The Bottle Shop in Victorian Village has long been our favorite cocktail bar in Columbus, and it’s been given new life as Cordial Cocktails & Bottle Shop under owner Gregory Stokes and his team!
Stokes, who owns Accent Wine downtown, purchased the shop a couple years back and has slowly transformed it from its mis-matched Bohemian vibe with melted candles on the mantle to a more book-ish, library-like enclave. A bookcase lines one wall, seating along the center has been simplified to a series of two-tops, the walls are lined with benches and short tables.
With the revamp comes a new cocktail menu forged by the experienced bar team. The current theme is Mumbai Masala.
It’s a pretty fascinating to see the incorporation of so many Indian flavors, from Biryani Negroni to the Chai Rosita.
The Mumbai Masala is described as a “frothy whiskey sour,” with an Indian single malt whiskey, cachaça, lemon, and curry.
I always gravitate towards an Old Fashioned, and this tamarind Old Fashioned is an interesting entry with tamarind, guajillo, and jaggery.
It’s a fascinating, more earthy take on what can be such a boozy cocktail.
The Sharbat Slushee is served frozen with gin, watermelon, rosé, and oat milk. Very refreshing!
As always, Cordial has a nicely curated lineup of wines, beers, and classic cocktails, too.
And they’re still very much a bottle shop!
Over the years, too, they’ve expanded the front patio and reserved a parking space for the occasional food truck out front.
Cordial Cocktails & Bottle Shop
237 King Ave.
Columbus, OH 43201
(614) 674-6300
Web: cordialcbus.com
IG: @cordialcbus