Cocktail Bar
Unclaimed profileThe Laurel
West Hartford, CT · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The Laurel runs a serious, original cocktail program under Bar Director Abraham Rojas. Expect fifteen-dollar drinks built on techniques like milk clarification and lacto-fermentation, with ingredients ranging from Tom Kha broth to matsutake shoyu. The wine and beer lists are global and well-priced, and the zero-proof section holds its own. Happy hour offers a cheaper entry point, but the full menu is where the ambition shows.
- What should I order?
- Start with Pink Corvette, a milk-clarified mezcal drink with Génépy, yuzu, raspberry, vanilla, and huacatay. For something darker, Strawberry After Dark layers Japanese whiskey with strawberry amaro, Fernet Branca, cacao, and matsutake shoyu. Happy hour classics run $9.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail enthusiasts who appreciate technical, ingredient-driven drinks will find much to explore. Wine drinkers will appreciate the global by-the-glass list, and those avoiding alcohol have dedicated zero-proof options beyond a single mocktail.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails run $15-$16, wines by the glass $13-$14, and beers $6-$9. Zero-proof cocktails are $11-$12. Happy hour drops prices significantly: cocktails $9, wines $7, and canned beers $4-$6.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail list is the draw, with original recipes that lean into savory and fermented ingredients—think coconut rum, Batavia Arrack, celery liqueur, and Tom Kha broth in Clouded Judgment. Techniques like milk clarification and lacto-fermentation are applied to drinks like Pink Corvette and Mint Condition. Bar Director Abraham Rojas is named on the menu, signaling a dedicated hand.
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
A creative, original list with detailed ingredients and advanced techniques like milk clarification and lacto-fermentation. Eight signature cocktails are priced $15-$16, with happy hour classics at $9. Customer reviews praise the drinks as well-balanced, refreshing, and creative.
Menu strengths
- — Eight original cocktails with detailed recipes and unusual ingredients such as Tom Kha broth, pandan, and matsutake shoyu.
- — Techniques like milk clarification and lacto-fermentation show a lab-minded approach.
- — Happy hour offers classic cocktails at $9, making the program accessible.
Standout selections
- — Pink Corvette (milk clarified): mezcal, Génépy, Ancho Verde, yuzu, raspberry, vanilla, huacatay, Calpico foam.
- — Strawberry After Dark: Iwai Japanese whiskey, strawberry amaro, Fernet Branca, cacao, matsutake shoyu.
- — Clouded Judgment: coconut rum, Batavia Arrack, celery liqueur, Tom Kha broth, shallot cordial, lime, sesame oil.
- — Mint Condition: aquavit, Midori, Branca Menta, lacto-fermented kiwi, pandan, tarragon, Vinho Verde.
Pricing: $15-$16; happy hour classics $9
Wine
Wine list covers sparkling, white, rosé, and red by the glass and bottle, with a global focus. Selections include Spanish cava, South African Chenin Blanc, Portuguese Vinho Verde, and more. Happy hour wines are $7.
Menu strengths
- — Global selection includes Spain, South Africa, Portugal, and beyond.
- — By-the-glass range is reasonably priced at $13-$14.; Happy hour offers wines at $7.
Standout selections
- — Bosman 8 Generation Chenin Blanc '23 (Wellington, South Africa).
- — Quinta de Santiago White Blend '23 (Vinho Verde, Portugal).
- — Aslina Sauvignon Blanc '22 (Western Cape, South Africa).
Pricing: $13-$15 by the glass; happy hour $7
Beer
A compact but diverse list mixing local craft with classics. Draft pours include Allagash White, Zero Gravity Conehead, and Murphy's Irish Stout, while cans offer Hamm's, Stella Artois, and non-alcoholic Athletic options. Happy hour features cans from $4.
Menu strengths
- — Local options include Dead Language Beer Project from Hartford and Athletic Brewing from Milford.
- — Range covers wheat ale, IPA, lager, stout, and non-alcoholic styles.
- — Happy hour pricing on canned beer is sharp.
Standout selections
- — Allagash White (Belgian-style wheat, Maine).; Zero Gravity Conehead (IPA, Vermont).
- — Dead Language Beer Project Bat Out of Helles (Hartford).
Pricing: Draft $8-$9; cans $6-$13; happy hour $4-$6
Nonalcoholic
A dedicated zero-proof section offers two non-alcoholic cocktails with complex ingredients like Amass Riverine and Lyre's Amalfi Spritz, plus two Athletic non-alcoholic beers. Prices are reasonable at $11-$12 for cocktails.
Menu strengths
- — Two original zero-proof cocktails with layered ingredients.; Non-alcoholic beer options from Athletic Brewing.
Standout selections
- — Floral Gang: Amass Riverine, Lucano Amaro, grapefruit, osmanthus, garam masala.
- — Bittersweet Symphony: Lyre's Amalfi Spritz, Giffard pamplemousse, ginger, lemon, cucumber-lavender bitters, grapefruit soda.
Pricing: Zero-proof cocktails $11-$12; NA beers $8
Spirits
Spirits are integral to the cocktail program, with rum, whiskey, mezcal, gin, vodka, and aquavit used across the menu. Customer accounts note a well-stocked bar with yellow and green Chartreuse on display. Bar Director Abraham Rojas oversees the program.
Menu strengths
- — Bar Director Abraham Rojas is named on menu documents.
- — A customer review noted Chartreuse on display, and the bar secured a bottle of yellow Chartreuse.
- — Spirit diversity is high, from Japanese whiskey to Batavia Arrack.
Standout selections
- — Green Chartreuse; Spirits are used extensively in cocktails, including rum, whiskey, mezcal, gin, vodka, and aquavit.
Community reviews
Anyone with a free Inebrious account can rate the drinks here. Community ratings are kept entirely separate from the Inebrious editorial score above.
No community reviews yet. Be the first to write one.