A Peek Inside The Local’s Summer Craft Cocktail Menu

A great craft cocktail perfectly balances flavor, texture, aroma, and presentation. At The Local on Morford, our approach to perfecting these beverages is clear in our craft cocktail menu, which features some of our favorite drinks built around fruit, herbs, sparkling wine, and premium spirits. 

Whether you’re visiting McMinnville for the weekend or just looking to meet with some friends downtown, here’s a closer look at what makes our summer craft cocktail lineup worth exploring.

What Makes a Craft Cocktail Different?

Craft cocktails are made much more intentionally than most basic mixed drinks. Rather than combining a spirit and a single mixer and calling it a day, craft cocktails layer several complementary ingredients to create a balanced beverage. 

The ingredients in a craft cocktail may include:

• Fresh fruit or citrus

• Herbs

• Floral ingredients

• Sparkling wine

• Cream or egg white for texture

• Seasonal flavors

• Premium or distinctive spirits

Our summer menu here at The Local is a great example of this, as each of our drinks comes with its own personality. Some are tropical and creamy, while others are bright and bubbly or more herbal. The variety we offer makes it easy to find a cocktail you love no matter what you’re craving.

Island Escape: A Tropical Craft Cocktail

If your ideal summer drink tastes like vacation, Island Escape is an obvious place to start. This cocktail combines Havana Club, heavy cream, coconut, pineapple, and passion fruit. The result is a tropical combination built around creamy texture and bright fruit flavors. 

Coconut and pineapple bring familiar island notes, while passion fruit adds a tangy edge that keeps the drink from feeling one-dimensional. This cocktail is a good pick if you enjoy:

• Piña coladas

• Tropical fruit

• Creamier cocktails

• Rum-based drinks

• Sweeter summer sips

For visitors spending the day exploring Middle Tennessee, this is the kind of drink that can immediately put you into “vacation mode” once you sit down for dinner.

Summertime Spritz: Bright, Bubbly, and Refreshing

Prefer something lighter? A spritz-style craft cocktail can be especially appealing when you want something refreshing before or alongside a meal. Our Summertime Spritz brings together Gate 11 Gin, St. Germaine, mint, lime, and Prosecco.

This combination brings a lot to the table, but the ingredients actually naturally complement one another. Gin brings botanical character, St. Germaine contributes floral notes, mint and lime add freshness, and Prosecco gives the drink its sparkling finish.

Try this one if you tend to like:

• Gin cocktails

• Sparkling drinks

• Floral flavors

• Citrus

• Light, refreshing cocktails

It’s also a great choice for warmer afternoons or an early-evening cocktail before dinner.

Honey Suckle: Sweet, Tart, and Herbal

The Honey Suckle takes a different direction with Tito’s vodka, rosemary, lemon, honey, and egg white. If you’re new to egg-white cocktails, don’t let the ingredient surprise you! It’s used primarily for texture rather than flavor.

Honey brings sweetness, lemon brings acidity, and rosemary contributes a savory herbal note. Egg white adds texture, creating a smooth, frothy consistency commonly found in cocktails like sours.

The Honey Suckle may be a great choice for you if you enjoy:

• Vodka-based drinks

• Sweet-and-sour combinations

• Herbal flavors

• Smooth, silky cocktails

• Drinks that aren’t overly fruity

Sun Kissed: A Bourbon Cocktail with a Seasonal Twist

Believe it or not, summer cocktails don’t have to be light or tropical. Our Sun Kissed combines Woodford Reserve, dry vermouth, rosemary, and spiced pear.

This is one of the more spirit-forward options on our menu and is a good choice for someone who typically reaches for bourbon. The spiced pear softens and rounds out the whiskey, while rosemary adds an aromatic herbal layer and dry vermouth brings additional complexity.

You may want to order the Sun Kissed if you like:

• Bourbon or whiskey

• Less-sweet cocktails

• Herbal flavors

• Fruit used subtly rather than prominently

• More spirit-forward drinks

It also pairs especially well with our rich dinner selections, making it an easy choice for a cocktail-and-steak kind of night.

Summer Solstice: Fruity with an Herbal Finish

If margaritas and tequila cocktails are already your go-to, the Summer Solstice offers a more seasonal way to stay in familiar territory.

The Summer Solstice combines Piedra Azul, strawberry, orange, lime, and sage. Strawberry and orange give this cocktail plenty of fruit-forward character, while lime adds brightness and sage brings in an unexpected herbal note. That combination keeps the drink from simply tasting sweet.

This cocktail may be a good match if you enjoy:

• Tequila

• Strawberry drinks

• Citrus-forward cocktails

• Fruity flavors with a fresh herbal element

• Margarita-style drinks with a twist

Which Craft Cocktail Should You Order?

With five very different options, choosing the right craft cocktail mostly comes down to your personal taste. A simple way to decide:

Want tropical and creamy? Try the Island Escape.

Want light and bubbly? Go with the Summertime Spritz.

Want smooth, herbal, and slightly sweet? Try the Honey Suckle.

Prefer bourbon and deeper flavors? The Sun Kissed may be your pick.

Love tequila and fruit? Start with the Summer Solstice.

And if you still can’t decide, tell your server or bartender what you normally enjoy. Saying something as simple as “I like bourbon but don’t want something too sweet” or “I want something fruity and refreshing” can make it much easier to narrow down the menu.

Try a Craft Cocktail at The Local on Morford

Whether you’re stopping in after exploring McMinnville, meeting friends downtown, or turning dinner into a full date night, The Local’s seasonal craft cocktail menu gives you plenty of ways to start the evening. From the tropical Island Escape and bubbly Summertime Spritz to the bourbon-forward Sun Kissed, each drink brings something different to the table.

Come by The Local on Morford, order something you haven’t tried before, and see which summer cocktail earns a spot on your favorites list.

Frequently Asked Questions About Craft Cocktails

What is a craft cocktail?

A craft cocktail is a mixed drink made with intentional ingredients, proportions, techniques, and presentation. Craft cocktails often incorporate fresh citrus, herbs, fruit, specialty spirits, house-made components, or other ingredients that create more complex and balanced flavors.

What summer craft cocktails are available at The Local?

Our current summer menu features five cocktails: Island Escape, Summertime Spritz, Honey Suckle, Sun Kissed, and Summer Solstice. The drinks span rum, gin, vodka, bourbon, and tequila-based options.

Are craft cocktails usually sweet?

No, craft cocktails aren’t necessarily always sweet. Some craft cocktails are sweet, but others are tart, herbal, bitter, smoky, citrus-forward, or spirit-forward. If you don’t like sweet drinks, tell your bartender what flavors you prefer so they can help guide you toward something that fits your taste.

What should I tell a bartender when ordering a craft cocktail?

You don’t need to know cocktail terminology when ordering a craft cocktail. Simply tell your bartender what you usually enjoy, such as bourbon, tequila, gin, fruity drinks, citrus, sweeter flavors, or less-sweet drinks. You can also mention cocktails you already like, such as margaritas, Old Fashioneds, or spritzes.

Can craft cocktails be paired with food?

Yes, craft cocktails can pair with food much like wine does. Bright citrus cocktails can work well with seafood and lighter dishes, while bourbon- or whiskey-based cocktails often complement steak and richer entrées. Fruity or sparkling drinks can also balance spicy, salty, or savory foods.