Must-Try Panther City Cocktails

What’s not to love about Swiftys? The cocktail, I mean

With the enviable job of creating Panther City’s first cocktail and zero-proof cocktail passports, I spend a fair amount of time chatting up bar owners and bartenders. Several creative libations recently caught my attention.

What’s not to love about Swiftys? The cocktail, I mean. The Bearded Lady recently launched a mixed drink (The Swifty) featuring Western Son’s strawberry vodka, honey, lemon, strawberries, basil, and a splash of mineral water. The strawberry-kissed fizz balanced fruity and herbal flavors with delicious results. 

Shay mixes up a lovely cocktail — Tropic Like It’s Hot — at Tropic Lady. The blend of agave, coconut puree, coconut milk, muddled jalapenos, lime juice, and tequila makes for a tropical treat. You’ll have to chase down POP-UP BAR owner/bartender extraordinaire Pam Moncrief for her mezcal-based mixed drink made with lime juice, maraschino syrup, coconut cream, dulce de leche (!), and La Luna mezcal. The Latin-inspired cocktail topped with sparkling mineral water is super smooth and flavorful. 

Cyndy with Star Cafe and Cocktails makes an amazing Ocean Water made with Rum Haven rum, blue caracoa, and lime juice. Shaken up nicely, the deep blue mixed drink comes topped with pineapple and Sprite. Brady at The Usual crafts a superlative zero-proof cocktail called Practical Choices: simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, molasses, Lyre’s dry London spirit, and sage leaves topped with Lyre’s Classico. 

Courtney at Jackie O’s Cocktail Club shakes up a lovely espresso martini made with house-made espresso, coffee liquor, Absolute vodka, and a pinch of salt to cut acidity and round out the cocktail. Caitlyn at The Coupe makes an amazing Blood Orange Lemon Mockail crafted from simple syrup, lemon juice, Italian blood orange soda, and garnish.