Heartbreak Hotel: Anti-Valentine’s Day Cocktails at The Wayward in February
In the back corner of the Perry Lane Hotel is the Wayward, a self-proclaimed “upscale dive bar” with a nostalgic, hipster vibe. Think low lights, dark walls, a constantly popping popcorn machine, skeeball lanes, and pinball machines in a dim arcade. This groovy little spot ― so different from the hotel’s spacious and elegant Emporium Kitchen’s bar, or the more luxurious rooftop Peregrine with its vistas of downtown Savannah (reopening after a refresh on February 16) ― attracts its own following of regulars, drawn to its down-to-earth accessibility.
No pretension here. If patrons are intimidated by the cocktail menu, or are unsure what to order, longtime bartender David Hine has his own way of ascertaining what they may appreciate and enjoys full freedom to mix a new creation. “How you like your coffee in the morning says a lot about what you like flavor-profile-wise,” he opines.
Curating something from scratch is a feature I have not seen so openly explained on a Savannah cocktail menu: “Choose your base spirit: vodka, gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, brandy, or dealer’s choice. Choose your style: shaken or stirred, on the rocks, or up. Choose your flavor profile: brown & bitter, light & fruity, sweet, tart, floral, herbaceous, or dealer’s choice.”
Clearly, Wayward bartenders must be both skillful and knowledgeable to offer this versatile service, but this month, I recommend that you let them mix one of the Anti-Valentine’s themed cocktails Hine has created – either the smoking “Revolver” and the hilariously named “Remember the Alimony.” During February, the bar will host both lovers and the lovelorn for heartbreaker photo ops and for blood cake stabbings(!) inspired by the 2014 Taylor Swift hit “Blank Space,” an anthem for the heartbroken.
First up for Valentine’s celebrations or commiserations is “The Revolver.” Hine pours two or three dashes of orange Bitters, three quarters of an ounce of Borghetti espresso liqueur, and two ounces of Bourbon into a crystal Yarai mixing glass. Adding a scoop of ice, the dark concoction is stirred, strained over a large ice rock, and then garnished with a flamed orange peel, which provides the smoking gun. Very clever.
Distinctly Bourbon-forward initially, it takes my palette a moment to appreciate the dark complexity of the espresso. Riffing off the wildly popular Espresso Martini (the Wayward has a reputation for offering the Best Espresso Martini in the city), this cocktail offers a unique pairing of flavors that feels rich and somewhat masculine. A wonderful after-dinner sipping drink that is very, very smooth.
Secondly, Hine mixes me a “Remember the Alimony” (as I tell him, I could have used a “Remember the Child Support” many years ago). He first places a few slices of strawberry in a cocktail shaker, adds three quarters of an ounce of lime juice, three quarters of an ounce of Cointreau orange liqueur, and half an ounce of apricot liqueur before vigorously shaking over ice, and straining into a chilled coupe glass. The drink is surprisingly fresh, a little tart and tangy and lacking the sweetness I am expecting from the apricot liqueur. It’s bright and citrusy and quite exquisite.
As Hine says, “Alimony is great.”
Come for a cocktail and stay for the sushi served Tuesday through Saturday. Additionally, the usual Motor City Monday (Detroit-style pizza served from 6 p.m. until it sells out) will become Motor City Monday through Friday from Feb. 6 through March 6. Assistant Director of Marketing Andrea Locoroni tells me the pizza is absolutely delicious, often featuring tasty, but hard-to-imagine, flavor combinations such as blue cheese and coffee!
The Wayward, 257 E. Perry Lane inside the Perry Lane Hotel, is available for corporate or private events. Find out more about cocktail options, rentals, and pop-up food events at waywardsavannah.com, and follow them on Instagram @waywardsavannah to see the full array of Anti-Valentine’s happenings. Both cocktails mentioned in this column are priced at $17.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: The Wayward at Savannah's Perry Lane Hotel serves anti-Valentine's drinks
