The Vortex is known for its wide-ranging beer list, but these days Michael Benoit wants to make sure that there are some fun and different cocktails at the Vortex for liquor lovers. Well, he (and his staff) have done some serious testing to come up with a drink list worthy of the Vortex’s eclectic clientele (where else do lawyers, bikers, and college kids mix and mingle daily?)
The featured drink is of-course skull-themed and potent. It is the new SKULL CRUSHER. (This word must be in serious capital letters as I picture myself saying it with a deep movie voice.) The list is summer-y and fun and on the fruity and sweet side of the spectrum. No lavender, ginger, or London Dry Gin featured on this puppy. That crap is for boring old people.
Alison and I met Michael and Kristen for some tasting this past week at the Vortex Midtown. We sat down and observed that many people around us were already enjoying the fun cocktails (in various colors of pink, orange, lime green…) Michael had already ordered the Tangy Tini – a mixture of Three Olives Rang Tang vodka with orange and lime juice. It tasted exactly like Tang – gross – unless you like Tang, of course – which it seems many people do.
The four of us ordered the SKULL CRUSHER and the Frozen Bikini (our first frozen drink!) Quite frankly, we did not know what to expect. Michael has said that his intention was not to create serious drinks for serious drinkers, but fun drinks for fun drinkers. Indeed, they were both damn tasty and fun – even if you really should not have more than two sips of each.
Don’t forget our ratings scale is between 1 and 5 Olives. One Olive = waste of my blogging time; 5 Olives = oh my goodness/yummmmmm
The SKULL CRUSHER consists (are you ready?) of premium tequila, vodka, rum, bourbon, various other cordials and is topped with a sparkling peach wine (to keep it classy) - NOTE: two drink maximum per visit….
Presentation : 1 Olive – This is just a big old glass of booze on ice with a fat straw. Nothing pretty about it. But it will soon come in a collectible skull glass so be sure to check that one out. But let’s face it – no one ordering this drink cares what it looks like.
Taste: 3 Olives -This tastes better than you could possibly expect a drink full of nothing but booze in it. It is the liquor equivalent of the “suicide” soda drink you made as a kid with all of the available flavors at the soda machine at the skating rink. Or was that just me? This really tastes dangerously good and smooth. But you should only order this if you goal is to get hammered. I felt this after 2 sips. I liked that it didn’t taste too boozy. Not one of the liquors stood out – they all hit you in tiny millisecond increments. Good thing they didn’t sell these is college at Waldo’s. (Notice Michael’s face as he sips this drink above.)
Creativity: 5 Olives- Don’t try this one at home. Trying to mix this many liquors in one drink that actually tastes decent – no small feat.
Overall: 3.5 Olives. Be careful. Be very very careful.
The Frozen Bikini is our first frozen drink made with Stoli vodka, Orange juice, lime juice, mango, and champagne.
Presentation: 4.5 Olives – lovely mango frozen joy with garnish!
Taste: 3.5 Olives – A fancy daiquiri – yummy and fit for these hot summer days. Smooth and not too sweet.
Creativity: 4 Olives – Try counting on one hand the number of bars selling frozen cocktails in Atlanta.
Overall: 4 Olives – We completely enjoyed this one but again, one was plenty!
Michael and his staff have brought a whole new level to the Vortex. Nothing goes better with that double burger with egg, cheese, bacon, mayonnaise and whatever else it may have on it – than the SKULL CRUSHER.