While it may be a little early to be thinking about happy hour, it’s five o’clock somewhere, right? Forgive the cliché, but if you tried the new barrel-aged cocktails now available at Livingston Restaurant + Bar, you’d have bourbon on the brain too.
Livingston is among the first in Atlanta to introduce barrel-aged cocktails, starting with two of the classics: the Manhattan and the Negroni. Aged for five to seven weeks in whiskey barrels and taste-tested weekly, these cocktails are a hand-crafted labor of love.
Shocking as it may seem, I’m no science whiz. But learning about the process from head mixologist Rob Breen was super interesting. The barrels are stored in a dark, room temperature area away from any appliances or mechanical devices. As the cocktail concoction sits in the barrel over time, a fair amount is lost due to evaporation or is soaked into the barrel. What’s left is a darker, richer cocktail that’s smoother in taste than its classic counterparts with a balance that allows you to taste distinct flavors that may not have been clear before.
So, whether you’re looking to impress someone, treat yourself or drown your sorrows this weekend, I highly recommend bellying up to the bar at Livingston and ordering one or both of these cocktails. Cheers!
