By Christina Coplon

Once upon a time, the piña colada was my drink of choice. As a college student, nothing quite says spring break like a cocktail served out of a hulking piece of fruit with a paper umbrella and a colorful, twisty straw. I won’t get into much more detail about that trip, but let’s just say my palate (and lifestyle) has gotten a bit more sophisticated over the years.

That being said, I’m glad I discovered the cóctele menu at RUKA Restobar. Much like the kitchen, the bar uses a lot of Latin American ingredients to present elaborate cocktails. One is served in an alligator pitcher; and another in a pipe-like vessel topped with a cedar-smoked rose.

This certainly isn’t your ordinary drink menu. In fact, beverage director and cocktail connoisseur, Will Thompson, created a 15-page booklet to present the program. The booklet is broken down into three different categories – Beach, City, and Mountain – and tells the story of Peru’s geography through Incan mythology and water colored drawings. Here are some of my personal favorites:

BEACH

SAN LORENZO (FOR TWO): This drink is served in a hollowed-out fruit, so it instantly makes me nostalgic. It’s juicy and wholesome made with rum, pineapple, and fresh coconut water.

CITY

JESUIT: This cocktail is served in a pipe-like vessel with a glass straw and topped with a cedar-smoked rose. From the bright orange color to the smoky floral notes of the singed garnish, this tart vodka drink with citrus and bitters is a total sensory experience. 

MOUNTAIN

SACHA MAMA (FOR TWO): Served in a ceramic alligator, you can’t take on this beast alone. A mixture of tequila, mescal, lime, pomegranate, hibiscus, champagne, champagne vinegar, and spice, give this potion a stark and complex flavor.

The cocktails not only complement the food, but also echo the aesthetic of the big, dramatic space. Dragons curve around stone columns and live-edge wood tables are contrasted with grand murals, geometric tiles, and multicolored ropes, inspired by woven Peruvian fabrics and twisted over the ceiling.

RUKA Restobar is anything but ordinary, and it’s located right down the street from Millennium Tower in the Godfrey Hotel. If you haven’t checked it out yet, then put it on your list of restaurants to visit. The cocktails might sound intimidating at first, but the top-tier bar team is more than happy to recommend something that you’ll enjoy. Best of all, each concoction is a masterpiece that’s almost too stunning to sip.