Cocktail Bar
Unclaimed profileChar
Albuquerque, NM · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Char's cocktail list leans into local flavors with drinks like the prickly pear and rosemary-spiked Taste of the Desert and the honey-heat Hot Mama. Brunch flights and a full mocktail lineup broaden the appeal. Wine and local beer fill out the program, while the $100 Wagyu Ol' Fashioned makes a statement.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Taste of the Desert ($17), a gin cocktail with prickly pear, rosemary syrup, and beet juice. For a warming kick, the Hot Mama ($17) pairs cinnamon tequila with New Mexico spicy honey. If you want a splurge, the Wagyu Ol' Fashioned ($100) showcases wagyu fat-washed whiskey.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail enthusiasts seeking creative, local-inflected drinks will find plenty to explore. The availability of several signature cocktails as mocktails makes it a welcoming stop for non-drinkers as well.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Signature cocktails run $15-$18, with brunch flights priced $22-$27. Wine by the glass starts at $8 and reaches $50, while bottles range from $45 to $180. Draft and canned beer are $7-$8. The Wagyu Ol' Fashioned tops the list at $100.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail menu draws on New Mexico ingredients—prickly pear, NM spicy honey—and offers three styles of Old Fashioned, including a charred marshmallow version. A wagyu fat-washed whiskey cocktail at $100 is a rare indulgence.
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
A creative cocktail list features local touches like prickly pear and NM spicy honey. Signature drinks include Taste of the Desert, Hot Mama, and Ponche, with several available as mocktails. Brunch flights add variety. Guest accounts praise presentation and generous pours.
Menu strengths
- — Uses local ingredients such as prickly pear, rosemary, and New Mexico spicy honey in signature drinks.
- — Offers brunch cocktail flights including Bloody Mary, Mimosa, and Café Frio options.
- — Several cocktails are available as mocktails, accommodating non-drinkers.
Standout selections
- — Taste of the Desert: gin, egg white, prickly pear, lemon, lime, rosemary syrup, beet juice ($17).
- — Hot Mama: hot cinnamon tequila, lemon, vanilla, NM spicy honey, bitters ($17).
- — Wagyu Ol' Fashioned: wagyu fat-washed premium whiskey, bitters, sugar ($100).
Pricing: $15-$18 per cocktail; brunch flights $22-$27
Wine
The wine list spans reds, whites, and sparkling wines, available by glass and bottle. Named selections include Justin and Stags' Leap Cabernet Sauvignon and La Marca Prosecco, with premium options reaching $180 per bottle.
Menu strengths
- — Offers a range of reds, whites, and sparkling wines by the glass or bottle.
- — Includes premium selections like Stags' Leap Cabernet Sauvignon and La Marca Prosecco.
Standout selections
- — Stags' Leap Cabernet Sauvignon: $25 for 6oz, $85 per bottle.
- — Justin Cabernet Sauvignon: $11 glass, $16 9oz, $60 bottle.
- — La Marca Prosecco: $8 glass, $12 9oz, $45 bottle.
Pricing: $8-$50 per glass; $45-$180 per bottle
Beer
The beer menu features domestic and local New Mexico craft beers, available on draft or in cans/bottles. Local picks like La Cumbre Elevated and Bosque Elephants on Parade are priced at $7-$8.
Menu strengths
- — Includes local New Mexico craft beers on draft and in cans/bottles.
Standout selections
- — La Cumbre Elevated: draft, $8.; Bosque Elephants on Parade: canned/bottled, $7.
Pricing: $7-$8
Nonalcoholic
Several signature cocktails, including Taste of the Desert and Ponche, are available as mocktails, priced the same as their alcoholic counterparts. This provides a substantial non-alcoholic option that mirrors the creativity of the main cocktail list.
Menu strengths
- — Offers non-alcoholic versions of popular signature cocktails like Taste of the Desert and Ponche.
- — Mocktails are priced consistently with cocktails, indicating full preparation and presentation.
Standout selections
- — Taste of the Desert (Mocktail): $17.; Ponche (Mocktail): $15.
Pricing: $15-$17
Spirits
Spirits are integral to the cocktail program, with bourbon, tequila, mezcal, gin, vodka, rum, and cachaça appearing across the menu. The standout is a Wagyu Ol' Fashioned made with wagyu fat-washed premium whiskey.
Menu strengths
- — Features premium and unique spirits, such as wagyu fat-washed whiskey.
- — A broad range of base spirits is used across the cocktail list.
Standout selections
- — Wagyu Ol' Fashioned: wagyu fat-washed premium whiskey, bitters, sugar ($100).
Pricing: Wagyu Ol' Fashioned at $100
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