Marina Mercantile unveils full bar with unique cocktails

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Roughly two years ago, Marina Mercantile opened its doors to the residents of Des Moines and beyond, offering a one-of-a-kind selection of specialty foods and wine for dine-in and retail sale.

Since then, the Merc has only grown in its offerings, curating to satisfy both local demand and their own ingenious whims. A major addition came last fall, when they began offering Afternoon Tea on a per-reservation basis. It has been a massive hit. Now, not even a year later, another head turner has arrived at the Merc.

It kicked off this past May 23rd. Every seat in the house was full. Music and chatter buzzed throughout. Appetizers of delicious Castelvetrano olives and salted Valencia almonds were passed around freely. And in front of every guest was not a wine or a beer, but a cocktail.

Yes, a full bar is now live at Marina Mercantile.

As expected, they aren’t offering your usual selections. Of course, all the staples are there—vodka, tequila, whiskey, rum, etcetera—but a quick glance at the bottles and you’ll notice there’s no Beam or Bacardi or Malibu or Smirnoff. What is on offer is a carefully curated lineup of top-quality liquors and liqueurs, the kind of stuff that’s not only great in a cocktail, but can be happily sipped neat or on the rocks. There’s a handful of choices for each core liquor and a streamlined but quality selection of liqueurs.

They’re playing it classy with their debut cocktail menu, full of classics along with a couple of twists:

Aviation

An amazing classic cocktail that you don’t see too often. The Merc makes it with Broker’s Gin, lemon juice, Maraschino liqueur, and a little bit of Creme de Violette to give it a beautiful purple hue. Garnished with a cherry on top. It’s a perfect balance of floral, bitter, sour, and sweet.

Black Manhattan

This twist on a traditional Manhattan uses Averna, a bitter-sweet amaro, in place of sweet vermouth. It’s a little heavier than a traditional Manhattan with an added bitter-chocolate and caramel flavor along with the classic spiciness of rye whiskey. Served, as it should be, with a cherry.

Des Moines Yacht Club

A locally branded take on the Yacht Club cocktail, this cocktail features rum, falernum, lime juice, and orange bitters. Consider it a slightly sweeter, spicier Daiquiri.

Marina Martini

A classic gin martini with a twist, and Marina Mercantile co-owner Richard Mockler’s drink of choice. Gin and dry vermouth with the addition of orange bitters to give it just a little more depth of flavor.

Negroni

The Merc’s negroni follows the traditional 1:1:1 ratio. That’s equal parts gin, campari, and sweet vermouth. It’s a piney, herbal, semi-sweet classic.

Old Fashioned

As classic as it gets. Nothing fancy or new with the Merc’s old fashioned, just quality bourbon (Michter’s), demerara, and bitters served over a single rock with an orange peel and cherry. Delicious and classy.

Sazerac

One of the oldest American cocktails, and perfect for whiskey lovers. It features Michter’s Rye Whiskey, Peychaud’s Bitters, a little sugar, and an absinthe spritz in the glass. Strong spice of Michter’s with a little herbal sweetness.

Tequila Daisy

The Merc’s take on a Tequila Daisy is like an even more refreshing margarita. It contains all the same ingredients as the aforementioned favorite without Triple Sec. Simply lime juice, sugar, and tequila. Sweet and sour. Perfect for the summer.

These eight are only the beginning. The folks at the Merc are willing to make just about whatever they can from the ingredients on hand. Popular off-menu items include Espresso Martinis, French 75s, and a summer favorite, Aperol Spritzes. And, of course, if you still prefer beer or wine, neither are going anywhere. The Mercantile’s wine selection remains superb, and the staff are just as knowledgeable and passionate about their offerings as ever. Whatever your drink of choice is, the Merc is almost certain to satisfy. Don’t miss out.

About Marina Mercantile

Marina Mercantile features food, wine, gifts, tea – and now liquor – from around the northwest and the world.

Offerings include sandwiches and salads, meals to go, craft beer and a wine bar and tapas menu with a PNW-Meets-Iberia focus.

Public and private events, from music to meetings, all in a rich characterful atmosphere with high ceilings and even higher spirits.

For more info, visit https://marinamercantile.com, call (206) 651-7526 or email info@marinamercantile.com.

Marina Mercantile is located at 22341 Marine View Drive South, right next to the Des Moines Theater:

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