Paulius Musteikis
Templeton's Orchard Cocktail served at Heritage Tavern.
The new spring cocktail menu at Heritage Tavern is a hit, with a number of impressively well-crafted drinks.
Included in the roster is the winning punch entry from Slopig 2015, a balanced gin-based number with a hint of serrano chili spice. The drink is smoothed with a layer of grilled pineapple and basil foam on top that sinks into the drink, making for opulent mouthfeel and flavor.
New bar manager Clint Sterwald, who cut his teeth at the Milwaukee bar Distil, is building on his punch success with another play on herb and fruit, the Sao Paolo Smash. This melds sage and blackberry with subtle rosewater notes, to great effect. Garnished with a sprig of sage inside a lime wedge, it’s a colorful patio sipper, perfect for April — the earthy sage flavor makes the drink successful when it’s just shy of summery.
And lest we forget that there are still rogue cold showers that require a drink with a bit of fortitude, Templeton’s Orchard is a cocktail with some heft. Here the herb is rosemary, playing against apricot liqueur and lemon juice for a sour with added spice from Templeton Rye whiskey. The feathery blend is refreshing and easy drinking, a wonderful accompaniment to the menu and a strong sign that under Sterwald’s stewardship, Heritage Tavern has developed into a sure-footed craft cocktail bar.
