After moving back to Michigan from fun cities like San Francisco and Las Vegas, I led myself to believe that vacations or home bartending sessions would be the only way to discover exciting, innovative, and tasty cocktails. Luckily, I’ve been proven wrong and – delightfully – found that Michigan has a few hidden gems when it comes to cocktails. Yes, Michigan has a great (and growing in popularity) wine industry, but I’ve found that it also has some humble restaurateurs and mixologists that are seriously good at their craft.
During a tour of metro Detroit dining establishments last week, I was introduced to Toast in Birmingham. I sampled black truffle risotto balls, wild mushroom pastries, smoked salmon, and carnita chicken tacos, all of which were delicious. The food was incredible, but the real reason I had accepted an invitation to Toast was to sample their cocktail menu.
Mimosa flights. Kool-aid rimmed martini glasses. Fresh fruit bellinis. Plum vodka.
Drooling yet?
Toast Birmingham: Bartenders making the Strawberry Basil Martini
The cocktail menu at Toast was long and filled with unique drinks, and I fortunately had the opportunity to sample a variety of their signature cocktails. The bartenders at Toast are extremely friendly and easy to talk to, and they seem as though they love their job – they’re constantly coming up with new cocktails.
If you’re in Michigan and have a chance to stop by Toast, I’d highly recommend it ($2 Taco Tuesday’s and a White Grape Martini make for a perfect girl’s night out or happy hour). If you’re not in Michigan and just want to try the drinks out on your own, Toast has been gracious enough to provide a few of the recipes:
Toast Birmingham Polar Bear Martini
The Polar Bear Martini
- 1.5 oz Vanilla Stoli
- .5 oz Frangelico
- .5 oz White Godiva Liqueur
Blueberry Margarita
- 2 oz Sauza
- 1 oz Citr?nge (can substitute Cointreau or Triple Sec)
- Dash Sour Mix
- Prosecco
- Blueberries
Muddle blueberries and add to highball or margarita glass. Add sauza tequila, citronge, and sour mix in?separate?glass; shake well and pour into glass with muddled blueberries. Top off with prosecco.
Strawberry Basil Martini
- Muddled strawberries
- Basil
- Simple Syrup
- Zodiac Vodka
Toast Birmingham: Blueberry Margarita
Ultimate White Grape Martini
- Ciroc Vodka
- White Grape Juice
- Grape Sugar Rimmed Glass *grape kool-aid mixed with sugar
Your Number
- Pearl Plum Vodka
- Three Olives Vanilla Vodka
- Pama Liqueur
- Lemonade
- 7-Up
Make Me Something Good
- Three Olives Bubble Vodka
- Zodiac Black Cherry Vodka
- Grenadine
- Sour Mix
- 7-Up
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