Forget What You Know About Martinis—This Miami Cocktail Lounge Is Changing the Game

As an avid extra dry martini A drinker, I wasn’t going to switch to the opposite extreme and be convinced to order Medium Cool’s famous Cold AF Martini, a prebatched, frozen mix of Fords gin or Grey Goose vodka, Noilly Prat dry vermouth, Kleos Mastiha, Italicus, Ancho Reyes Verde, Filthy-branded olive brine, pepperoncini brine and celery bitters—but I did.

Photo: Cold AF. Courtesy of Medium Cool

A suave European bartender sold me on having the best martini anyone would dream of, and my predisposition to dry gin stirred with a twist went out the window.

A striking, white and gold martini glass contained a large pour, deftly mixed following an alchemist recipe. It was complex and easy to drink in its almost frozen state. A side dish of garnishes—onion, olive, caper berry and radish—made this martini sing.

The Lounge

Medium Cool is a bar located at the Gale but not affiliated with the hotel. Its entrance, on 17th Street between Collins and James avenues, leads you into a ’70s glam basement joint that attracts a good-looking crowd who appreciate the high-end mixology offerings and nightly jazz entertainment.

Photo: Courtesy of Medium Cool

Lush banquettes surround the room, while cocktail tables and low mushroom stools create convivial gathering areas.

Drinks, curated by veterans Dan Binkiewicz, David Martinez, Josh Harris and Naren Young, include a list of happy hour creations. The bartenders encouraged me to try these moderately priced cocktails to show me how good a value they are.

The Mezcalito combined refreshingly delicious Manojo mezcal, select aperitivo liqueur, blood orange and Mumm sparkling rosé.

Photo: Mezcalito. Courtesy of Medium Cool

Another smashing success, the Clover Club, created with house-made grenadine, Fords gin, lemon, raspberry puree and egg white, is first mixed and then vigorously shaken to obtain a super frothy pink-reddish cocktail, as easy to drink as a soda pop.

Photo: Clover Club. Courtesy of Medium Cool

A Hemingway daiquiri pays tribute to its namesake, and the recipe is original: Havana Club blanco rum, Luxardo maraschino and fresh lime and grapefruit juices.

This list could not leave anyone unhappy, including as it does the Orchard sidecar—prepared with Hennessy cognac, calvados, Cointreau and lemon juice and topped with a dried apple—and the White Negroni, a crystal clear pour of Citadelle gin, Luxardo bitter blanco, Lillet Blanc, dry vermouth and lemon bitters, in a rocks glass with one giant block of ice.

Best For

Happy hour with a long list of popular drinks at reasonable prices.

Verdict

A place to meet friends or make new ones while enjoying high-quality mixology.
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