Restaurant
Unclaimed profileBlue Elephant Trail
West Hartford, CT · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Blue Elephant Trail's beverage program leans on a playful, Thai-inspired cocktail list with eight specials, including the pineapple-and-coconut The Blue Elephant and the bourbon-forward Thai Basil Bourbon. Happy hour at the bar drops cocktails, draft beers, and house wines to $5. The wine list is white-focused but varied, and the beer selection pulls in local Connecticut drafts. A solid, affordable stop for drinks before or after Thai food.
- What should I order?
- Start with The Blue Elephant, a pineapple vodka, coconut rum, and blue curacao mix that leans sweet and tropical. For something more spirit-forward, the Thai Basil Bourbon uses Larceny Bourbon with basil, honey, and lemon. If you're at the bar during happy hour, any of the $5 cocktails are a deal.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail drinkers who like fruity, rum- and vodka-based drinks with Thai accents will find plenty to explore. Those who prefer a straightforward beer or a glass of white wine will also be covered. The $5 happy hour at the bar makes it an easy choice for a casual after-work drink.
- When should I go?
- Happy hour is served only at the bar, so go then if you want the $5 cocktail, draft beer, or house wine deals. This is also a convenient time to sample a couple of the cocktail specials without committing to full prices.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails run $11-$13, with happy hour cocktails at $5. House wines are $5 during happy hour, while by-the-glass white wines are $8-$14. Draft beers are $5 at happy hour; bottled beers are $5-$5.50.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail menu's Thai-inspired direction is the main draw, with infusions like lemongrass and cucumber vodka and drinks built around Thai iced tea and basil. The Spiked Thai Iced Tea, mixing Thai iced tea with spiced rum, bourbon, and Irish cream, is a signature idea you won't find everywhere.
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
The cocktail list is the most developed part of the beverage program, with eight Thai-inspired specials that use infused vodkas, coconut rum, and ingredients like lemongrass, basil, and Thai iced tea. Pricing is moderate, and happy hour offers a significant discount at the bar.
Menu strengths
- — Eight named cocktail specials, all with distinct Thai-inspired flavor profiles and infused spirits.
- — Happy hour at the bar drops cocktails to $5, making the program accessible.
- — Cocktails range from tropical (The Blue Elephant) to spirit-forward (Thai Basil Bourbon).
Standout selections
- — The Blue Elephant: pineapple vodka, coconut rum, blue curacao, pineapple.
- — Thai Basil Bourbon: Larceny Bourbon, basil, honey, lemon.
- — Spiked Thai Iced Tea: Thai iced tea, spiced rum, bourbon, Irish cream.
Pricing: $11-$13 for specials; $5 at happy hour (bar only)
Wine
The wine list is white-focused, with five labels from California, New Zealand, Washington, and France. It's a serviceable selection for a Thai restaurant, but red wine options are not listed on retrieved menus. Happy hour house wines are a bargain.
Menu strengths
- — Offers a variety of white wines from different regions, including a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a Washington Riesling.
- — Happy hour house wines (Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Sauvignon) are priced at $5.
Standout selections
- — Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, NZ) - $10 glass / $38 bottle.
- — Kung Fu Girl Riesling (Washington State) - $9 glass / $32 bottle.
- — House Pinot Grigio - $5 at happy hour.
Pricing: $8-$14 per glass, $28-$51 per bottle; $5 house wines at happy hour
Beer
The beer program includes local Connecticut drafts like City Steam Naughty Nurse and Counterweight Headway, plus a bottled list with Thai Singha and American standards. Drafts appear on the happy hour menu, making it a good value for craft beer fans.
Menu strengths
- — Local Connecticut craft options on draft, including an English bitter and an American IPA.
- — Bottled list includes international and domestic choices, with Singha as a nod to Thai cuisine.
Standout selections
- — Counterweight Headway (American IPA, 6.5%, Connecticut) - $5.
- — City Steam Naughty Nurse (English Bitter, 5.0%, Connecticut) - $5.
Pricing: $5 for happy hour drafts; $5-$5.50 for bottled beers
Nonalcoholic
The non-alcoholic program is basic, with standard soft drinks and Thai iced tea and coffee available. It's functional but lacks a dedicated mocktail section. Thai iced tea is a fitting option for the cuisine.
Menu strengths
- — Offers Thai iced tea and coffee, which are traditional and pair with the menu.
Standout selections
- — Thai Iced Tea — Traditional Thai iced tea
Pricing: Soft drinks $2.50 (dinner) / $3.50 (lunch), free refills
Spirits
Spirits are present only through their use in specialty cocktails, with no standalone spirits list or pours.
Menu strengths
- — Spirits are used in a variety of specialty cocktails, showing some range.
- — Larceny Bourbon is featured in the Thai Basil Bourbon cocktail.
Standout selections
- — Happy hour menu lists cocktails with vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and bourbon.
Community reviews
Anyone with a free Inebrious account can rate the drinks here. Community ratings are kept entirely separate from the Inebrious editorial score above.
No community reviews yet. Be the first to write one.