Bay Area Drinking Club

01/05/2026

Dry January doesn’t mean boring drinks 🍹🚫🍸
We’re keeping the vibes high and the alcohol out with full-flavor mocktails you can make at home.
🍊 Citrus Fizz Spritz
Ingredients
2 oz fresh orange juice
1 oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
Top with club soda
Rosemary or orange slice (garnish)
Instructions
Add juices and syrup to a glass with ice. Top with soda, stir gently, garnish.
🍓 Berry Ginger Smash
Ingredients
4–5 fresh berries (strawberry/raspberry mix)
1 oz lime juice
½ oz honey or simple syrup
Top with ginger b**r
Mint (garnish)
Instructions
Muddle berries in a glass. Add lime and syrup, fill with ice, top with ginger b**r, stir.
🥒 Cucumber Mint Cooler
Ingredients
3 cucumber slices
5–6 mint leaves
1 oz lime juice
½ oz simple syrup
Top with soda water
Instructions
Muddle cucumber and mint. Add lime and syrup, ice, top with soda, stir.
🍍 Spiced Pineapple Mule
Ingredients
3 oz pineapple juice
1 oz lime juice
Dash of cinnamon or ginger syrup
Top with ginger b**r
Lime wheel (garnish)
Instructions
Build over ice, top with ginger b**r, give a light stir, garnish.
Perfect for:
✔️ Dry January
✔️ Health resets
✔️ Designated drivers
✔️ Anyone who still wants a great drink in hand
✨ Same ritual. Same flavor. Zero alcohol.
👉 Which mocktail are you making first?

12/14/2025

Stopped by Small Giant Bar for pre-brunch drinks before seeing Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Benchmark International Arena this afternoon. Mistletoe Martini is outstanding! 🍸🎅🏻🤶🏻

See special drink menu in pics!

12/07/2025

🎄✨ Bay Area Drinking Club Review: Latitudes Apollo’s Christmas Pop-Up Bar! ✨🎄

If you’re looking for full-on holiday magic in the Tampa Bay area, Latitudes Apollo Beach absolutely nailed it. The moment you walk in, you’re wrapped in a ceiling of twinkling lights, glittering ornaments, and nonstop festive energy. It feels like stepping straight into a Christmas movie… but with much better cocktails. 😉

🍸 THE DRINKS:
We sampled our way through the Christmas cocktail menu — and trust us, it delivers!
• The Gingerbread Martini was a standout with its cookie topper and spiced rim.
• Their Holiday Old Fashioned hits perfectly with warm cinnamon notes.
• And the Rudolph’s Strawberry iced cocktail - Smooth, sweet, and dangerously easy to sip.
Every drink feels like its own little celebration.

🎶 THE VIBE:
Live music from Maestro of Music D’Amore set the mood — soulful, fun, and the perfect backdrop for a holiday night out. Between the lights, the décor, and the crowd, the whole room felt alive.

📸 THE SCENERY:
From Santa décor around the bar to the glowing TVs trimmed with garland, every corner of Latitudes is dressed to impress. It’s impossible not to take photos — and we definitely did. 😉

🌟 OUR TAKE:
If you love Christmas, cocktails, and an atmosphere that makes you smile the second you walk in, put Latitudes Apollo’s Christmas bar on your must-visit list. Whether you’re bar hopping, celebrating with friends, or just kicking off your own 12 Days of Christmas, this place is pure holiday joy.

Cheers to festive nights and even better drinks! 🍹✨
— Bay Area Drinking

11/27/2025

Three Thanksgiving Day Drinks 🦃

🥃 1. Maple Bourbon Smash

Flavor profile: Warm, smooth, lightly sweet
Great for: Bourbon lovers & after-dinner sipping

Ingredients:
• 2 oz bourbon
• ¾ oz maple syrup
• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
• 2–3 fresh sage leaves
• Dash of Angostura bitters
• Club soda (optional)

Instructions:
1. Muddle sage with maple syrup in a shaker.
2. Add bourbon, lemon juice & bitters.
3. Shake with ice, strain into a rocks glass over ice.
4. Garnish with a sage leaf or lemon peel.

⸻

🍏 2. Sparkling Apple C***r Mule

Flavor profile: Crisp, refreshing, lightly spiced
Great for: Guests who want something light & festive

Ingredients:
• 2 oz vodka
• 2 oz apple c***r
• ½ oz lime juice
• Ginger b**r
• Pinch of cinnamon

Instructions:
1. Add vodka, c***r, and lime juice to a copper mug filled with ice.
2. Top with ginger b**r and stir gently.
3. Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon over the top.
4. Garnish with an apple slice or cinnamon stick.

⸻

🥥 3. Pumpkin Pie White Russian

Flavor profile: Creamy, dessert-like, holiday comfort
Great for: A fun signature drink after dessert

Ingredients:
• 1½ oz vodka
• ¾ oz coffee liqueur
• 1 oz pumpkin spice creamer (or half & half + pumpkin spice syrup)
• Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions:
1. Add vodka and coffee liqueur to a rocks glass with ice.
2. Pour pumpkin spice creamer over the top (float it for a layered look).
3. Add whipped cream if you want to make it extra cozy.
4. Sprinkle nutmeg or pumpkin spice to finish.

11/27/2025

Thanks for the follow!

11/13/2025

Tampa Bay‑Area Christmas Pop‑Up Bars (2025)

🎄 Tampa:
• Small Giant transforms into the Jingle Bar through New Year’s Eve with festive décor and sweet cocktails like the Sugar Cookie Martini.
• Strandhill Public hosts Miracle at Tampa from Nov 29–Jan 1 — expect kitschy glassware and over-the-top holiday cheer.
• Barterhouse Ybor becomes The Blitz Inn, and Joy Dive Bar keeps the Christmas vibes going year-round (5 pm–3 am!).
• Don’t miss the Holiday Hideaway rooftop at Oystercatchers or Icicles Craft Cocktails at Winter Village.

🎅 St. Pete:
• Miracle pops up at Bar Mezzo from Nov 29–Dec 30 with whimsical décor and cocktails.
• The downtown Xmas Bar and Blitzin Bar each create themed wonderlands, while No Vacancy and The Floridian Social add tropical and New York–style twists to holiday drinks.
🌴 Clearwater & Beaches:
• Sippin’ Santa brings a tiki vibe to the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach patio through Dec 30.
• Hyatt Regency’s Après Sea rooftop opens Thursdays and Fridays from Nov 30 until Christmas with sugar‑cookie martinis and more; a portion of proceeds helps charity.
• JW Marriott hosts a “12 Days of Cocktails” series alongside a huge gingerbread display.

🦐 Bradenton & Sarasota:
• Anna Maria Oyster Bar’s Merry Flippin’ Christmas lights up the Landside deck with live music and themed nights.
• Sarasota’s Tamiami Tap and Maya Speak Tiki are also decked out — one as a Miracle bar and the other as a Reindeer Room.

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween from the Bay Area Drinking Club 🦇👻🍷🍹🍸🍻

10/16/2025

Have you had Drambuie? I want to try this easy cocktail. So simple to make with only 2 ingredients.

Get 15% off your first ZBiotics order: https://bartend.link/15off-zbiotics7Drambuie is a golden Scottish liqueur with a legendary origin story dating back to...

10/07/2025

🎃 5 Spooky Halloween Cocktails to Die For 👻
Perfect for your next costume party or haunted happy hour. 🕸️🍸

🧪 1. Poison Apple
1½ oz vodka
1 oz sour apple schnapps
1 oz cranberry juice
¼ oz lemon juice

☕ 2. Pumpkin Spice White Russian
1½ oz vodka
1 oz coffee liqueur
1 oz half and half
1 oz pumpkin spice syrup

💀 3. Black Margarita
2 oz black tequila
1 oz orange liqueur
1 oz lime juice
Rim with black salt

🩸 4. Bloody Rum Punch
1¼ oz light rum
1½ oz dark rum
2 oz cranberry juice
1 oz orange juice
½ oz lime juice

🧙‍♀️ 5. Witches’ Brew
1 oz vodka
1 oz blue curaçao
1 oz grenadine
½ oz lemon juice

🕯️ Mix. Sip. Summon spirits responsibly. 🦇

10/03/2025

Something to drink while listening to Taylor’s new album this weekend!