Restaurant
Unclaimed profileMax's Tavern
Springfield, MA · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Max's Tavern, an American chophouse and cocktail bar, runs a beverage program with genuine range. Nine craft cocktails priced $11-$15 draw on mezcal, bourbon, gin, tequila, rum, and more, while the wine list moves from $10-$17 glasses to bottles like Champagne Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque 2014 at $430. Happy hour brings cocktails to $6.50, wine to $5.50, and beer cans to $4.50, and a dedicated zero-proof section covers NA wine, NA beer, and a zero-proof cocktail.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Basil Blaze, a mezcal cocktail with aloe vera and basil-infused simple syrup at $14, or the White Lotus with gin, lychee, cucumber, mint, and club soda at $14. For wine, the Cabernet Sauvignon Max Family Cuvée 2023 by the glass at $17 or the bottle at $60 is a direct route into the list.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Anyone ordering across categories: a cocktail drinker who wants mezcal, bourbon, or gin options; a wine drinker who wants by-the-glass range or a high-end bottle; a beer drinker who wants draft or a happy hour can; and a non-drinker who wants NA wine, NA beer, or a zero-proof cocktail.
- When should I go?
- Happy hour is the value window, with cocktails at $6.50, wine at $5.50, and beer cans at $4.50. The list also runs at lunch and dinner, so the full cocktail and wine range is available beyond happy hour.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Craft cocktails run $11-$15, wines by the glass $10-$17, bottles $32-$430, draft beer $6.50, bottled beer $4.50-$6.95, canned beer $8-$9.50, and non-alcoholic drinks $6-$14. Happy hour pricing drops cocktails to $6.50, wine to $5.50, and beer cans to $4.50.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- A chophouse with a cocktail list spanning mezcal, bourbon, gin, tequila, rum, and apple brandy, a wine list that reaches from $10 glasses to a $430 Champagne, and a zero-proof section with NA wine, NA beer, and a zero-proof cocktail.
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
Nine named craft cocktails priced $11-$15 draw on mezcal, vodka, rum, bourbon, gin, tequila, apple brandy, and triple sec. Happy hour cocktails at $6.50 include a Vodka Mule with Luksusowa vodka and a POM Margarita with Lunazul Blanco tequila, and two sangria variants appear: White Sangria with Pinot Grigio and Stateside vodka, and Rosé Sangria with apple brandy and triple sec.
Menu strengths
- — Nine named craft cocktails with spirit bases spanning mezcal, vodka, rum, bourbon, gin, tequila, apple brandy, and triple sec.
- — Happy hour cocktails at $6.50 include a Vodka Mule with Luksusowa vodka and a POM Margarita with Lunazul Blanco tequila.
- — Two sangria variants: White Sangria with Pinot Grigio and Stateside vodka, and Rosé Sangria with apple brandy and triple sec.
Standout selections
- — Basil Blaze: mezcal, aloe vera, basil-infused simple syrup, $14.
- — White Lotus: gin, lychee, cucumber, mint, club soda, $14.
- — Tropic Like it's Hot: ghost pepper tequila, guava, lime, tajin foam, $14.
- — Vodka Mule: Luksusowa vodka, lime, ginger beer, $6.50 at happy hour.
Pricing: Craft cocktails $11-$15; happy hour cocktails $6.50
Wine
An extensive bottle list spans sparkling, rosé, European whites, American whites, New World whites, French reds, Italian and Spanish reds, and American Cabernet Sauvignon. By-the-glass options include Prosecco, rosé, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Pouilly-Fumé, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Pinot Noir. High-end bottles reach Champagne Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque 2014 at $430 and Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall 2020 at $400.
Menu strengths
- — Bottle list spans sparkling, rosé, European whites, American whites, New World whites, French reds, Italian and Spanish reds, and American Cabernet Sauvignon.
- — By-the-glass range covers Prosecco, rosé, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Pouilly-Fumé, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Pinot Noir.
- — High-end selections include Champagne Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque 2014 at $430 and Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall 2020 at $400.
Standout selections
- — Champagne Brut, Perrier-Jouët, Belle Époque Brut 2014, Épernay, $430.
- — Cabernet Sauvignon, Kathryn Hall, 2020, St. Helena, $400.
- — Cabernet Sauvignon, Max Family Cuvée, 2023, Napa, $17 by the glass / $60 bottle.
- — Pinot Noir, Imagery, 2024, Sonoma, $11 by the glass / $40 bottle.
Pricing: By the glass $10-$17; bottles $32-$430; happy hour wine $5.50
Beer
Draft selections include Thomas Hooker 'Brewtus Maximus' American Pale Ale (Bloomfield, CT) 5.5% and Peroni Nastro Azzurro (Italy) 5%, each $6.50.
Menu strengths
- — Draft selections include Thomas Hooker 'Brewtus Maximus' American Pale Ale (Bloomfield, CT) 5.5% and Peroni Nastro Azzurro (Italy) 5%, each $6.50.
- — Bottled and canned range covers Coors Light, Bud Light, Corona, Sam Adams Lager, Blue Moon, Miller Light, Yuengling, Heineken, Amstel Light, Lagunitas IPA, Michelob Ultra, Guinness, and Champlain Orchards Farmstand Cider.
- — Happy hour cans at $4.50 include Sam Adams 'Juicy IPA' New England IPA 7% abv and Sam Adams 'Summer Ale' American Pale Wheat 5.3% abv.
Standout selections
- — Thomas Hooker 'Brewtus Maximus' American Pale Ale, Bloomfield, CT, 5.5% abv, draft, $6.50.
- — Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Italy, 5% abv, draft, $6.50.
- — Sam Adams 'Juicy IPA' New England IPA, 7% abv, happy hour can, $4.50.
Pricing: Draft $6.50; bottled $4.50-$6.95; canned $8-$9.50; happy hour cans $4.50
Nonalcoholic
Zero-proof cocktail Guava Good Time with CleanCo T, guava juice, lime, and ginger beer at $10.
Menu strengths
- — Dedicated zero-proof section with NA wine, NA beer, and a zero-proof cocktail.
- — Zero-proof cocktail Guava Good Time with CleanCo T, guava juice, lime, and ginger beer at $10.
- — Happy hour includes Sam Adams Just The Haze (NA) Hazy IPA <0.5% abv at $4.50.
Standout selections
- — Misty Cliffs Red Blend NA, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, $14.
- — Dr. Fischer Steinbock NA Sparkling Brut, Riesling, $10.
- — Guava Good Time: CleanCo T, guava juice, lime, ginger beer, $10.
Pricing: $6-$14; happy hour NA beer $4.50
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