Each week, we order the same cocktail at two different bars for a friendly head-to-head battle. Go to the bars, taste them both and tell us what you like about each by tagging @pghcitypaper on Twitter or Instagram and using #CPBoozeBattles. If you want to be a part of Booze Battles, send an email to food-and-beverage writer Celine Roberts, at [email protected].
Butcher and the Rye
212 Sixth St., Downtown
Drink: Morning Glory
Ingredients: Canadian Club 100 Percent Rye, Hennessy VS, Cointreau, absinthe, angostura bitters, sparkling wine and an orange twist
Our take: The cocktail plays on the combined medicinal flavors of the rye and absinthe, while the Cointreau provides some citrus balance. The sparkling wine adds more to the flavor than it does to mouthfeel, as do the caramel and vanilla notes of the rye.
Vs.
The Allegheny Wine Mixer
5326 Butler St., Lawrenceville
Drink: Giggle Water
Ingredients: Uncle Val’s Botanical gin, pear, lemon, cardamom, prosecco
Our take: This drink balances effervescence and botanicals, making for a refreshing cocktail with depth. The cardamom shines through the mellow, soft flavors of the pear, heightened by the tartness of the lemon juice. The effect is perfumy and floral.
