Cocktail Bar
Unclaimed profileRestaurant Cotton
Monroe, LA · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Restaurant Cotton has been a cocktail institution since 2008, and its beverage program backs up the claim. The dinner menu lists eight signature cocktails and six classics, all with named ingredients, priced $11-$13. A separate upstairs bar, The Eli, offers two-for-one espresso martinis, sazeracs, and old fashioneds on select days. The wine list exceeds 100 selections, with weekend flights. Forty bourbons and twenty whiskeys anchor a spirits program that includes named flights like Charter the Plane and Captain in the Rye.
- What should I order?
- Start with The Rosemary Pear, made with Absolut pear vodka, house-infused rosemary simple syrup, lemon, lime, and a torched rosemary sprig. For whiskey, try the Charter the Plane flight featuring Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Bulleit, and Angels Envy. Wine drinkers can order the Flight Around the World, a $17 selection of four wines by the glass.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- This program suits drinkers who value a broad whiskey selection, classic cocktails with precise modifiers, and a wine list with by-the-glass range. The two-for-one offers at The Eli on select days appeal to those seeking value.
- When should I go?
- Weekends bring wine flights. Select days at The Eli feature two-for-one espresso martinis, sazeracs, and old fashioneds.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails $11-$13. Wine by the glass $8.50-$14.50; bottles $32.25-$62. Whiskey flights $15-$19; tequila margarita flight $15. Draft beers $8-$8.50.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The building historically served as a hub for cotton and bourbon transportation, and the program leans into that with 40 bourbons, 20 whiskeys, and a cocktail list that spans signature and classic categories. The upstairs bar, The Eli, adds a separate option with its own two-for-one specials.
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 includes eight signature and six classic drinks, all with named spirits and modifiers. The Rosemary Pear uses Absolut pear vodka and house-infused rosemary syrup; the Whiskey Smash combines rye, mint, lemon, Peychaud's, and gum syrup. The program is award-winning and the venue calls itself a cocktail institution since 2008.
Menu strengths
- — Award-winning handcrafted cocktail program with eight signature and six classic cocktails
- — Named ingredients and specific spirits across the list, priced $11-$13
Standout selections
- — The Rosemary Pear: Absolut pear vodka, house-infused rosemary simple syrup, lemon, lime, torched rosemary sprig, $13
- — Whiskey Smash: rye whiskey, mint, lemon, Peychaud's bitters, gum syrup, torched lemon twist, $12
Pricing: $11-$13
Wine
Over 100 wine selections are available, with reds and whites by the glass. House wines are $8.50; named wines range $10-$14.50 by the glass and $32.25-$62 by the bottle. Weekend wine flights include the Flight Around the World, a $17 tasting of four wines.
Menu strengths
- — Over 100 wine selections with by-the-glass options across red and white
- — Weekend wine flights, including the $17 Flight Around the World
Standout selections
- — Schug Pinot Noir, $12.50 by the glass or $53 by the bottle
- — Flight Around the World: Starmont Chardonnay, Honig Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, St. Christopher Riesling, $17
Pricing: Glass $8.50-$14.50; bottles $32.25-$62
Beer
Five beers on tap include local and craft options. Draft pours are priced $8-$8.50. The selection covers a range from local Louisiana breweries to domestic and craft labels.
Menu strengths
- — Five beers on tap with local and craft options
Standout selections
- — Ghost in the Machine IPA, $8.50 on tap
- — Abita Strawberry or Andygator — 8 — Beer on tap.
Pricing: $8-$8.50
Spirits
The spirits program includes 40 types of bourbons and 20 types of whiskeys. Named whiskey flights are priced $15-$19 and include Charter the Plane, Captain in the Rye, and Whisk Me Away. A tequila margarita flight, Prop Plane to Tijuana, is $15. The Eli offers two-for-one old fashioneds, sazeracs, and espresso martinis on select days.
Menu strengths
- — 40 bourbons and 20 whiskeys with named flights
- — Two-for-one old fashioneds, sazeracs, and espresso martinis at The Eli on select days
Standout selections
- — Charter the Plane flight: Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Bulleit, Angels Envy, $19
- — Captain in the Rye flight: Sazerac, Rittenhouse, Michters, Bulleit, $17
Pricing: Whiskey flights $15-$19; tequila flight $15
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