In Downtown Champaign, Watson’s Shack & Rail serves a drink called Wascally Wabbit, a cocktail of carrot juice, gin, ginger, and honey. There’s a regular Wabbit, but I had the Wascally Wabbit ($12) which stars Three Floyds Wight Vvitch Gin made in Munster, Indiana. I love the interesting combination of the powerful gin with zingy ginger and the gardenesque notes of carrot. The botanicals of the Midwestern gin were playfully intense, which matched the other deliciously bright flavors in the sip. Unlike most cocktails, this one tasted more savory than sweet; I was getting carrot and the gin’s herbaceous flavors at the same time, yet each sparkling individually as well.
Both the Wabbit and Wascally Wabbit are great cocktails, and the fun names only make them more appealing. Besides great drinks, the chicken shack offers yummy fried chicken sandwiches, a banging firecracker shrimp po boy, and more — plus an amazing double smashburger only available on the brunch menu.
Watson’s Shack & Rail
211 N Neil Street
Champaign
M+T 4 to 9 p.m.
W-Th 4 to 10 p.m.
F+Sa 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Su 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. + 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
