Bar
Unclaimed profileAl's Wine & Whiskey Lounge
Syracuse, NY · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Al's Wine & Whiskey Lounge runs a beverage program with unusual depth for a bar. The cocktail menu splits into nine Original's and ten Classics, plus a Free Style option for build-to-order drinks. The spirits wall holds more than 2,000 bottles. Draught beer covers IPA, stout, porter, pilsner, pale ale, wheat, sour and cider, with local names like Aurora and Middle Ages. Wine splits into red, white and rosé, with a global spread from Napa Cabernet to German Riesling.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Superbad, a French 75 style cocktail with Ferrand Cognac, Lillet Rouge, lemon juice, simple syrup and Champagne. For a bitter, gin-forward option, the Dodgeball mixes Ume plum liqueur, Uncle Val's Botanical Gin, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, Campari, lemon juice, egg white and a Luxardo cherry. If you prefer beer, the Aurora Brewing Co. Fresh to Death IPA is on draught at 6.8%.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- People who want a serious cocktail list and a deep spirits wall in the same stop. The two-section menu suits both classic drinkers and those who want something original. Beer drinkers get a broad draught range, and wine drinkers have red, white and rosé options.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The combination of a two-section cocktail menu with nine Original's and ten Classics, a Free Style build-to-order option, a spirits wall holding more than 2,000 bottles, and a draught list that spans IPA, stout, porter, pilsner, pale ale, wheat, sour and cider. The Citywide, Utica Club with a shot of Malort, is a local-specific order.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Two sections, Original's and Classics, with nine and ten drinks respectively. The range runs from a French 75 style Superbad to a Sazerac style The Hangover and an Old Fashioned variation with Guinness syrup. A Free Style option lets the bartender build to your specifications.
Menu strengths
- — Two-section menu with nine Original's and ten Classics gives a clear choice between house creations and standard drinks.
- — Free Style option where the bartender builds a cocktail to the guest's specifications.
Standout selections
- — Superbad — French 75 style cocktail with Ferrand Cognac, Lillet Rouge, lemon juice, simple syrup and Champagne.
- — Dodgeball — Ume plum liqueur, Uncle Val's Botanical Gin, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, Campari, lemon juice, egg white and Luxardo cherry garnish.
- — The Hangover — Sazerac style cocktail with Navy Strength Mount Gay Eclipse Rum, demerara syrup, grapefruit and lime bitters, absinthe rinse.
- — Old School — Old Fashioned with Guinness syrup, chocolate Aztec bitters and Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey.
Wine
Red, white and rosé sections. Reds include Cabernet, red blend, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Sirah and Pinot Noir. Whites include Chardonnay, Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Rosé lists Prosecco Martini & Rossi and Rosé A de Arínzano 2023.
Menu strengths
- — Red, white and rosé sections with multiple grape varieties in each.
- — Named selections span Napa, Mendoza, California, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Standout selections
- — Cabernet - Auspicion 2018 — Napa, California.; Malbec - Altos del Plata 2020 — Mendoza, Argentina.
- — Riesling - Leonard Kreusch 2021 — Germany.; Rosé - A de Arínzano 2023 — Spain.
Beer
Draught Beers section and a Bottle and Cans section. Draught covers IPA, stout, porter, pilsner, pale ale, wheat, sour, cider and light lagers. Bottle and can lists High Noon Peach, High Noon Passionfruit, PBR 24 oz., Surfside Vodka Iced Tea & Lemonade and Twisted Tea 24 oz.
Menu strengths
- — Draught list spans IPA, stout, porter, pilsner, pale ale, wheat, sour and cider.
- — Local and regional names on draught include Aurora Brewing Co., Middle Ages and Beak & Skiff.
Standout selections
- — Aurora Brewing Co. Fresh to Death IPA — Draught, 6.8%.
- — Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter — Draught, 6.0%.
- — Prison City Brewery Wham Whams Stout — Draught, 9.5%, 8oz.
Spirits
The spirits wall holds more than 2,000 bottles. The venue describes itself as a classic whiskey, wine, beer, tequila and all other possible spirits bar, and emphasizes liquor knowledge and individually mixed drinks. Reviewers consistently highlight a large and impressive selection, with one noting a specific hard-to-find spirit.
Menu strengths
- — Spirits wall holds more than 2,000 bottles.; Liquor knowledge and individually mixed drinks emphasized on the homepage.
Standout selections
- — Malort — a shot available at the bar.
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