This season, ditch those watery domestic brews and up your tailgating game with tasty, easy-to-mix tipples.

Fall means foliage and cooler temperatures, but to most Atlantans, it really means one thing: football season. With Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, Georgia State and countless alumni groups in such close proximity, college football reigns supreme. Whether you’re headed to the tailgating lots or a watch party at a fellow fan’s house, swap the watered-down beer you guzzled as an undergrad for cocktails that are a touch more sophisticated—and tasty. We recruited four local, in-the-know purveyors to share recipes for tailgating cocktails with high-quality ingredients that’ll see you through the games’ more stressful—and celebratory—moments.

Old 4th Distillery

Offering vodka and gin, Old 4th Distillery is Atlanta’s first legal distillery in more than a century. You can visit the distillery or purchase bottles at stores throughout the city. Co-founder Gabe Pilato recommends The Edgewood Bulldog, explaining, “This is a no-brainer tailgating drink because it’s easy to make, easy to drink in the morning and named after our beloved Georgia Bulldogs.”

THE EDGEWOOD BULLDOG
Makes 1 cocktail
1 ½ oz. Old 4th Distillery Gin
1 oz. Campari
3 oz. Grapefruit juice
Grapefruit wedge for garnish
Build in a rocks glass (or Solo cup) over ice and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

487 Edgewood Ave. SE, 30312
844.653.3687
o4d.com

American Spirit Whiskey

American Spirit Whiskey opened its doors this summer in the burgeoning Armour Yards area between Armour Drive and Piedmont Road. Its whiskey is “silver” due to a quick aging process (a couple of days versus years) in an oak barrel, followed by a filtration process that removes impurities. This makes for a smooth and very drinkable spirit that’s perfect for cocktails such as the The Labrador. ASW’s Chad Ralston says, “The South has a knack for staying rather warm late into the fall, so we’ve found that a refreshing, easy-sipping adult lemonade is the perfect tipple before the game.”

THE LABRADOR
Makes 1 cocktail
4 oz. Lemonade
1 oz. American Spirit Whiskey
½ oz. St. Germain
Combine all ingredients and serve over ice.

199 Armour Drive NE, Suite C, 30324
404.590.2279
aswdistillery.com

Urban Tree Cidery

Urban Tree Cidery is another Atlanta “first,” serving as the city’s first cidery with a tasting room. Urban Tree offers six different flavors of hard apple cider by the glass, but you can also pop in and buy a to-go bottle, too. Owner Maria Resuta says her tailgate beverage of choice is the Inman Park Mimosa because it’s “a refreshing jump start to tailgating festivities.”

INMAN PARK MIMOSA
Serves 8
1 bottle (25 oz.) Urban Tree Classic Cider
4 oz. 18.21 Blood Orange and Ginger Syrup
8 oz. Orange juice
4 oz. Simple syrup (search Google for easy recipes)
2½ oz. Lemon juice
Combine in a pitcher or beverage dispenser, add ice and serve.

1465 Howell Mill Road NW, 30318
404.855.5546
urbantreecidery.com

Second Self Beer Company

Second Self Beer Company joined Atlanta’s booming brewery scene in 2014 with more than 11 flavors to sample. Beer Architect Jason Santamaria, a Georgia Tech grad, suggests the Gosearita featuring the company’s Maverick and Gose, a sweet yet hoppy gose for a fun beer cocktail. “I love it because it is simple and refreshing,” he says. “And because of its higher volume, I can drink it longer and not get too buzzed. It’s the prefect outdoor beer cocktail, in my opinion.” Maverick and Gose cans can be found throughout the city at various liquor and grocery stores.

GOSE-ARITA
Makes 1 cocktail
1½ oz. Blanco tequila
¾ oz. lime juice
¾ oz. Triple Sec
1 12oz. can Maverick and Gose
Stir the tequila, lime juice and Triple Sec with ice, and strain into a glass or plastic up. Top off with Maverick and Gose, garnish with lime or orange slice.

1317 Logan Circle NW
30318
678.916.8035
secondselfbeer.com

STORY & PHOTOS: Lia Picard