Recommendations for an actual good cocktail?

[TikiRob]

Off-menu bloody mary at Dawa Bar for my wife... I'll second Nomad Lounge.

 

[leebee]

Remember that most of the restaurants have a full bar and can make anything you want. I think that the cocktail menu is usually sweeter to appeal to the general public. We've had luck at Steakhouse 71, Abracadabar, Nomad Lounge (breaks my heart that it's such a popular spot now), love the Bloody Mary at Dawa (not always on the menu, but I always ask and they always make it), Barcelona Lounge at Coronado Springs. However, if you are looking for drinks to go with your dinner on the dining plan, most restaurants have full bars and I think all can handle things like gin&tonics, for example.

 

[BostonEd]

I'll embrace the sugar bombs for the sake of the ambiance

Why? Just order a martini or manhattan and enjoy the ambiance that way. I wonder if they could make a classic daiquiri (not the sugary blended kind) at Beak; it is a rum drink after all.

Favorites: martini, manhattan, sidecar, classic daiquiri, classic margarita.

 

[sponica]

My definition of a good cocktail is a sugar bomb. I don't like gin or bourbon, so I'm usually drinking fruity rum drinks or vodka cocktails (in the lemon drop/french martini/cosmo style)...when I'm not in the mood for fruit sugar bomb, i get a margarita.

 

[CoachBeard]

Why? Just order a martini or manhattan and enjoy the ambiance that way. I wonder if they could make a classic daiquiri (not the sugary blended kind) at Beak; it is a rum drink after all.

Favorites: martini, manhattan, sidecar, classic daiquiri, classic margarita.

At beak, no. It’s all premixed and poured from a faucet on the wall like a beer. Trader Sam’s? Definitely. Tambu Lounge? For sure.

 

[heathpack]

The grapefruit margarita at the Polite Pig is great!

 

[PrincessGenie]

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”.

Nomad Lounge in Animal Kingdom has a delicious drink called Snow Leopard Salvation. Not sweet as it is made with Ginger Beer as one of the ingredients. Also, Jock Lindsay's Hangar Bar in Disney Springs has both innovative drinks and many appetizer choices, both of which change seasonally.

 

[Anthony1971]

It is Spring Break perhaps a resort caned cocktail will work.
BYO - Most resort stores have a nice selection - And a caned Margarita will make it look cheap.
Find a Real Bartender areas like DS come to mind and Deluxe resorts

Last resort turn your back as your fine selection is Dispensed

And those 10-15 Beers ain't such a bad price.

 

[emilyann704]

My go-to's are Old Fashioned's and Manhattan's and nearly anywhere will make you one. You're correct that most cocktails featured on Disney menus will be sugar bombs.

Dahlia Lounge at Coronado Springs has a great Old Fashioned and Gin and Tonic. And Enchanted Rose always strikes me as a real cocktail bar. If you've never been to Oga's or Beak and Barrel you should go once, for the ambiance, but don't expect a great drink. They're batched and sweet. For some reason I feel like you'll have better luck at hotel bars and restaurants at getting skilled, experienced bartenders to make you something to your style.

 

[zackiedawg]

I like both sweeter cocktails and more traditional, less sweet ones, so I'll do both when at Disney - depending on the mood and time of day.

Favorite bars for me are Geo 82, Territory Lounge, Nomad Lounge, Geyser Point, Crockett's Tavern, Art Smith's Shine Bar, Frontera Cocina, Jock Lindsay's, Dahlia Lounge, Topolino's Lounge/bar, Victoria Falls, Abracadabar, River Roost, and Outer RIm.

For the non-tropical drinks - Geo 82, Territory, Geyser, Crockett's, Shine Bar, Dahlia, Victoria Falls, and River Roost. For the more tropical sweeter ones, the other bars in that list.

There are a few spots that have really good drinks that are on the sweeter or tropical side but without tasting like pure sugar bombs, or having a combo sweet/tangy taste like some margaritas can. Frontera has some great margaritas, the Leaping Lizard at Nomad is pineapple and cachaca (a less sweet Brazilian rum alternative), River Roost's blood orange margarita is lovely and more tangy sweet. Jock's Cool Headed Monkey is sweet but has pineapple and tangerine to give it a bit more tang too.

Geo 82 does the best Old Fashioned, though Territory's is quite good too. And always remember, most of these are bars that can prepare any standard cocktails you want - you don't have to order the ones listed on the menu.