The Whiskey Island, $9
Cleveland Whiskey
Since its March release, Cleveland Whiskey has been a rare commodity. If you haven't snagged a bottle of your own, head to Market Garden Brewery & Distillery for a twist on the classic Manhattan. Bartenders add amaretto-soaked cherries to Cleveland Whiskey, vermouth and a splash of Angostura bitters. Cleveland Whiskey, even more then other high-alcohol content whiskeys, delivers a hot finish. "So we try to complement the heat with the liquor we add into the Manhattan," says Market Garden manager Jeff Draeger. "We wanted to not only showcase the potential of their whiskey in a traditional rocks pour, we also want to showcase it in a classical cocktail way." 1947 W. 25th St., Cleveland, 216-621-4000, marketgardenbrewery.com
Loki's Fruit Cup Cocktail, $10
Crafted Artisan Meadery
Tommy Mullady spent two decades honing his craft in New York City, so the man knows his way around a cocktail. The BottleHouse Brewery head bartender runs all his creations past a few elite tasters, and the most recent one to make the cut features Blue Honey Mead from Mogadore's Crafted Artisan Meadery. Mullady combines the mead with fresh blueberries and raspberries, gin, Cointreau, fresh lemon juice and St. Germain elderflower liqueur. "It's based in the idea of mead being a pagan product," he says. Yet mead can be cloyingly sweet, so Mullady complements it with lemon juice. "We're looking for that balance with acid." 2050 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-214-2120, thebottlehousebrewingcompany.com
The Angry Sister, $14
Seven Brothers Distilling Co.
The Crosswinds Grille at the Lakehouse Inn & Winery in Geneva features this potent martini using vodka from Seven Brothers Distilling Co. in Painesville. Combined with limoncello and Chambord, and topped with a sugar rim, it's a fruity drink that packs a wallop. "Everyone asks me, 'Do you really have six brothers?' " says Seven Brothers owner Kevin Suttman, who created the drink. Yes, he does. So wasn't his sister upset not to be included in the family business? "I made it up to her by naming my first mixed drink after her," he says. "We wanted something that would embody the angry sister — so it's just pure alcohol." 5653 Lake Road E, Geneva-on-the-Lake, 440-466-8668, thelakehouseinn.com
Ginger Jack, $7
Tom's Foolery
Nano Brew delights in the strange, unusual and small — so Chagrin Fall's family-run Tom's Foolery distillery is a perfect fit. Tom's Applejack (distilled from local apples) is added to Gosling's Ginger Beer and Nano Namber Ale. "The hoppiness of the Namber Ale is balanced by a strong biscuity malt backbone," says Nano Brew owner Sam McNulty. "Add the subtle apple notes of the applejack, and then tie it all together with the spicy zing of ginger beer." 1859 W. 25th St., Cleveland, 216-862-6631, nanobrewcleveland.com
