Gin + Collins
Who doesn’t love a good cocktail? And what’s better than having specially crafted gin-based cocktails? A bartender that’s both very talented and personable. The AC Hotel on Collins Avenue presents its newly opened bar, Gin + Collins, overseen by head bartender Nikos Mantzaridis. Nikos and the rest of the staff at Gin + Collins have successfully created an atmosphere suitable for any Gin lover. Gin + Collins even offers a late night Happy Hour from 9-11pm, the perfect time to get a drink before heading out to the streets of Miami Beach. The Happy Hour includes $7 specialty cocktails and a light bites menu.
The first drink I got to try at Gin + Collins was the ACGT. This cocktail was made with Bombay Sapphire East, AC tonic, orange peel, and a lime wheel. The gin flavor predominates in this cocktail. Overall ACGT is a light and refreshing drink.
The next cocktail I tried at Gin + Collins was the Vilanova. Nikos was kind enough to tailor this drink to better fit my taste buds. AKA he made it sweeter by adding a bit of the homemade punch they made specially for our event. The Vilanova was made with Gin Mare, 1724 Tonic, orange marmalade, orange bitters, and topped with an orange peel. This cocktail was absolutely sweet and delicious. I would definitely order this again!
Next on the list was the Smoked Last Word. This drink was made with Mezcal, green chartreuse, maraschino, and lime. Nikos was so awesome… he added a rim of spicy salt to the glass after discussing my love for spicy drinks! That heightened the cocktail to a whole new level! Loved the presentation and the smoky taste.
I also tried the Blinded Buck from the Gin + Collins menu. This was made with bourbon, strawberry, lemon, ginger beer, and bitters. Aside from the Vilanova this was probably my favorite drink. The ingredients combined perfectly to create a well balanced cocktail.
And just when I thought I was done…. Nikos presents me with this little gem, a specialty item from the Happy Hour menu at Gin + Collins. Looking at the drink itself I already knew I was gonna love it. The presentation was impeccable. I almost felt bad drinking it because it was so beautiful!
