pork crepes.

The Firehouse is an elegant, fine-dining establishment located in the heart of Old Sacramento. Given the epicurean delights found on the food menu, it is no surprise that the list of specialty cocktails is equally creative. The Bulleit Train rolls into town as one of the restaurant's signature drinks; blackberry liqueur, lemon juice and honey simple syrup meet up with Bulleit rye, and are served on the rocks with a single fresh blackberry. Firehouse is also known for the refreshing S-n-L cocktail, a unique sweet and herbal concoction of lychee liqueur, spiced rum, lime, soda water and ginger simple syrup.

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Specialty cocktails at Red Rabbit are creative and inspired, and are broken down by flavor profile to perfectly satisfy a customer's palate. Sheep in Tall Grass is an aromatic potion of peach liqueur, scotch, yellow chartreuse and orange bitters, while Harvey Milk Punch is a richer cocktail with brandy, milk, sugar, aged rum and sweet, herbal Galliano. One of the tarter selections includes juniper gin, egg white, cucumber and coconut cordial. The food menu is equally eclectic, featuring dishes with unexpected combinations of heat, sweet, sour and savory; popular offerings include pork belly kimchi tacos, grilled watermelon salad and a roasted beet, bacon and goat cheese sandwich.

When seeking something light and a bit sweet, guests can try The Right Touch, made with strawberries, basil, vodka and a bit of Absinthe. A more complex flavor profile can be found with the cinnamon, rum, black walnut bitter and Temple coffee cocktail called 91 Unleaded. Coin-Op's enormous punch bowls are notorious, signature cocktails which are meant to be shared with several people. The Fall Punch, made with rum, bourbon, lemon, cinnamon, grapefruit, mole and soda water, contains a full two cups of alcohol combined.

Multi-tasking is easy at this cool and casual hangout, where patrons can get a haircut and a cocktail in the same setting. Bottle & Barlow is a bar with a barbershop, offering drinks along with services such as hot towel straight razor shaves, skin fades and beard shaping. One of B & B's signature cocktails is called a Gloria Estefan Curry; the drink is made with scotch, grapefruit liqueur, red curry, kaffir lime and pomegranate. Planet Nine includes fig, sweet vermouth, lime and Jägermeister, but the award for best-named signature cocktail goes to the gin, pineapple, dry vermouth, bitters and sloe gin concoction known as Obligatory Birthday Message.

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