Cocktails & Spirits Stories

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Gather ‘round the bar, catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and enjoy a warm sense of camaraderie while hoisting a drink or two at one of the many Irish pubs in Grand Rapids. Known for stout... Read More ›

Cocktail Week GR returns for the third year, November 8 - 19, taking craft cocktails to a whole new level throughout Grand Rapids. Over 40 establishments are participating this year offering two... Read More ›

Grand Rapids may be known as Beer City USA , but that’s not the only drink in town. With overflowing apple orchards and crisp fall weather, craft cider flows as strong as the Grand River. Unlike its... Read More ›

On Draft Of the 50 beers on draft, three are on nitro. Because of the sheer abundance of “so much great beer from our state,” Smith currently allocates about 80% of the tap handles to Michigan beer.... Read More ›

There’s no denying Grand Rapids’ brunch scene is growing, and with it, there are more options than ever to find the perfect Bloody Mary. From full-service Bloody Mary bars, to secret recipes and... Read More ›

The West Side of Grand Rapids is transforming, making the beloved neighborhood a destination for dining, shopping, and nightlife. In 2015, we saw the addition of Harmony Hall and Black Heron to the... Read More ›

Foodies rejoice! With so many new restaurants opening regularly in and around Grand Rapids, there’s always a new place to savor innovative, delicious fare. In a post last month , we talked about... Read More ›

This year's Cocktail Week Grand Rapids runs from November 9th-20th, when local bars, distilleries, and restaurants showcase West Michigan's craft beverage culture. For $25 or less, you can enjoy two... Read More ›

Craft beverage selection: 9 beers on draft, all proudly from MI, and nearly 10 hard ciders, too. Craft beer and MI cider flights available, each with four healthy 5-oz. pours. Kid friendly Kids’ menu... Read More ›

Have you ever had a Negroni? I hadn't even HEARD of a Negroni until June of 2015, when the Grand Rapids Cocktail Guild brought the first Negroni Week to Grand Rapids. After a successful week of... Read More ›

The grass is green, the trees are budding, and spring is in the air! After snuggling up with warm drinks by the fireplace for months, it’s time for something cooler. If the nicer weather has you craving a margarita, you’re in luck. Whether you prefer frozen or on the rocks, Grand Rapids has plenty of amazing Mexican restaurants that serve plenty of tasty margaritas. We’re not just talking tequila and mix here. As we head into May, join the fun for Cinco de Mayo and check out the innovative margaritas—and delicious food—at one, or more, of these local restaurants.... Read More ›

Wine has a way of bringing people together, and Grand Rapids is the perfect place to gather with the people you love.  A wine bar is traditionally thought of as a bar that offers more than 20 wines by the glass and more than 100 wines by the bottle.  While not all 13 meet those requirements, these destinations have impressive wine lists and make up for the number fudging in atmosphere, excellent service, and food quality.  If you're looking for the grapes and bubbles in the area, this is a good place to start!... Read More ›

In my opinion, a year in the customer service industry should be just as required as the two semesters of a foreign language in college. Service, particularly in the food and beverage sector, provides a unique world view for every one who partakes. It's also just a fun job!  Heather Missad, a Grand Rapids service industry trailblazer, might agree with me. "I love creating a legacy for other people who treat this job as a profession," says Missad. In the past twenty years, Heather has been a part of GR's cocktail culture from the ground up.  After admitting how behind the times the city had been in the past, she says "I understood Grand Rapids was going to come into its own...and I wanted to be a part of its growing up." After opening restaurants all over the city and helping the staff prepare to move forward with creative cocktails, Missad finally feels as though Grand Rapids has made progress toward that goal. She credits restaurants as the main reason this transition has not been pretentious: the slow ease into the cocktail scene has made it accessible and fun for all palates.... Read More ›

There are certain realities about bartenders that the casual beverage consumer understands. They should be good listeners, it's awesome when they memorize your drink of choice, and it's weird to see them out in real life without the bar between you.  But what about that fact that they are artists: creative, socially adept, and chock full of pairings, recommendations, and drink know-how?  Grand Rapids is lucky to have many local bartenders that fit this description. I spoke with Josh Hallwachs, General Manager at Grand Rapids Brewing Company , to hear about his journey in the beverage business.... Read More ›

This is a guest post by Tory O'Hare, Founder of the Grand Rapids Cocktail Guild . With the Grand Rapids Cocktail Guild’s mission reflecting the group’s passion and desire for strengthening West Michigan’s cocktail culture, and ExperienceGR’s consistent creative efforts to boost Grand Rapids’ community engagement, a cocktail festival seems like the perfect collaboration. The Grand Rapids Cocktail Guild is excited to join Experience Grand Rapids and the Michigan Distiller’s Guild to invite you to the first-ever Grand Rapids Cocktail Week! We’re kicking off an 11-day long celebration focuses on the burgeoning cocktail movement and helping the public explore and educate themselves to enjoy a higher standard of drinking culture, plus encourages local bars and restaurants to step up the caliber of their spirits programs and learn more about Michigan and craft distilleries.... Read More ›

November 11-22 is gearing up to be quite an exciting transition into the 2015 Holiday Season!  The GR Cocktail Guild is excited to bring the 1st Annual Cocktail Week GR to town. Photo Courtesy of Experience GR The cocktail culture has been growing in Grand Rapids for years now: local bars, bartenders, new distilleries, and passionate sippers have made cocktails just as relevant and just as hand-crafted as craft beer.  The Grand Rapids Cocktail Guild was founded in March of 2015 by chef and cocktail lover Torrence O'Haire and is making waves in the hand-crafted culture of West Michigan, and this year, for eleven days you can enjoy events around town designed to showcase the talents and local ingredients of bartenders all over the city. ... Read More ›

Grand Rapids supports her culinary and craft beverage cultures with a number of creative events around town. This year, GRs first Negroni Week will occupy the minds and menus of thirty-three local... Read More ›

From February 1 - February 28 th , you'll be seeing a lot of pink in Grand Rapids, and not just because of Valentine's Day! Local hotels, businesses, and restaurants have designed packages and events... Read More ›

Photo Courtesy of Long Road Distillers Grand Rapids has nurtured craft beer lovers for around a decade now, calling all types of beer drinkers to appreciate the subtlety of just four ingredients.... Read More ›

What do you get when you mix history, fine Bourbon, and a whole lot of knowledge? The Grand Cocktail 2013 winners! The contest, which took place during Grand Rapids' Restaurant Week , challenged local... Read More ›

When we arrived in Grand Rapids last Saturday afternoon, the city was alive . My husband and I and our friends Jeff and Lisa from Chicago had come to enjoy an evening in the city and to enjoy... Read More ›

As a thirty-something mom I don't usually make a big deal out of my birthday (in fact, over the last few years I have started regularly forgetting how old I am). But last month I turned 35, and I... Read More ›