For the first Thirsty Thursday of spring, I’m highlighting The Spice, a brand new cocktail on the new spring drink menu at Punch! Bar & Lounge. In two glasses, The Spice cocktail ($15) has bourbon as its base mixed with cilantro-infused limoncello, vanilla, ginger, and yuzu lemonade, plus a silvery spice mélange served on the side. This cocktail’s delicious lemon citrus tasted so good with notes of warm bourbon and caramelized vanilla.
Before adding the accompanying spice mélange, The Spice was a fantastic bourbon cocktail as is, but sprinkling the medley of coriander, chili lime, sugar, and blue luster dust refashioned the drink to a darker, glittery shade and a more sparkly sour flavor. It was fun to spike The Spice with seasoned glitter, and the drink’s transformative journey was enchantingly delicious.
Just dropped these week, Punch! Bar’s Spring 2024 menu features ten brand-new craft cocktails including one made with Cloud Mountain Kombucha. Since opening in 2019, the Downtown Champaign cocktail lounge has served consistently innovative drinks. Ever since my first sip in 2021 (a hot toddy on a pandemic patio date in the middle of March — wow, what a time), I’ve been a fan of the bar. Over the years, I’ve written a lot about Punch! Bar’s bevvies (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here) because I kind of love everything about the place: the talented bartenders, reliably delish drinks, sexy ambiance, rotating menu, pretty glassware, happy hour discounts, selfie-worthy bathrooms, and its proximity to Downtown Champaign restaurants.
Last year, Smile Politely named Punch! Bar’s You’re Turning Violet, Violet cocktail the BEST, and the year before, we crowned Punch! Bar home of the BEST mocktails. For more about the beverage destination, follow them on Facebook or Instagram, and check out the website.
Punch! Bar & Lounge
217 N Neil St
Champaign
Su-Th 4 to 10 p.m.
F+Sa 4 to midnight
