Just a quick shoutout today to an outstanding Downtown cocktail venue: The Candy Apple Cafe at Sweet Pete’s Candy. Occupying the old Seminole Club building right off of Hemming Plaza, Sweet Pete’s is rapidly becoming an essential stop when in Jacksonville. This location offers a viewable factory, extensive shop, and candy-making classes taught by Pete Behringer himself, but the cherry on top has got to be the cocktails at the Candy Apple Cafe.

As I’ve said before on this blog, one of the best ways to craft a new cocktail is to approach a traditional recipe with a new flavor in mind, and nobody does that quite like Candy Apple Cafe. I was first lured in by their Rock Candy Old Fashioned, but their menu also captures classic favorites like salted caramels, pop rocks, and even s’mores. On our last visit there, I had a cocktail modeled after a root beer float complete with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! I was amazed at how well they recreated that classic flavor while also adding a new component: whiskey. Yep, the drink utilizes sarsaparilla whiskey and bourbon cream to achieve its goal. Drinks like these are a nice reminder that, if you’re willing to branch out, there are all sorts of flavored spirits and liqueurs out there.

In addition to being a great spot for a drink, Candy Apple Cafe is also a good place to pick up some inspiration. The owner of Silver Cow in Riverside recently invited me to think about a line of beer-based cocktails, and one of the flavors Jessi and I have been toying with is gingersnap. The trip to Sweet Pete’s has given me new ideas for achieving this, so it’s back to work!

Monday’s mixology post will cover the history of the martini. Also, watch this site for upcoming information on ways to give to Bar Chaplain and support the exciting work happening around Jacksonville!