COCKTAILS

If you rang in the new year a little too hard and promised to give up alcohol for January, you’re not alone.

The vegan scene continues to grow in Ann Arbor with the addition of North Star Lounge. Phillis Engelbert and Jessica Stern joined Meredith Bruckner, community news producer for All About Ann Arbor, to highlight everything this spot has to offer.

Taste of Black Spirits raises awareness for black-owned spirits, beer, and wine brands.

What do you think of when you hear the words “Kentucky Derby?”

Clawson's first annual restaurant week is allowing people to experience unique flavors

This Clawson bar serves up cocktails with spirits made on-site!

This Grosse Pointe Park bar offers International wines in an intimate big city atmosphere

Nothing to be a Scrooge about when you go to The Ebenezer.

Anyone hosting a holiday soiree in the next week or so, and you’re wondering what to offer in terms of a seasonally appropriate cocktail?

Check out three bars that you might not know are in popular Detroit buildings.

You can pour Witches Brew or a Dawn of the Dead drink to serve at Halloween parties.

Get ready for a drink that will enlighten all of your senses.

The food and drinks aren't the only things you'll want to post to your 'gram!

Enjoy a new way to dine in a historic bank vault!

Your drink of choice on the Fourth of July might be an ice-cold beer or the always-faithful White Claw, but in case you want to celebrate with a colorful cocktail, we’ve got a few recipes for you to add in some fun.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation at a Grand Rapids distillery that is expected to expand the canned cocktails business in Michigan.

Bottles Nation is helping you find the perfect drink for your next binge-watching session

Whether you are coming for Sunday brunch, Taco Tuesday, or any other day of the week, you are sure to find something you’ll love at 15th street Tavern.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Downtown Ann Arbor eatery Jim Brady’s reopened the doors to its Main Street location on Thursday with new dishes, new cocktails and a revamped wine list. The new dishes were designed by the eatery’s culinary team, headed by Executive Chefs Andre Fuentes from Jim Brady’s Royal Oak location and Executive Chef Reid Shipman from the Ann Arbor location, the restaurant said. Although both the Ann Arbor and Royal Oak locations are now open for dine-in service, the restaurant said it will continue to offer curbside pickup and takeout orders. “We take the health of our community seriously and are taking every precaution to keep everyone safe.”Earlier in March, the restaurant opened its Royal Oak location after renovations. Jim Brady’s Ann Arbor is at 209 S. Main St.

Over the past few years, the outdoor dining game reached a new level with igloos and chalets. Now, Frame in Hazel Park is offering a way to enjoy a meal outside of the box, or igloo, with their yurt village. The restaurant has four yurts that are all individually and uniquely designed to reflect the genre of food that is being served by the current rotating in-house chef. Frame came up with their yurt village as a way to not only continue their dining services during the COVID-19 pandemic, but as a different way for their customers to be immersed in the culture of their meal. Watch the video above to see how cool the yurt village at Frame in Hazel Park is.

East Village Detroit – Ever walk into a place and think “man, this is chic!” It’s a combination of the food, the atmosphere, and the cocktails. That’s how you feel when you walk into Ivy Kitchen + Cocktails, owner Nya Marshall’s first restaurant. It works to represent the old Detroit, blending and coming together with the new Detroit. The restaurant opened up just about 90 days before COVID-19 hit Michigan and shut down the restaurant industry. Ivy Kitchen + Cocktails is located at 9215 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit.

Traveling to Italy may be something that is put on hold right now, however, there is a Michigan-made liqueur that brings Italy to your home. Craz Cello is a spirit that, as the website says, mixes Italian legacy with American spunk. Owners Jason Verbrugghe and Dominic Savone joined Tati Amare to talk about Craz Cello and showed a couple of ways you can enjoy the liqueur mixed in with popular cocktails. Craz Cello is available at various stores in and around Detroit. Watch the video above to see how you can enjoy Craz Cello!

Bars may be closed right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a craft cocktail experience. Whether you’re a fan of whiskey or bourbon, or you normally pass when offered, one Metro Detroit distillery says they can turn anyone into a fan with the spirits that they make in-house. Kila Peeples went to Motor City Gas Whiskey in Royal Oak to see how this homegrown business got started and makes to-go cocktails with their internationally celebrated whiskeys. Watch the video above to see what kinds of cocktails you can get at Motor City Gas Whiskey!

There is a speakeasy in Ferndale that lets people indulge in creative cocktails minus the alcohol. That place is Oakland Art and Novelty Company. This bar has been in Ferndale for the last decade, offering creative handcrafted cocktails and a selection of whisky and wine. Sandy Levine, the owner of Oakland Art and Novelty, joined Kim DeGiuilio live from his bar to show how to make one of the Oakland’s popular mocktails, a non-alcoholic Paloma. For step by step instructions, or to learn more about Oakland Art and Novelty, check out the video below.

Hot cocktails warm up outdoor dining this winter In many cities, restaurants can only serve customers outdoors during the pandemic, which creates a real challenge in the cold winter months. Some establishments are turning to hot cocktails to help keep customers warm. CBS News' Kate Smith has more.

Sharing a nice home cooked meal and drinks with friends may be more challenging given the current situation. However, now there is a fun way to do it virtually and learn something new. Cooking with cocktails is a class you can take with your friends and family via Zoom. Kila Peeples got the Live in the D crew together to try it out and test their cooking skills. Watch the video above to see what the team made and the story behind Cooking With Cocktails.

Well, luckily, many of the classic cocktails are pretty simple to make, with most of them having just 3 ingredients. Ingredients0.5 oz Simple Syrup1.0 oz Lime Juice1.5 oz White RumNow, I know what you’re thinking, isn’t a daiquiri that frozen slushie of a drink with strawberries in it? The classic one has just 3 ingredients - white rum, simple syrup, and lime juice. While you may not have simple syrup at home, as its name implies, it is very simple to make. Ingredients0.5 oz Simple Syrup0.5 oz Lime Juice1.5 oz GinThis delightfully simple and classic drink is making a comeback!

It’s the original adult milkshake comprised of ice cream and coffee-flavored booze. Now, while this drink is not kid-friendly, it is very easy to make and all you need is ice, vanilla ice cream, Kahlua, and light rum. Little did I know at the time but this delicious creamy cocktail was first created in Detroit in the 1960s. This drink is now known worldwide and in London, they call it The Detroit Hummer, while in Germany they call it Sir Jerome, after Jerome Adams. Without any further ado, here is how you make it:Michelle’s Take on a HummerIngredients3-5 Ice cubes2 Scoops of good vanilla ice cream1.5 oz.

ANN ARBOR – Bløm Meadworks owners Lauren Bloom and Matt Ritchey have pivoted several times to address the shifting landscape during the pandemic. (Bløm Meadworks)Each kit will be available for pick up on the fourth Saturday of the month. Bundles are available in 3 month, 6 month or ongoing subscriptions. “We all have less foot traffic and a smaller audience than we are used to,” said Bloom. On a personal note, they allow her and Ritchey to continue working with community partners.

Whether you are looking for something fun and different to make for an upcoming holiday, or you just want something to warm you up on a chilly night, these creamy, delicious cocktails are a fun thing to try. On another small shallow plate, place 1/3 cup dark rum. In a large saucepan, heat milk over medium heat, stirring frequently, until hot. Time: 15 minutesServes: 2Ingredients1 cup freshly brewed coffee1/2 cup Kahlua1/2 cup whole milk1/4 cup vodkaWhipped cream (optional)MethodIn a small saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients and heat until warm, 150 to 155º F recommended. Warm the spiced milk in a small saucepan set over medium heat until it begins to simmer and froth around the edges, stopping just short of boiling.

Jason Carr has one of the best home bar set-ups; it even has it’s own name, The Carr Bar! As we spend more time at home, why not strive to make your bar set-up as fabulous as Jason’s? Kila Peeples went to three places in and around Detroit to find drinks that are not only delicious, but will get you to Carr Bar status. Included are cocktails from White Wolf Patisserie in Clawson, Kiesling Bar in Detroit’s North End, and Hammer and Nail in Midtown Detroit. Watch the video above to see the cocktails and a special drink delivery to celebrate Jason’s 50th birthday

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – After closing in March, The Circ Bar in downtown Ann Arbor is officially reopening this weekend with a new outdoor space and mural. “What we realized was that we needed a lot more outdoor space that previously we just didn’t have,” Ahn said. Alternative indie band Models + Architects will perform on Friday, while The Circ Bar regular Camila Ballario will perform on Saturday. The patio space and roof-deck bar will open from 4-11 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays. The rest of The Circ Bar, including its indoor spaces and kitchen, will remain closed.

Then take a trip to Europe and Asia through your taste buds. White Wolf Patisserie takes you on a sweet trip by offering delectable desserts that are heavily influenced by Japanese and French pastries. From cheesecakes to Earl Grey tea infused creme brulee, there is definitely something at this Clawson bakery that will satisfy your sweet tooth. White Wolf Patisserie recently started offering craft cocktails that are also Asian influenced. White Wolf Patisserie is perfect for a date night, after dinner treat, or just chill with friends.

Kay Mohamed is competing in Black Restaurant Week Power of the Pallet National Cocktail Competition. The competition will pick the best bartender in the nation with people representing cities from 16 different states. Kay also owns a company called Kocktails and Glam in Detroit. This company teaches people how to be their own bartender (BYOB) while easily using things around the house. Watch the video to learn how to vote for Kay and make her tasty cocktail creations.

While the tasting company also offers food-based classes, it is most known for its public cocktail classes which were offered at The Last Word. After some experimenting on friends, she figured out a recipe that translated her in-person classes online. (Tammy Coxen / Tammy's Tastings)Each Tammys Tastings cocktail class is around one hour -- depending on how chatty participants are. So far, there have been 20 different Tammys Tastings online classes. Currently, Tammys Tastings isnt offering food-based classes but it does offer private online drink classes and very small in-person events.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Looking to enjoy a drink from your favorite Ann Arbor bar or restaurant at home? Gretchen Whitmer signed a bar and restaurant relief package giving Michigan bars and restaurants the green light to sell cocktails or mixed drinks to-go and via delivery. Through the bill, drinks can also be delivered but identification to verify age must be shown upon delivery. Ann Arbor bars and restaurants wasted no time getting creative and packaging drinks to-go. Many restaurants are also offering beer and wine to-go, along with various types of food.

LANSING, Mich. LANSING, Mich.Michigan restaurants and bars could sell cocktails and liquor for pickup or delivery and would see a temporary cut in state liquor prices under fast-tracked legislation that supporters hope will help the industry survive the coronavirus pandemic. The bill cleared the Senate 37-1 on Wednesday, less than two weeks after its introduction. The state already lets bars and restaurants sell unopened beer and wine to go. On-premises licensees would, through 2021, get a break on prices from the Liquor Control Commission. Restaurants and bars closed to dine-in customers in mid-March under a Whitmer order to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Friday is National Tourism Day and, since we can’t travel physically, we thought we would travel in spirit, alcohol spirits! Lauren Lavigne, General Manager at Mani Osteria in Ann Arbor joined Jason Carr to show him how. Mani Osteria features an Italian themed menu. They are affiliated with two other Ann Arbor restaurants, Mexican spot Isalita, and French bistro, Mikette. The restaurants have created cocktail kits that let customers recreate their signature drinks at home and experience some serious travel vibes.