Written by: Angela Chaney, publisher of WhirLocalOmaha.com and partner at Pixel Fire Marketing
There’s nothing better than a signature cocktail after a long day of work…or for happy hour…or with lunch! It really doesn’t matter when you have one, a signature cocktail is a fun way to try something new. Fortunately, Omaha has a huge selection of bars and restaurants that offer signature cocktails. While I’m not going to say the ones on this list are the best of the best, they’re certainly enjoyable and worth a try.
Percy Pig Lemon Drop: Tipsy Pig
If you haven’t checked out the Tipsy Pig on 1150 Sterling Ridge Drive (around 129th and Pacific), you’re missing out! This cool cocktail bar has fun waitresses, Keno, great atmosphere, and fantastic drinks. While you can’t go wrong with ANY of the bar’s signature drinks or martinis, we chose the Percy Pig Lemon Drop for this article. A mixture of Absolut Citron, triple sec, and simple syrup with a lemon garnish, this is the perfect refreshing drink for a hot day. It’s also important to note that the Tipsy has a few mocktail options as well and has just recently started offering pizza in case you need some carbs to soak up the booze!
Banana Daiquiri: Alamo Drafthouse
Seeing a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse in LaVista is always a treat. Not only can you get a yummy meal and drinks delivered right to your seat during the movie, but you can also see a bunch of older cult movies and take part in movie parties where sing-a-longs and audience participation is encouraged. We see movies here all the time and usually come early to grab a bite or to order a drink or beer to enjoy before the previews start. I’d also like to mention I was the proud winner of one of the movie party contests that involved chugging a beer or stuffing marshmallows into my mouth or…something like that. The details are a bit fuzzy at this point.
Anyway. Alamo and Liquid Sunshine Tap Room have a great selection of beers and drinks, but we chose the Banana Daquiri for this article. Made with Don Q Cristal rum, banana puree, and pressed lime, this is a sweet-ish drink that still packs a punch.
Grapefruit Moon: Vive le Rock Lounge
Rock n’ roll lovers, if you haven’t been to the Vive le Rock Lounge on 124th and Center, you need to go. Immediately. This unique spot is the perfect place to listen to classic rock while absorbing all the memorabilia that serves as the bar’s décor. It’s also got two really cool bartenders (who also happen to own the joint) and a ton of fun things to do like music bingo, listening parties, and live music. While the lounge has plenty of signature cocktails with apt names like Enter Sandman (a ‘heavy metal’ old fashioned), Sour to the People (whisky sour), and Brandy, You’re a Fine Girl (brandy Alexander), we chose the Grapefruit Moon due to owner Neil Azevedo’s suggestion. The drink recipe is simple-Ketel One Botanical grapefruit and rose vodka and St. Germain liqueur-but sooo tasty. Make sure you get it with the sugar rim and tell Neil I sent you!
Legendary Long Island: Legends Patio Grill & Bar
You may not think a sports bar is a great place to get a signature cocktail…but you’d be wrong! I spend a lot of time at Legends Patio Grill & Bar on 69th and Pacific because my weekly Rotary group meets there and I’m always impressed with their great service, food, and, of course, drinks. I’d never actually gotten a signature drink of theirs before, but decided to give it a try when I saw their nice sized drink menu. I settled on the Legendary Long Island, a traditional Long Island Iced Tea that’s a mix of vodka, rum, tequila, gin, triple sec, simple syrup, and Coke. Watch out for this one—it tastes sweet but you’ll certainly be feeling it afterward!
Gold Margarita: Fernando’s
I love a good margarita, but it can be hard to find the kind I like. It has to not be very sweet yet still have a good taste profile and…pretty much be strong enough to blow the top of your head off. I don’t like mixes, I don’t like anything blended, and I tend to be suspicious of any margarita that is pink, orange, or any other color that indicates sugary additions. So..I’m pretty easy to please! Fortunately, I’ve found a go-to at Fernando’s Café and Cantina. The gold margarita is a step up from their house marg and is a mixture of just two liquors: Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila and Rio Grande Triple Sec. There may be some lime juice in there, too. The result? Strong, not sweet, and just the right flavor. Get the jumbo—especially if you’re not the one driving home.
This is just a very small sampling of fantastic signature drinks in the Omaha area. Do you have a fave not on this list? I’d love to hear about it so I can include it in a future article. Suggestions for other article ideas are also welcome! Email them to [email protected].
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