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Southern Signature Cocktails

Memphis Toddy

Memphis, Tennessee

Tennessee whiskey, whether a trademark brand like Jack Daniels or a regional favorite like Memphis Toddy, can serve as a great base for creative cocktails. The historic recipe for Memphis Toddy can be traced back to the Old Dominick Distillery in Memphis, a new distillery with a 100-year-old heritage.

The company was founded during the 1870s by an Italian immigrant named Domenico Canale who partnered with a Kentucky distillery to develop a complex, high-rye bourbon whiskey with cinnamon and citrus undertones, a distinct blend he later dubbed the Memphis Toddy. The business closed following Canale’s death in 1919 but reopened in 2017 in a beautifully renovated warehouse with expansive tasting rooms and a rooftop patio.

“Whatever you get at Old Dominick’s is going to be original and unique to Memphis,” said Caroline Parks, public relations and communications manager at Memphis Travel. “It’s distilled right here in the city.”

There are several cocktail variations that groups can try when they visit the distillery for a tour and tasting. The Trolley Stop is a sweet blend of Memphis Toddy, Dolin Vermouth Dry, Dolin Vermouth Sweet and cherry bitters, served in a chilled toddy glass with dried cherries to garnish.    

www.memphistravel.com

Alabama Slammer

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The Alabama Slammer has been a staple beverage of Crimson Tide fans and students of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa since the 1970s. It was later made famous by Tom Cruise’s “Last Barman Poet” speech in the classic 1988 film “Cocktail.” The drink was featured as TGI Friday’s pitcher cocktail for many years and shares the title of the country song “Alabama Slammer” by the Casey Donahew Band.

A classic Slammer combines a rainbow array of orange juice, amber-toned Amaretto, deep-red sloe gin and Southern Comfort liqueur, which adds a rich undertone of spice and fruit. Many bartenders add a cherry and an orange slice to garnish. The sunset-colored drink makes a perfect summer cocktail or game day drink, and travelers may find themselves ordering more than one as they explore Tuscaloosa’s eclectic bar scene.

Tucked along a side street in downtown Tuscaloosa, the Alcove International Tavern has far more to offer than the typical hole-in-the-wall college bar, with over 100 craft beers, a colorful range of island-inspired cocktails and a covered outdoor patio. Catch 22, another local venue, specializes in original infused cocktails. 

The Alabama Slammer should not be confused with the Alabama Yellowhammer cocktail, which is a trademark of Gallettes bar next to the University of Alabama football stadium. Gallettes is an iconic watering hole of Alabama Crimson Tide fans, and though the Yellowhammer recipe has been closely safeguarded for nearly 40 years, it is commonly believed that it contains a mix of pineapple juice, orange juice, Amaretto, vodka and rum. 

visittuscaloosa.com