Restaurant
Unclaimed profileMax Downtown
Hartford, CT · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Max Downtown runs a serious beverage operation out of its temporary Bar Max home. The cocktail list leans inventive, with house-made shrubs and infusions, while the whiskey bar stocks over 100 expressions. The wine program has earned Connecticut Magazine's Best Wine List. Happy hour brings discounted cocktails, beer, and wine to the Whiskey Bar.
- What should I order?
- Start with High Standards, a bourbon cocktail with raspberry-bourbon vanilla shrub and cocoa, or Greetings From Jalisco for a tequila-led option. For spirits, the Lagavulin 16 Year is a reliable pour. Happy hour offers discounted cocktails at $7.50.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail enthusiasts will appreciate the creative, house-made infusions. Whiskey lovers have a broad international selection. Wine drinkers can explore an award-winning list with premium bottles. Non-alcoholic drinkers have several zero-proof options.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Signature cocktails run $14-$17; happy hour cocktails are $7.50. Wines by the glass are $9.50-$19, and whiskey pours range from $3 to $48 per ounce. The Whiskey Wednesday event is $69 per person.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The beverage program spans inventive cocktails, a whiskey bar with over 100 expressions, and an award-winning wine list. The wine mezzanine is a notable feature.
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 menu features inventive signature drinks with house-made infusions and shrubs, plus seasonal specials. Prices are moderate, and happy hour offers a low-cost way to sample the program.
Menu strengths
- — Eight signature cocktails showcase creative ingredients like curry simple syrup, Sour Patch Kids-infused pisco, and cilantro-infused salted agave.
- — Seasonal specials and happy hour offerings keep the menu fresh and accessible.
Standout selections
- — High Standards — $15 — High West Bourbon, Cocchi Rosa, raspberry-bourbon vanilla shrub
- — Greetings From Jalisco — $14 — Espolon Blanco, Giffard strawberry, aloe vera acid, salted guava
- — Cloud 9 — $14 — Empress 1908 gin, Dolin genepy, grapefruit & honey
Pricing: $14-$17 for signature cocktails; happy hour cocktails $7.50
Wine
The wine list is extensive and award-winning, with a focus on Champagne, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon. It includes both accessible by-the-glass options and premium bottles like Cristal.
Menu strengths
- — Won Connecticut Magazine's Best Wine List, a mark of quality and breadth.
- — Features a wine mezzanine, adding architectural drama to the drinking experience.
- — Includes rare and premium bottles such as Louis Roederer Cristal 2014.
Standout selections
- — Louis Roederer Cristal 2014 — $599 per bottle
- — Champagne Brut, Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee — $49 half bottle
- — Sancerre, Pascal Jolivet, 2024 — $99 per bottle
Pricing: By-the-glass $9.50-$19; bottles $36-$599
Beer
The beer menu is a focused selection of craft brews with an emphasis on local Connecticut producers. It includes IPAs, a lager, and a non-alcoholic option.
Menu strengths
- — Features local Connecticut breweries like Counterweight and New Park Brewing.
- — Includes a non-alcoholic beer option from Athletic Brewing.
Standout selections
- — Counterweight 'Headway' IPA — $9.75; New Park Brewing 'Double Cloud' DIPA — $14.00
Pricing: $6.50-$16.00; happy hour beer $4-$5.50
Nonalcoholic
The non-alcoholic program extends beyond typical sodas, offering zero-proof cocktails crafted with spirits like CleanCo and Almave, plus beer and sparkling wine alternatives.
Menu strengths
- — Four non-alcoholic cocktails use zero-proof spirits and creative ingredients.
Standout selections
- — Lemon Tree (Non-Alcoholic) — $12 — 0.0% CleanCo London Dry Gin, Pllini Limoncello Zero Lemon, orange peel simple syrup
- — Sober Decisions — $11 — 0.0% Empress, Giffard Elderflower
- — One Mango After Another — $12 — Almave Blue Agave, Tajin-spiced basil
Pricing: Non-alcoholic cocktails $11-$12
Spirits
The whiskey bar is a centerpiece, with over 100 expressions from Kentucky, Tennessee, Japan, and beyond. Pours are available in 1oz and 2oz measures, and educational tastings are offered.
Menu strengths
- — Over 100 international whiskey expressions, including rare and allocated bottles.
- — Dedicated whiskey bar area within the venue.; Whiskey Wednesday educational tasting event with Basil Hayden.
Standout selections
- — Lagavulin 16 Year — $10/$19 for 1oz/2oz; WhistlePig 15 Year — $19/$38 for 1oz/2oz
Pricing: Whiskey pours $3-$48 per ounce; Whiskey Wednesday $69 per person
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