Where to Find Barrel-Aged Cocktails in Boston
Photo courtesy of Back Bay Social Club
Recently, Back Bay Social Club took its bar program up a notch by deciding to debut a barrel aged cocktail, a play on the classic scotch-based cocktail called the Blood and Sand. Instead of using the dark liquor, though, they swapped in Knockabout gin from Gloucester-based Ryan & Wood Distillers. While the cocktail is currently in the midst of aging (the photo above is of the cocktail two weeks in), it’ll be ready to quaff at a release party in about a month (the date is still T.B.D.). In the meantime, however, there are several other bars in town giving their booze the barrel-aged treatment—check them out in our roundup ahead.
Temple Bar
This Cambridge spot offers three different cocktails that are all aged for 50 days in a used whiskey barrel from Tuthilltown Distillery and are served on the rocks for $11 apiece. Try the Red Sky, a mix of El Dorado three-year-old rum, cynar, lillet, and grapefruit essence. Availability is limited due to the aging process. $11/person, Mon-Fri, 5pm-1am; Sat-Sun: 11am-1am, 1688 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, 617-547-5055, www.templebarcambridge.com.
Drink
The bar component of the Barbara Lynch empire is well-known around town for its handcrafted cocktails. You can get The Martinez for $11, which is a mix of rich, dry, barrel-aged Ransom Old Tom, Cinzano Rosso vermouth, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, and a dash of Jerry Thomas Decanter bitters, polished off with a spritz of lemon oil. Not too shabby. $11/person, Mon-Sun 4:00pm-1:00am, 348 Congress St., Boston,, 617-695-1806, drinkfortpoint.com
Deep Ellum
Allston’s own drink haven frequently offers a seasonally-changing cocktail aged in an oak barrel; while there isn’t one available at the moment, keep an eye on the cocktail menu for updates. The laundry list of beverages also includes brews such as the Cantillion Rose De Gambrinus, a blended lambic that is barrel-aged with raspberries. Market price, Mon-Fri, 11:00am-1:00am; Sat-Sun, 10:00am-1:00am, 477 Cambridge St., Allston, 617-787-233, www.deepellum-boston.com.
Marliave
At Marliave, the libations are plentiful. For $10, try a Jennie Churchill, a six-week, oak barrel-aged cocktail with Old Overholt rye, Vya sweet vermouth, and bitters. $10/person, daily, 11:00am-1:00am, 10 Bosworth St., Boston, 617-422-000, www.marliave.com.
Il Casale
Visit the Italian restaurant for two kinds of aged cocktails. Try the hot apple cider with cask-aged rum and cinnamon stick or the Maple Leaf, also with cask-aged rum, spiced Vermont maple syrup and fresh limes, both for $9. $9/person, bar open Mon-Sat, 4:30pm-11pm; Sun 4:30pm-10pm, 50 Leonard St., Belmont, 617-209-4942, ilcasalebelmont.com.
(Back Bay Social Club; Prices vary, daily, cocktails served until 1:30am, 867 Boylston St., 617-247-3200, www.backbaysocialclub.com.)
