COCKTAILS, PART 1: Over the next few weeks, our food writers, Anne Valdespino and Anne Marie Panoringan, are taking a deep dive into places around Orange County that are great spots to grab a drink with friends.
When the craft cocktail craze first hit, it seemed like we were all stuck in dank speakeasies, knocking back stiffies with nothing to eat but salted peanuts before stumbling off to dinner God knows where.
But when food joined the party, the scene got a lot more interesting. Chefs and mixologists were collaborating, skipping off hand-in-hand in creative new directions. Drinks were suddenly shaken with farm-to-table juices, sporting edible blossoms for garnishes. Then the starters sections of menus grew with an eye toward shareables as drinks became a focus of meeting for dinner.
Fine dining rooms could no longer rely on stellar wine lists: Add snazzy cocktails or risk losing the hippest of the clientele.
In recent years, a fresh crop of stellar cocktail spots has popped up with so much to offer that we think it’s time to name ten new classics - five today and five more on Friday. We’ll also have a follow up report on the best new and newish bars to try in December.
Read on for a list of outstanding watering holes where the glasses are well chilled and the cuisine is always tasty.
PHOTO 1: The 38 Special ($14), at Bosscat Kitchen & Libations in Orange, is a spin on a Black Manhattan. PHOTO 2: The Old Fashioned ($13) made with Maker’s Mark at Bosscat Kitchen & Libations in Orange, is expertly crafted. PHOTO 3: The Moscow Mule ($8), served at Happy Hour at Bosscat Kitchen & Libations in Orange is refreshing. Photos by Anne Valdespino, Culture OC
Bosscat Kitchen and Libations
We dug that the original Bosscat brought a bit of true grit to Newport Beach when it opened in 2014, but we like the Old Towne Orange location even better with its whiskey library and bottles hung in gilded cages.
Locals know it as the former Rod’s Liquor, so the remodel had to incorporate some of the features of the old place when it debuted in 2021.
Classic cocktails such as a refreshing Moscow mule ($8 at happy hour) and a textbook old fashioned ($13) made with Maker’s Mark are expertly crafted, but don’t miss the newbies like the 38 Special ($14), a spin on a Black Manhattan with Old Forester bourbon, a slug of dark Amaro Averna providing heft and a bit of aperol to keep it from becoming too heavy.
Shareable snacks hit the spot, from crunchy fried dill pickles ($7) to sticky, sweet and spicy Korean fried chicken sliders ($8) and a grilled cheese ($8) stuffed with short rib that’s a perfect pairing with any rye.
The original Bosscat moved to Irvine in the summer of 2022 so now there are two places to go for the hearty menu and a wealth of bottles to try in a special whiskey room.
Happy hour runs 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday in Orange. 118 W. Chapman Ave., Orange, 714-716-1599; 18169 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949-333-0917
CdM
With CdM restaurant, River Jetty Restaurant Group really hit its stride. The chic dining room with velvet banquettes, salvaged ship’s lanterns and Farrow and Ball wallpaper felt posh yet comfy from day one. The menu, a bit of a departure from its sister restaurant, A, really meshes with the drinks list. At CdM it’s a bit more social – all about shareable small plates, pasta and pizza.
We love the upstairs but we like the intimate downstairs speakeasy even more. Make a reservation and you’ll be dazzled by mixologist Brandon Nelson. It’s like watching an up-close magician as he deftly rolls out cocktails while carrying on an entertaining conversation. Don’t let his lowkey H.B. surfer-dude vibe fool you. Behind the smile there’s a wealth of knowledge about the history of classic drinks and all the spirits, liqueurs and garnishes that go with them.
Start with CdM’s crowd pleaser, the Bikini Salesman ($18) with Golden Eagle vodka, Chareau aloe liqueur, kiwi, coconut water, ginger, pineapple syrup and lime. The tropical flavors make it feel like a day at the beach and the kiwi retains the natural texture of its seeds, making this drink as satisfying as a smoothie.
If you love bourbon, try the Pressure in Manhattan ($18). Nelson will explain how he rapidly ages the Old Grand Dad whiskey and why he adds a bit of Cynar to kick up the bitter component and balance the sweetness of red vermouth and Luxardo Maraschino liqueur. A dash of Bogart’s Bitters is the finishing touch.
Start a conversation about the scarcity of Chartreuse and in less than a minute there’s a classic Bijou ($17) on your table, a pre-Prohibition cocktail of gin, Chartreuse and red vermouth that puts a new spin on the classic negroni.
While you’re on the gin train, ride the Gin & Toast ($17) with Tenjaku gin, Cointreau, orange preserves and lemon. It comes garnished with a tiny piece of grilled bread, which will have you craving brunch and forgetting all about mimosas. Nelson calls it a “breakfast martini.”
PHOTO 1: The speakeasy downstairs at CdM in Corona del Mar serves craft cocktails and a full dinner menu, including a "fancy pizza." PHOTO 2: The spicy yellowfin tuna ($18) is a cross between sushi and a canape at CdM in Corona del Mar. Photos courtesy of CdM
He’s also your server and his recommendations are top notch. The spicy yellowfin tuna ($18) is a cross between sushi and a canape, served atop eggplant tempura instead of rice so it melds all the flavors of sriracha aioli, sweet soy, chives and salty pops of emerald green wasabi tobiko.
It's a nice prelude to the CdM “fancy pizza” ($27) with spicy calabrese salami, creamy pesto, smoked mozzarella and mixed mushrooms. The habanero honey drizzle on top really helps it pair with fruity notes in your cocktails.
There are also pastas and plenty of sexy starters like cauliflower hummus, charred octopus, duck liver pate, a meat and cheese board and steak tartare. Sides too. FYI: You can get the whole dinner menu downstairs.