Orlando has recently been fortunate enough to have a bit of a “cocktail revival” in it’s bar scene over the past couple of years. Having lived in Chicago and traveled to so many other large cities, I was a bit dissapointed when I first moved here in 2010. It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that sometimes this city falls behind its big brothers of Miami and Tampa when it comes to emerging trends. But, things are changing, and several new bars have popped up, giving me new hope for the drink scene. One of those, is called The Courtesy.
While maneuvering through a sea of bars in downtown Orlando that thrive on Jager Bombs, and watered down Long Island Ice Teas, the Mrs. and I stumbled into the Courtesy. We were greeted by a doorman dressed in flannel with a bow-tie who we actually thought was just a trendy bar patron, until he asked us for IDs. As we walked in, the brick decor, rustic wall decorations, and bartenders dressed in swanky vest/bow-tie/suspenders/hat combinations let us know these guys weren’t trying to be anything like what Orlando already had to offer. We sat down and just observed for a bit before looking at the menu. What did we notice? Cocktails being made from scratch with fresh ingredients, using all sorts of bar tools (not just jiggers and shakers), and a serious passion in their hands and eyes for making great drinks. Our wait was a bit long for our order to be taken, but to their credit, it was a packed Friday night.
We got a hold of a couple menus and were very impressed. Original drinks, classics revived (such as the Sazerac, Corpse Revivor), a section just dedicated to the several brands of absinthe they carry, and even house-made sodas. It’s a bit pricey if you’re use to a few $4 rum and cokes or $6 martinis. An avg drink on their menu is around $10 with the absinthe ranging a bit higher. Not bad though when you adjust for the time they put into making these. This ain’t no pre-made syrup and spirit combo. They do however have a happy hour from 5-8pm, Monday through Friday, that features $4 hand crafted punch, beers, wine, and wells for those of us without the biggest bank accounts. If you’re looking to try new drinks, or even classics re-imagined this is a good choice.
In addition to cool drinks with a speakeasy vibe, The Courtesy offers cocktail classes every 1st and 3rd Saturday where you can learn to make them yourself. Fish for a man, feed him for a day… you know the rest. It’s an awesome idea, and something you don’t find at most bars. We have yet to take advantage, but we plan on attending one soon and letting you know how it goes. If you’re in town, passing through, or just into traveling to try new things, The Courtesy is a good start.
The Courtesy is at 114 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL. For more information on you can visit their website at thecourtesybar.com.
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