Things to Drink: TheList’s Round Up of Sips

The winter chill is here, and the drinks are flowing with plenty of festive flavors.  We're diving into DC's buzzing bar scene, where seasonal sips steal the spotlight. From spiced and spirited to rich and cozy, we've got the scoop on winter-inspired cocktails. We’re ready to raise a coup to the season.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY: 

Not Too Unconventional: Unconventional Diner has a new slew of winter-inspired cocktails. Try the og City Manhattan (Rye whiskey, Disaronno, Nixta, Cynar, chocolate bitters, Angostura bitters), the Mocha Espresso Martini (Vodka, Grace Street Coffee Roasters Espresso, orange blossom, chocolate), and more. UnconventionalDiner.com

Ski Lodge Cocktails: Show of Hands has new Alpine-inspired holiday cocktail menu. Step into a snowy, pine-covered wonderland as the Show of Hands bar transforms into a warm, winter retreat for one festive night. Indulge in eight handcrafted cocktails designed to transport you straight to the Alps, featuring flavors like Scotch, alpine liqueurs, and warm spices. Cocktails include the Spruce with the Fir - Reposado, Alpine Amaro, Coconut Cream, Lime; Federal Snowday - Pear Brandy, Alta Verde, Lime; and more. 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue; theroostsedc.com

A Basket for Your (Wine) Lover (Gift Alert): Know a wine lover? Grand Cata has a wine program that showcases wines from Latin America and the "Heritage Nations" of España, Portugal and Italy. With their Wine Club, we want to help guide you on your journey to becoming a true Catador. grandcata.com

Sip & Slurp: Cozy up in The Dabney Cellar for specialty for $24 cellar combo pairings featuring 1/2 Dozen Oysters with a glass of wine or a cocktail from The Dabney’s MICHELIN-winning bar program. Available every Wednesday and Thursday. 1222 9th St NW; thedabneycellar.com

Holiday Drink Passport: Visit Montgomery has introduced the Holiday Drink Tour Passport, accessible through the Visit MoCo Adventure Planner App. The tour features over 20 local establishments offering seasonal beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Participating locations include Fallen Oak Distilling, featuring "The Cranberry Crush Gimlet," and gluten-free options like Silly Yak Beer’s "Tipped Angus" Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout. Visitors can check in at participating locations to be entered into a giveaway, with prizes totaling over $600 in value. The app can be downloaded be searching “visit moco” in the app store. Sign up here. 

Bubbles for the Holidays: Stable DC has decked the halls and is ready to help you celebrate the holidays the Swiss way. They have Bubbles for the Holidays where Joseph Perrier will make your dinner special starting December 6. This prix-fixe menu is $69 per person for a glass of Champagne, a starter, and champagne fondue. stabledc.com

Holidays with a Ponche: Celebrate the holidays in true Caribbean fashion at Cane and St. James. The sister Caribbean restaurants are kicking off the festive season with traditional Trinidadian bites and cocktails all month long.  Available at both restaurants is the sweet yet balanced Ponche de Crème ($16), a Caribbean milk and rum punch crafted with Angostura 7-Year aged Rum, egg yolks, milk, lime zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and Angostura bitters. stjames-dc.com

For the Wine Lover (Gift Alert): Crimson Lane has gifts for the wine enthusiast in your life, with gift cards that give access to  Virginia wines crafted by winemaker Dominique Fioresi. 13334 Crimson Lane; crimsonlanevineyards.com

A New Press Club: Bar Extraordinaires, Will Patton and Devin Kennedy, are thrilled to announce the opening date for their new cocktail haven, Press Club. Located in the Historic Dupont Circle neighborhood, the new record bar with a 70’s vibe cocktail lounge and the aesthetics of a 90s record shop will open on December 12th (5pm-11pm). The name, an homage to DC + reference to the iconic National Press Club, evokes the pressing of the records to be played and the pressing of ingredients used to craft exquisitely balanced cocktails. 1506 19th street; pressclubdc.com

Dishonesty Listening Bar:  In collaboration with the House of Suntory, Silver Lyan is transforming its luxe, hidden-away, Dishonesty Bar, into a hi-fi listening lounge for the winter season. The intimate experience will run exclusively on Friday and Saturday nights, showcasing cocktails and highballs crafted with rare Japanese spirits, including fan-favorite expressions from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Hibiki. The evening will also offer light snacks of wasabi nori crisps and jamón Ibérico with crackers—and local DJ Trev Ski, spinning vinyl. 900 F St NW; silverlyan.com  

A Toast to Staying Toasty: Park Hyatt has debuted its Fire Garden. The newly created outdoor oasis is reflective of a sunken garden with this Zen-like space which is ideal for unwinding with family and friends to enjoy the crisp temperatures offset by the working firepits and cozy blankets provided on the terrace. The Fire Garden is open seven days a week, from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. (weather permitting). Seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. o keep one’s spirits warm, guests can savor handcrafted winter cocktails that will be available exclusively at the Fire Garden. Choices include the Gingerbread Martini with vanilla vodka, Irish cream and ginger; Chai White Russian with chair spiced cream, spiced rum and cinnamon, and Hot Toddy with cognac, rooftop honey, lemon and cloves. 24th and M Streets, NW; hyatt.com

Calico x CampStock Fire Pit Pop Up:  Calico is partnering with WhistlePig Whiskey and Solo Stove to offer a tabletop firepit experience this Fall and Winter. The firepit experience includes campfire inspired cocktails and smores kits on their heated patio. The experience is available every Thursday - Sunday for $25 per person. To make a reservation, click here. 

Beer Academy(Gift Alert): This holiday season, give the beer enthusiast in your life an experience they’ll never forget: access to the ChurchKey Beer Academy. Led by NRG Partner & Beverage Director Greg Engert, this membership delivers an exclusive journey into the world of rare and classic brews. Churchkey Beer Academy
 

NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY: 

Golden Hour (Happy Hour Alert): Golden Hour at a.kitchen+bar DC which will run 4-5PM every Tuesday-Saturday offering unique drink and snack pairings served only during this special service hour. The menu will change over time allowing for new, exciting bites and sips to try throughout the year. See below for the Golden Hour menu launching this weekend. 1010 New Hampshire Avenue; akitchenandbardc.com

Bones and Bourbon: Blue Duck Tavern has introduced a new distinctive pairing opportunity for whiskey aficionados. To complement Chef de Cuisine Andrew Cleverdon’s signature Wood Oven-Roasted Bone Marrow with Onion Bordelaise, Pink Peppercorn, and Caraway Crumble, you can choose a two-ounce pour from one of three featured pairings: Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Bourbon Whiskey for $20, MB Roland, Dark Fired Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, for $24, and Espy House, Washington's Reserve Barrel Strength Bourbon Whiskey for $32. The marrow is sourced from Creekstone, Kansas, and is priced at $32 per serving with a portion size of three split roasted bones. This unique pairing option is available nightly in Blue Duck Tavern’s Lounge exclusively through the end of the year. Park Hyatt Washington D.C., at the corner of 24 and M Streets, NW, blueducktavern.com