The only good thing about winter’s approach? Our favorite spiced cocktails begin popping up around town. Ginger, allspice, and chai add warmth to some of the city’s best wintry elixirs. Bourbon, amaretto, grenadine, and bitters helped put the iconic Sicilian from The Ball & Biscuit (331 Massachusetts Ave., 317-636-0539) on our list. Aromatic St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, alongside simple syrup perfumed with pink peppercorns and ginger, forms the backbone of the bourbon-based Winter’s Tale at Late Harvest Kitchen (8605 River Crossing, 317-663-8063). Omni’s Severin Bar (40 W. Jackson Pl., 317-634-6664) offers a Ginger Ale Cup with Hennessy cognac, maraschino, herbal Benedictine, ginger syrup, and Perrier. Last winter’s best-named local cocktail, the Gun in the Glovebox, makes its return at The Libertine (38 E. Washington St., 317-631-3333), reviving the frothy combination of spiced rum, vermouth, the myrrh-and-saffron–scented spirit Fernet, and vitamin-rich orange juice. And Bluebeard (653 Virginia Ave., 317-686-1580) shakes up an autumnal version of the Kilgore Trout with chai-infused rum, amaretto, and orgeat.
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