Cocktail bar
Unclaimed profileGustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar - Waltham
Waltham, MA · $$$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar runs a serious Cuban-leaning bar program. Cocktails split house originals and classics, with the Santiago Sour and Hemingway Daiquiri drawing guest praise. Wine spans by-the-glass, half bottles, and bottles with international reach. Draft beer leans on Massachusetts breweries, and the nonalcoholic list includes inventive mocktails like the Smokey Cuban.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Santiago Sour ($16), a bourbon-based original with mint syrup, lemon, egg white, and a red wine float. For a rum classic, the Hemingway Daiquiri ($15) balances white rum, Luxardo, grapefruit, and lime. Guests also recommend the ginger mojito.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail drinkers who want Cuban-inspired originals and well-known classics will find plenty. The nonalcoholic list, including the Smokey Cuban and No-Jito, gives designated drivers creative options. Wine drinkers can explore a list that includes organic and specialty selections.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails run $15 to $16, with mojito flavor upgrades adding $1. Wine by the glass is $12 to $15, drafts $8 to $12, and mocktails $9.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail menu is split into Gustazo Originals and All Time Classics, with originals priced at $16 and classics at $15. The Santiago Sour, Cuban Cigar, and Golden Sands show an ambitious range. A mojito can be customized with mango, guava, pineapple, ginger, or coconut.
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 program separates house originals from classics, with detailed recipes and a $1 mojito flavor upgrade. Guests have praised the Santiago Sour, ginger mojito, and Hemingway Daiquiri, and one Cuban-heritage reviewer found the mojitos exceptional.
Menu strengths
- — Menu balances inventive originals like Spice & Smoke and Golden Sands with classics such as the Hemingway Daiquiri and Mojito.
- — Guest feedback specifically calls out the Santiago Sour, ginger mojito, and Hemingway Daiquiri for quality.
Standout selections
- — Santiago Sour – bourbon, mint syrup, lemon, egg white, red wine ($16)
- — Hemingway Daiquiri – white rum, Luxardo, grapefruit, lime ($15)
- — Guava Blossoms – gin, elderflower, guava, lemon ($16)
Pricing: $15-$16
Wine
The wine list is organized by glass, half bottle, and bottle, featuring an international range from Sardinia to Chile. Organic and specialty wines are included. Glass pours start at $12, and the list includes Provence rosé and Champagne.
Menu strengths
- — Offers by-the-glass, half-bottle, and bottle formats, with a wide price span.
- — Includes organic and specialty wines, such as Ossian Quintaluna Organic Verdejo.
- — Half-bottle selections reach Champagne and Billecart-Salmon rosé, adding range.
Standout selections
- — Surrau 'Limizzani' Vermentino – Gallura, Sardinia, Italy ($12 glass / $38 bottle)
- — Salomon-Undhof 'Wieden' Gruner Veltliner – Austria ($15 glass / $47 bottle)
- — Forge Cellars Classique Dry Riesling – Seneca Lake, NY ($14 glass / $52 bottle)
Pricing: $12-$15 glass, $22-$60 half bottle, $36-$99 bottle
Beer
The draft list features Massachusetts breweries like Cambridge Brewing Company and Exhibit A, with a Maine IPA at $12. Bottles and cans include Allagash White and Cigar City Jai Alai. Two non-alcoholic beers are also on offer.
Menu strengths
- — Draft list highlights local Massachusetts breweries, including Cambridge Brewing Company and Exhibit A.
- — Bottled/canned selection includes Belgian-style white ale and a Florida IPA.
- — Non-alcoholic beer options include Athletic Brewing Running Wild IPA.
Standout selections
- — Cambridge Brewing Company Remain in the Light American Lager – MA, 5% ABV ($8)
- — Maine Brewing Co. Lunch IPA – ME, 7% ABV ($12)
Pricing: $8-$12 draft, $7-$12 bottle/can
Nonalcoholic
The nonalcoholic program includes three $9 mocktails with creative ingredients like lapsang souchong tea and coconut cream. Also available are hibiscus sparkling lemonade and nonalcoholic mojitos, plus nonalcoholic beers. The Smokey Cuban stands out for its tea-based complexity.
Menu strengths
- — Mocktails are inventive and themed, with the Smokey Cuban using lapsang souchong tea and tobacco spray.
- — Variety extends beyond mocktails to sparkling lemonade and nonalcoholic mojitos.
Standout selections
- — Smokey Cuban – lapsang souchong tea, cinnamon, bitters, tobacco spray ($9)
- — Coconut Marteani – coconut cream, green tea, lemongrass ($9)
Pricing: $3-$9
How it sits with the food
Cuban-themed cocktails like the Guava Blossoms and Spice & Smoke are built to pair with the kitchen's bold flavors, and the wine list includes Spanish and French bottles that suit the menu.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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