“We make our own ginger beer, which we put in the ‘Moscow Mule,’ but the ‘Artillery Punch’ is what Savannah is known for.”
During a romantic Savannah getaway, my boyfriend Andy and I spotted a sign on the door of Savannah Cocktail Co boasting “cocktails on draft.” I’m a sucker for niche concepts, so I added it to our to-do list.
Our uber-friendly mixologist (hey, this is the South) let me sample each option—just like beer tastings—to help choose the perfect one. I can’t tell you how many $15 cocktails I’ve silently swallowed with a frown, so this try-before-you-buy approach resonated with me.
While the “Moscow Mule” was bright and tangy, the “Chatham Artillery Punch”—which I ordered—was boozy and complex. It featured Smith and Cross Jamaican Rum, Breckenridge Bourbon, Pierre Ferrand Ambre Cognac, sparkling wine, sugar, and lemon oil syrup (aka oleo saccharum if you want to get fancy).
Andy went with the “Savannah Fashioned,” an Old Fashioned infused with vanilla lavender simple syrup. We cheers-ed under moody red lighting on plush leather seating.
I noticed these guys also like to have a little fun. They serve “Breakfast Shots” from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday Funday—Jameson and butterscotch chased with orange juice and served with a bacon strip. What a way to wake up!
How Savannah Cocktails Began
The truth is, we had no idea Savannah had a craft cocktail scene. By the end of our trip, we realized otherwise.
William Herrington, Food and Beverage Director and Executive Chef of the soon-to-open Kitchen 3 Twenty, explains that Savannah’s open-container laws have helped foster a thriving drinking culture.
“Around 2008, people started to see a marked difference in the kind of cocktails on offer throughout Savannah,” he says. “The venues have evolved from frozen daiquiris on River Street to hosting an extremely popular Negroni Week citywide.”
“There’s healthy competition between bartenders to craft the next hit cocktail. I’d say Savannah’s style roots itself in old classics and layers on Southern flair.”
Kitchen 3 Twenty’s “Whiskey Peach” really brings this to life, combining whiskey with local peaches. Herrington adds that the city’s growing culinary and cocktail movement is attracting top chefs and mixologists, putting Savannah at the forefront of the craft cocktail scene.
The Art Of Food & Cocktail Pairing
Our favorite meal of the trip also delivered some of our favorite cocktails. At a.Lure, a welcoming restaurant with red brick walls and locally-painted Savannah scenes, we learned the art of pairing cocktails with elevated lowcountry fare.
Lead bartender Kerry Junco shared, “At a.Lure, we focus on fresh seasonal ingredients and are heavily influenced by the classics. More than anything, we aim to make our drinks drinkable, delicious, and fun.”
“There’s a lot of flexibility in pairing food and cocktails—it really comes down to your palate and what you enjoy drinking.”
Between bites of filet mignon-ground meatloaf infused with foie gras, I sipped drinks that told stories. Take “The Forsyth,” named after Savannah’s iconic 30-acre park. It’s a twist on the classic Mint Julep—swapping sugar for honey-mint syrup, and adding lemon juice, chamomile bitters, and soda water.
Many of a.Lure’s drinks are inspired by real people. Kerry’s grandparents were raised in Kentucky and loved bourbon, which explains the many bourbon-based cocktails on the menu.
One newer drink, the “Peach Fuzz,” was created with Kerry’s mother in mind. It blends Woodford Reserve with a house-made peach-black pepper shrub, combining her mother’s favorite spirit with Georgia peaches—a nod to her roots.
Southern Speakeasies
Being from NYC, where the speakeasy trend is alive and well, Andy and I love checking out hidden spots in other cities. That’s how we stumbled upon Mati Hari.
Well, sort of. FourSquare gave us the address, but the bar is discreetly tucked inside the noisy Club 309 West. It’s a separate venue—though hidden in plain sight.
Among the crowd, we found a well-dressed man standing calmly at a door in the back of the club.
“Is this Mati Hari?” we asked.
He nodded. “Do you have a key or are you a member?”
“No. We’re visiting from New York and heard this place was good.”
He paused. “Well… okay. Head inside.”
I don’t know if it’s always that easy or if we just got lucky, but his Southern hospitality ushered us into one of the most authentic speakeasies I’ve ever seen. The space felt like a shabby-chic living room, with carpeted floors, worn sofas, antique lamps, and cherub statues.
It wasn’t too crowded, which was perfect. Guests danced to Rick James in the center of the room.
Mati Hari is known for its absinthe cocktails. Just to clear things up: you will not hallucinate (unless you’re very susceptible to the placebo effect).
Wormwood, a key ingredient, is a mild muscle relaxant. You’ll feel super chilled before seeing any green fairies. Fennel and anise also make up the flavor profile, with the latter giving absinthe its signature licorice taste—great as a digestif.
Sipping our drinks, Andy and I curled up on a sofa and listened to the lounge singer who had replaced the dance music. The charmingly dilapidated atmosphere paired with my “Absinthe 75″—a twist on the gin-based “French 75″—made for a perfect end to our trip.
In that secluded pocket of Savannah, we really got to savor the city’s cocktail culture.
These are just a few examples of the many delicious Savannah cocktails we experienced during our long weekend. And the city’s future is looking even brighter (and boozier).
