Warm Up With Maria's "Winter Weather Wetters" Cocktails

By Julia Weeman in Food on Jan 5, 2014 7:00PM

Photo courtesy of Maria's

Just in time for the worst of winter, Maria's Package Goods & Community Bar has released a new seasonal cocktail menu, aptly titled "Winter Weather Wetters."

We chatted with Graham Hogan, co-director of cocktails and spirits at Maria's, who explained this isn't your typical winter cocktail menu. "We decided to shy away from the overplayed, heavy brown, spiced whiskey-based drinks," Hogan told Chicagoist. "Instead, we went for unexpected, brighter, but still seasonally appropriate."

The inventive menu demonstrates you don't need whiskey for warmth. The "Repallo Corral," which Hogan describes as "spicy, savory, bracing" packs some heat, thanks to the addition of jalapeno.

The drink was named after Dave Corral, a regular who helped work out the recipe. "The Repallo Corral" includes tequila, cilantro, pineapple Verdita, Demera simple and lime. The glass is rimmed with Tajin, a Mexican spice blend that is often sprinkled on fresh unripe fruit like papaya, or used on the rim of a cold can of Tecate.

You'll find part of Hogan's name in the "Remember the Redwood," which is made with "Hogazacki" and is the closest thing to a classic winter cocktail on the list. Created by Hogan and Ken Zolacki, who co-directs the cocktail program at Maria's, Hogazacki is a house blended & aged scotch.

The name of the drink is an homage to the Redwood Lounge - a dive bar on Wallace that closed when the owner passed away and the liquor license lapsed.

"The Staycation," however, is a tropical escape in a glass. It's a classic Mai Tai, elevated by Hogan's house made orgeat - an enticing blend of almond extract, rosewater and orange blossom water. "The Burnside," made with Letherbee Gin and St. Germain, places the "concentrated, syrupy, cinnamon, anise" flavor of Fee (bourbon) Barrel Aged Bitters as the star of the show.

With a menu like this, we know where we'll be hibernating in the chilly winter nights ahead.

Take a look at the full menu:

Remember the Redwood - $9
Hogazacki ,egg whites, simple syrup, lemon, cream sherry and star anise garnish floated on the foam with a dry shake. shake with ice; served neat in big rocks

Staycation - $9
Bacardi Gold, Ballast Point white rum, house made orgeat, lime and black strap. Shake with spent lime half in glass and pour contents including half lime into a tulip. Garnished with fresh mint

Grapes of Wrath - $9
House infused grapefruit Lairds gin, Aperol and Luxardo Marchino. Stirred and served in a chilled cocktail glass with grapefruit zest and peel laid over the top of glass.

Repollo Corral - $9
Zapaopan Blanco tequila, clinatro, japlpeno & pineapple Verdita, Demera simple and organic lime. Shake and serve over fresh ice in a collins glass rimmed with Tajin

Burnside - $11
Letherbee's Gin, St. Germain, lemo and Fee Barrel Aged Bitters. Shaken, served neat in a coupe. Expressed orange peel, discarded. Lux Cherry

Holy Cross - $9
Hennessey Cognac, Benedictine, and Blackstrap Bitters Rinse. Served on the rocks.

Maria's Package Goods & Community Bar is located 960 W. 31st Street.