“Liquid legos.”

That’s how beverage director Belinda Chang describes her innovative cocktail kit at the new Cook Hall. The James Beard Award-winning Chang has built the new gastropub’s drink menu of carefully selected draft beers, boutique wines, and seasonal, handcrafted cocktails.

But it’s her Build-Your-Own Cocktail Kit’s playful spin on beverage service that’s sure to get the most press…because it’s unique, at least for the next 10 minutes.

The kit is a bin packed of syrups, sodas, herbs, bitters, fruit slices and tinctures plus all the tools you’ll need to shake, swizzle and stir things up. It arrives with a 2-ounce pour of whatever base spirit you picked (such as gin, tequila, vodka, bourbon, whatever). And then you get to make your own cocktail, or perhaps impose your creation upon an obliged date who might say, “Yep, this is good,” smiling through the knowledge that there will be no second date. Unless you happen to actually be a skilled cocktail creator and/or conversationalist.

So, my advice is to order what’s actually the best drink on the menu, with the added bonus that you don’t have to make it yourself.

Behold, the hibiscus flip.

It’s “just right” in terms of sweetness, balance, complexity, individuality, fun, and just about every measure by which to judge a cocktail.

Drink one and it won’t matter if you or your date are good conversationalists or not, it will be a good night.

Bottom Line: Order a hibiscus flip and sit back in a cozy leather chair to enjoy it.

More Information…

Cook Hall
3377 Peachtree Rd. NE in the W Atlanta-Buckhead
404.523.3600

-Photo Credits: Cocktail kit courtesy Cook Hall / Green Olive Media; hibiscus flip by Hope S. Philbrick.

Hope S. Philbrick is founder and editor-in-chief of Getaways for Grownups. Her work has appeared in dozens of publications nationwide. She’s reviewed restaurants for several Atlanta-based newspapers and magazines for more than 10 years. When not writing, she can usually be found on the road or savoring something tasty.