If you walk into a bar and everyone calls out your name you may be in an episode of “Cheers” — or the Canal Street Grille bar in Ripon. The warm and welcoming vibe at the bar begins with Bar Manager and bartender Lydia Azevedo. She has been bartending for over 20 years and has been at Canal Street for about four years bringing classics, trends and creative drinks to guests.
Azevedo noticed that lately the older drinks, or classics, are making a comeback like the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, martinis and gin cocktails. They have a full bar and offer a variety of beer and wine. The Grille has three specialty drinks that are a must try which are their house made Barrel Aged Manhattan, the Stockholm Martini and Tito’s Girlfriend, which all have something a little special to make even the most difficult
palate smile.
The Manhattan is bourbon based that is mixed with a few ingredients and aged in a smoked barrel for six to eight weeks. Then it is bottled up and when requested poured over a large square ice cube topped with a
Luxardo cherry.
“A lot of people love that,” expressed Azevedo. “If you like bourbon or you are around any kind of old fashioned that barrel aged Manhattan is the drink for you. Even people that are like ‘I don’t like whiskey’ I am like, just taste it. It is just sweet enough without having such a bite it is just absolutely delicious.”
The Stockholm martini is like a lemon drop but it is a raspberry lemon drop that is poured into a martini glass with a sugar rim and topped off with some champagne with a lemon wedge. This popular concoction is measured and served in a particular order to keep its sophisticated layered look.
Tito’s Girlfriend is similar to a Cosmo but it has a little bit more pizazz with a splash of orange juice, Grand Marnier, and a splash of cranberry shaken, poured on a stem topped off with champagne garnished with a lime wedge. This is the perfect balance of not being too sweet and not too strong.
