Restaurant
Unclaimed profileThe Crown Tavern
Manchester, NH · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The Crown Tavern runs a beverage program with uncommon range for a restaurant. The cocktail list names its builds — Mamma Mia! With hibiscus-infused vodka and Bully Boy Amaro Rabarbaro, Desperado with HSC Patron Añejo and habanero — and the Chopscotch Manhattan Bar lets you pick a premium bourbon barrel. Wine spans Tiamo Prosecco to Caymus Cabernet, beer covers lagers to nitro stout with rotating drafts, and the whiskey list includes allocated pours like Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year and Heaven Hill Bootleg Series 11 Year. Zero-proof cocktails and non-alcoholic beers are treated as a real section, not an afterthought.
- What should I order?
- Start with a Chopscotch Manhattan Bar, choosing a premium bourbon barrel such as HSC Blantons for the $9 upcharge. For a lighter drink, the Kung Fu Panda mixes Toki Japanese whiskey, Lillet Blanc, Cocchi Americano, mandarin, and orange bitters. If you want wine, the Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon is available by the glass or the 1-liter bottle, and the Tiamo Prosecco is the value sparkling at $11 per glass.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Anyone who wants a serious whiskey pour alongside a full dinner, or a group that needs cocktails, wine, beer, and zero-proof options without compromising. The allocated bourbon list will appeal to collectors, while the sangria pitcher and broad beer selection suit a table ordering across courses.
- When should I go?
- Dinner, when the full cocktail, wine, and whiskey lists are most useful alongside food. The rotating draft list changes weekly, so a return visit can bring a different pour.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Signature cocktails are $14 to $18; the Chopscotch Manhattan Bar is $21 before barrel upgrades. Wine by the glass runs $11 to $28, bottles $42 to $140, and reserve reds $20 to $28 by the glass. Beer bottles and cans are $5 to $10. Featured whiskey pours are $50 to $200 for 2.5 oz.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The Chopscotch Manhattan Bar lets you choose a premium bourbon barrel for your Manhattan, and the featured whiskey list includes allocated bottles such as Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year, Old Fitzgerald 19 Year, and Heaven Hill Bootleg Series 11 Year, each poured at 2.5 oz with proof and tasting notes listed.
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 names its builds and covers a wide range, from the hibiscus-vodka Mamma Mia! To the whiskey-based Kung Fu Panda and the rum-and-ube Grown Ups. The Chopscotch Manhattan Bar adds a premium bourbon barrel choice, and sangria comes by the glass or pitcher in red and white.
Menu strengths
- — Named signature cocktails with specific spirits and modifiers, priced $14 to $18.
- — Chopscotch Manhattan Bar with Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters, and select barrels.
- — Sangria available by the glass or pitcher in red and white versions.
Standout selections
- — Mamma Mia! — $17 — hibiscus-infused vodka, lychee, Bully Boy Amaro Rabarbaro, strawberry, lemon.
- — Kung Fu Panda — $17 — Toki Japanese whiskey, Lillet Blanc, Cocchi Americano, mandarin, orange bitters.
- — Desperado — $18 — HSC Patron Añejo, mango, Patrón Citrónge, lime, habanero, Tajin rim.
Pricing: Signature cocktails $14–$18; Chopscotch Manhattan Bar $21 (HSC Blantons +$9); Sangria $15 glass / $54 pitcher.
Wine
The wine list runs from sparkling and rosé through white, red, and reserve red sections with named producers and regions. By-the-glass pricing starts at $11 and reserve reds reach $28, with bottles from $42 to $140. The reserve section includes Caymus and Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon.
Menu strengths
- — Broad list with sparkling & rosé, white, red, and reserve red sections.
- — Named producers and regions throughout, from Tiamo Prosecco to Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon.
- — Reserve red section with high-end options such as Caymus and Robert Mondavi.
Standout selections
- — Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 1 Liter — $28 / $140 — Napa Valley, California.
- — AIX Rosé — $14 / $54 — Provence, France.
- — La Crema Chardonnay — $13 / $48 — Sonoma Coast, California.
Pricing: By the glass $11–$28; bottles $42–$140; reserve reds $20–$28 glass / $78–$140 bottle; sparkling splits $26.
Beer
Beer covers bottles and cans across light & refreshing, ciders, sours, imperials/pales/ales, and malty & robust categories, with named breweries. The draft list includes domestics and rotating drafts updated weekly. Non-alcoholic beers are listed separately, an unusual addition for a restaurant program.
Menu strengths
- — Extensive bottled and canned selection across multiple styles with named breweries.
- — Draft list includes domestics and rotating drafts updated weekly.
- — Non-alcoholic beers listed separately, including Guinness 0.0 and Athletic.
Standout selections
- — Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine IPA 16oz — $10 — Imperials, pales & ales.
- — Allagash White 16oz — $8 — Light & refreshing.
- — Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout 12oz — $7 — Malty & robust.
- — To Share Brewing Crown West Coast IPA — on tap, 6.6%.
Pricing: Bottles and cans $5–$10; draft list includes domestics and rotating drafts.
Nonalcoholic
A dedicated zero-proof cocktail section lists the Strawberry Basil Gimlet and Passion Fruit Paloma, each $12, with the option to add liquor for $4. Non-alcoholic beers include Best Day Electro Lime, Guinness 0.0, Heineken 0.0, Athletic, Delerium Deleri0, and Lagunitas Hop Water.
Menu strengths
- — Dedicated zero-proof cocktail section with two named drinks.
- — Liquor substitution available for +$4 on zero-proof cocktails.
Standout selections
- — Strawberry Basil Gimlet — $12 — Ritual Gin Alternative, basil, lime, strawberry.
- — Passion Fruit Paloma — $12 — Ritual Agave Alternative, passionfruit, lime, soda.
- — Athletic (Upside Dawn, Free Wave, Run Wild) — non-alcoholic beer.
Pricing: Zero-proof cocktails $12 each; liquor substitution +$4.
Spirits
The spirits program is anchored by a featured whiskey list of highly allocated bourbons, poured at 2.5 oz with proof and tasting notes. Bourbon, rye, whiskey around the world, and cordials/ports/sipping categories are all represented. The range runs from everyday pours to Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year and Heaven Hill Bootleg Series 11 Year.
Menu strengths
- — Featured whiskey list includes highly allocated bourbons with detailed tasting notes and proof.
- — Separate bourbon, rye, whiskey around the world, and cordials/ports/sipping categories.
- — Featured whiskey pours range from $50 to $200 for 2.5 oz.
Standout selections
- — Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year — $150 — 107 proof; 2.5 oz pour.
- — Heaven Hill Bootleg Series 11 Year — $200 — 111.16 proof; wheated recipe aged 11 years, finished in Islay Scotch casks, cask strength; 2.5 oz pour.
- — Weller Full Proof — $50 — 114 proof; notes of crème brûlée & chocolate; 2.5 oz pour.
- — Blanton’s Gold — $60 — 103 proof; hints of spicy rye and tobacco, caramel & honey, dark fruit; 2.5 oz pour.
Pricing: Featured whiskey pours $50–$200 for 2.5 oz; bourbon $14–$75; rye $14–$50; whiskey around the world $11–$19; cordials, ports & sipping $10–$16.
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