Enjoyed: Saturday, December 10, 2022

Listed on the menu: Yes, as “Fireside Old Fashioned”.

Ingredients: Maker’s Mark, cocoa bitters, maple syrup, fresh grapefruit.

The occasion: Our annual “Christmas Date Weekend” continued with a meal at the Hotel Roanoke, built in 1882 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and therefore the most iconic hotel in the city. We had seen its Tudor grandness from the road, but this was the first time we visited. The lobbies and common areas were lushly decorated for the holidays, and so many families were strolling around. Happily, I had made reservations weeks in advance at the very-proper Regency Room, so a table was waiting. We were right next to the jazz trio and the dance floor and we did not mind at all. Supper was so delicious but the best treat was my “Snow Globe” dessert in a glass.

My rating: ***** out of 5. I love cocoa and maple flavors, as well as Maker’s Mark, but I wondered how fresh grapefruit would work in this drink. I suspect only a splash of the juice was added. Turns out, all the ingredients were carefully balanced into a rainbow of flavors–some bitter, some sweet, some refreshingly sour.

Final thoughts: The word “Fireside” in the name did not mean smoke was added, but likely meant that this concoction should be enjoyed in winter, in a cozy spot for two. Although the hotel and restaurant were very crowded on this particular Saturday night, our intimate table for two, the dim lighting, the gourmet meal, and the merry live music made for a very romantic evening.