Recommendations for an actual good cocktail?

[TDK44]

Heading to WDW soon and checking out menus and I’m struggling to find where on property to find a proper cocktail menu. Everything mostly looks like sugar bombs with very sweet juices or sugary cordials (haven’t seen this much blue curaçao on menus since spring break in college). I guess this fits the typical Disney visitor palate but jeeze.

We even have reservations at Beak and Barrel and Oga’s Cantina that I’m holding onto because the ambiance looks cool but I’m struggling to figure out what I’d order and starting to second guess.

Any recommendations? Restaurants or specific cocktails at particular places are both welcome.

Include your favorite cocktail in your response so I can ignore anyone who says “cosmo”.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Enjoy the ambiance because they don’t have real bartenders at those places, the drinks are pre-mixed. Geo-82 is for those looking good drinks or bar tenders who can mix what you’re after. The bartenders at Space 220 are great.

Look into Disney Springs and fully stocked type bars at deluxe hotels. They tend to be attached to restaurants (S71, CA grill, Topolinos) and have wide selections and bartenders who can mix what you’re after. Enchanted Rose is a proper stand alone bar. Dahlia Lounge at CSR is good as well.

Yeah the standard cocktail menu is a sugar bomb and like the same all over property. Alas I like a nice Cosmo so you don’t want me recommencing actual cocktails

 

[VGCgroupie]

We appreciated the drinks at Beak and Barrel.

The drinks at TOTWL were amazing. What I had may be too sweet for your liking since I didn’t realize how hard it would hit me because the alcohol was masked by other amazing flavors. The bartenders there seemed very knowledgeable so I bet they can make whatever you want.

What I had was the Cursed Pirate
Diplomatico Planas Rum, Gosling Black Seal Rum, Passion Fruit Pineapple, Lime Juice, Cane Sugar, Blue Curacao. There was also a cherry in it which the bartender told us were very expensive high end cherries can’t recall the name of them.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Enjoy the ambiance because they don’t have real bartenders at those places, the drinks are pre-mixed. Geo-82 is for those looking good drinks or bar tenders who can mix what you’re after. The bartenders at Space 220 are great.

Look into Disney Springs and fully stocked type bars at deluxe hotels. They tend to be attached to restaurants (S71, CA grill, Topolinos) and have wide selections and bartenders who can mix what you’re after. Enchanted Rose is a proper stand alone bar. Dahlia Lounge at CSR is good as well.

Yeah the standard cocktail menu is a sugar bomb and like the same all over property. Alas I like a nice Cosmo so you don’t want me recommencing actual cocktails

The bartenders at The Gurgling Suitcase (OKW) are fabulous!

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

I feel like this is even more to personal taste than food. Also, the menus only do so much in describing what you'd think you'd like. Some are more sweet and tart than they let on, others more bitter.

Sometimes, upon getting our drinks, my friends and I will sample each other's and end up switching to fit everyone's preference.

 

[SteveH]

Many places like Oga's couldn't mix a cocktail if their life depended on it most of all of their drinks are batched to serve fast. Some of the hotel bars can, try some of the bars at Swan/Dolphin. O got some good recommendations already. I've enjoyed Trader Sam's a lot but IMHO the most fun is when you let the bartender go rouge and off menu, some have some outstanding concoctions, but many are using a lot of juice and things you may not like.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We tried four of the drinks at the Beak and Barrel and the one we all liked most (which was mine, thankfully), was the Hibiscus Rum Punch Royale. The rest we thought were god awful.

 

[RuntheMouse]

There’s a couple that we enjoy from Territory Lounge. The Northwoods and S’more Old Fashioned. At Geo-82 I liked the Brown Butter Old Fashioned (made less sweet) and the Peach Shrub Whisky Smash. At Geo I also had an off menu drink once, the servers/bartenders there are great. Tell them what you like/don’t like and they’ll have offerings, it’s a full bar.

I also don’t like overly sweet cocktails and have no plans to go the Beak & Barrel because of that.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I find drinks are not great at places like Oga’s. They are premade and very sweet. My favorite drinks at WDW are the French martini from chefs de France and the Florida crush from Homecomin’ in Disney Springs. I also had a great dirty martini at Bluezoo on our last trip.

 

[NickC]

My favorite cocktail is whiskey in a glass.
Polite Pig has a great bourbon selection. Pappys, Whistle Pig, Sazerac. They aren't shy with the pricing though.
Homecomin has a cool looking moonshine menu, but they also have Blanton's, so it's a tough choice.
Anywhere else, I usually get a light beer or an old fashioned with Buffalo Trace.

 

[TDK44]

Thanks for all the replies! Sounds like for the most part I need to just accept that it's Disney and they're playing to their typical audience.

I'll embrace the sugar bombs for the sake of the ambiance, but hopefully can find a few diamonds in the rough at some of the restaurants we're having dinner at or check out some of these recommendations!

 

[Darklord77]

The Boathouse has the best selection of drinks for different people in your party. I wasn't impressed by the Beak and Barrel, Geo 82 (except the Brown Butter OF), Jock and Lindsey's, Oga's, or Space 2020.

 

[japanese maple]

At Dahlia Lounge (Gran Destino)

Oaxaca Old Fashioned​

Flecha Azul Reposado Tequila, Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Agave Nectar, and flavors of Orange and Chocolate served over Ice garnished with an Orange

Most lounges at the hotels will make you a real cocktail. For places like you are describing, I stick to wine.

 

[CoachBeard]

Geo-82 - the bartenders know their stuff, especially about bourbon
Polite pig - great bourbon selection, I can't comment on cocktails and I don't recall if all the bartenders know a ton about the whiskey but it's a good spot
STK - go during happy hour. There is one bartender in particular who is extremely passionate about cocktails and is an encyclopedia or history and knowledge.
Crews Cup Lounge - Good cocktails and bartenders
Abracadabar - they can make just about anything you want
Bourbon Steak - bartenders can do just about any classic cocktail
The Edison - go for happy hour too
Trader Sam's - not sure about in FL but in CA they are skilled bartenders and involved in Tiki as a hobby so they can whip up anything

You won't find much of the quality stuff inside the parks but many of the resorts have great bars.


What do you consider a "proper" cocktail, btw? I lean toward anything with bourbon or rye and often get old fashioneds (often easily messed up) or Manhattans (often screwed up, too). You aren't obligated to only order what is on the menu. It is a bar, they have the stuff to make stuff.

 

[CoachBeard]

My favorite cocktail is whiskey in a glass.
Polite Pig has a great bourbon selection. Pappys, Whistle Pig, Sazerac. They aren't shy with the pricing though.
Homecomin has a cool looking moonshine menu, but they also have Blanton's, so it's a tough choice.
Anywhere else, I usually get a light beer or an old fashioned with Buffalo Trace.

I was at Epic Universe for a day of my trip in January and asked how much for the Blanton's at this outdoor bar. They said $22 for a double so naturally I got one. Plus it was in the 40's and windy that day so it was needed!

Pro tip - if you ever go to Disneyland in the Hearthstone Lounge inside the GCA hotel they at one point had Eagle Rare as their standard bourbon for old fashioneds. They don't always have it so be sure to ask.

 

[jimmymc]

My favorite is Hollywood Brown Derby. Probably the best Manhattan I've ever had, and a full bar menu with a range of cocktails and whiskeys.

Oga's does have all pre-mixed cocktails, and they're all very sweet. The Fuzzy Tauntaun is unique and worth trying, or you can just get beer.

Most of the high-end restaurants have full bars, and they will usually have cocktail menus in addition to what Disney puts online. Some good ones are Flying Fish, Victoria Falls in AKL Jambo House, The Edison, and Morimoto Asia.