Drink This: Zodiac Cocktails at Burlap

The Chinese Zodiac is a cultural tradition that relates every month to a different animal and its attributes, based on a 12-year mathematical cycle. It is believed that the animal year in which we are born affects our character traits, including our intellectual, emotional and social capabilities.

On January 23rd, we celebrated Chinese New Year and embraced the Year of the Dragon. But who says the party has to stop? Burlap is keeping the festive spirit alive with a new Zodiac cocktail concept that features a menu of exotic spirits designed by Snake Oil Cocktail Co.

The Zodiac menu features 12 distinct cocktails, each uniquely crafted to represent a creature on the Chinese Zodiac. Burlap is even providing Zodiac-for-Dummies place mats at the bar, so patrons can properly choose the animal inspired cocktail that matches their date of birth. Are your taste buds compatible with your Snake of a boyfriend? How much do you really have in common with your Monkey of a best bud? Pony up to the bar and let the experimentation begin.

Sip on your pre-destined Zodiac spirit, such as The Rat, a bold blend of gin, plum wine, maraschino and Chinese spice bitters; The Horse, an Eastern Mule designed to serve 1 to 4 people in a “bucket or trough”; The Sheep, a refreshing mix of calpico, egg white, orange blossom and soda; The Tiger, made with gin, kings ginger, housemade orange soda and fernet; or The Cock, also known as a Malarkey-Tini, made with vodka, cucumber and wasabi with a sesame rim. And to avoid bad luck, don’t leave without trying The Dragon, a spicy concoction that dares to mix Szechuan chilies with tequila and champagne.

Zodiac cocktails range in price from $5 to $12 depending on the intricacy of the spirit. And if you’re bringing in the whole crew for a Horse Trough round, it’ll cost you $24.

Where “West Eats Meat,” Burlap serves Chef Brian Malarkey’s “Asian Cowboy” cuisine in an eclectic Asian-inspired setting designed by Thomas Schoos. For more information, call 858.369.5700 or visit Burlap.

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