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Frozen Margarita. PROVIDED
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A Cinnamon Spiced Mule. The Wicked Dolphin Distillery in Cape Coral integrates warm spices, tropical twists on holiday classics and unique recipes. PROVIDED
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Buckingham Drink. PROVIDED
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Living in Southwest Florida means trading nostalgic, seasonal and crisp days for the nearly perfect year-round weather. Still, when the holiday season hits, we want to feel the magic of the season.
Whether you’re stopping by for the hearty entrees that evoke feelings of a winter day or sipping cocktails with friends, there are endless options to discover and enjoy.
Local hotspots like Fathoms Restaurant & Bar, Gather and Nice Guys Pizza serve up winter and holiday-inspired drinks and fare.
Wicked Dolphin Distillery has some seriously good local spirits and recipes to mix up your own cocktails at home for a cozy night in with your loved ones.
After all, the season is just as much about connection as they are about comforting flavors, nostalgic moments, and cozy seasonal vibes.
Wicked Dolphin Distillery
The holiday season at Wicked Dolphin Distillery is a big deal.
Creative Director Jared Pearlman said each year they create holiday cocktails that complement and highlight the flavors of fall and winter within the distillery’s catalogue of spirits.
“We integrate warm spices, tropical twists on holiday classics and unique recipes found only at Wicked Dolphin,” Pearlman said. “These are always big hits with the customers and tend to sell out quickly.”
Among the retail staff, master distillers and bartenders at Wicked Dolphin, they have decades of cocktail making experience.
Pearlman said they draw inspiration from Florida ingredients, classic cocktails and even from Wicked Dolphin fans that love to share their ideas with the team.
“We experiment, taste and refine until we find the perfect balance that feels both unique and true to Wicked Dolphin’s Florida roots,” he said.
Those interested in learning more about Wicked Dolphin and seeing where the spirits are made can visit 131 SW 3rd Place in Cape Coral for tours and tastings throughout the season.
Tour days are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and the tours are free.
“It’s a great way to see firsthand how we make our award-winning rum,” Pearlman said. “It’s also an opportunity to try our seasonal cocktails, support local and pick up gifts straight from the source.”
The distillery also hosts cocktail-making classes and holiday events, which are always a great way to celebrate with the community and get together for the holiday season.
“Lastly, be sure to stop by our Famous Wicked Dolphin Tiki for craft cocktails, live music and good spirits,” Pearlman said. “Trust me, you will not be disappointed!”
The distillery is also planning to release a few new rums this year.
Pearlman said they can’t share quite yet what these will be, but they are extremely proud of the new spirits and the work that went into creating them.
Gather and Fathoms Restaurant & Bar
Gather is always coming up with new cocktail ideas and seasonal and holiday drinks are no exception.
“Sometimes, the best beverages come from an on-the-fly bartenders choice based on a guests preference,” said mixologists Silver Wilenski and Araya Gronkjaer in a joint statement. “The industry is always changing and we like to keep up. Our guests seem to appreciate the diversity of the drinks that change with the seasons.”
This year, the Yuzu Wasabi feature will be making its debut as well as a boozy root beer float.
“But, we are proud of every drink we mix up,” Wilenski and Gronkjaer said. “Honestly, a couple mocktails that are making the menu will definitely be something to look forward to.”
“We try to make all of our cocktails approachable and complement the menu we have at Gather,” said Wilenski and Gronkjaer. “We have an amazing Dark Cherry espresso martini that we designed to be the literal ‘cherry on top’ of your dining experience that pairs quite well with all of our desserts. But keeping in theme with our restaurant, we try to create an eclectic variety of beverages that can pair with every course of dinner. There’s no wrong or right way to drink with us!”
You can take in the season on the water at Fathoms Restaurant & Bar.
The popular Cape Coral restaurant does seasonal and holiday-themed cocktails each year.
“Halloween and winter-inspired are one of our favorite, especially our pumpkin espresso martini,” said manager Amber Blanchard. “We really like to make classic cocktails with a seasonal version twist.”
Blanchard says she really enjoys making Halloween-themed cocktails.
“Those are always fun,” she said.
Nice Guys Pizza
If going out and responsibly enjoying a seasonal cocktail is your vibe, Nice Guys Pizza, Beer and Cocktails really does it up for the season.
Owner Greg Gebhard said the cocktail menu this year will be the same theme as last year’s seasonal fall menu, called the “Gross Menu.”
Think a bathwater cocktail served in a mini bathtub or bong water cocktail served in a bong that’s been smoked.
There will also be some new additions.
“They will look very graphic and off-putting, but all the cocktails taste amazing,” Gebhard said.
They also have a pretty extensive collection of nonalcoholic cocktails.
For those who like to take a break from alcohol after the holidays, every cocktail can be done with or without alcohol during Dry January.
Beer, cider and seltzer drinkers have some seasonal options as well.
“We have a lot of beer most places wouldn’t have,” Gebhard said. “We do get the traditional pumpkin, but we also get pumpkin sours each year, and cranberry sours.”
Christmas is a big deal, too.
Each year, Nice Guys closes down on a Sunday and changes the space over to a Christmas popup bar, wrapping the walls with wrapping paper, putting fireplaces on the TV, and other cozy holiday touches.
“It’s our busiest month of the year,” Gebhard said.
Winter cocktails include a white Russian called You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out.
The Cranberry Margarita is one of the most popular.
Last year, Gebhard said they did a pistachio eggnog cocktail and figgy pudding cocktail and may bring those back this year.
We’d also be remiss if we didn’t mention some of the food options.
The Too Gouda to Be True Pizza is made with smoked Gouda, maple, Gorgonzola and applewood bacon.
An example was the Wishbone Pizza is made with a stuffing crust where all of the ingredients in stuffing are folded into the pizza dough. Gebhard said customers love purchasing it half-baked so they can cook it and enjoy year round.
IF YOU GO…
Wicked Dolphin Distillery
Where: 131 SW 3rd Place, Cape Coral.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday; Closed, Sunday
Information: (239) 242-5244 and wickeddolphin.com.
Gather
Where: 5971 Silver King Blvd., Suite 116, Cape Coral (Located in The Marina Village Shops)
When: 5 to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday; Closed, Monday
Information: (239) 673-9939 and gathercape.com.
Fathoms Restaurant & Bar
Where: 5785 Cape Harbour Drive, Suite 106, Cape Coral.
When: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday and Friday; Closed, Sunday
Information: 239-542-0123 and fathomsrestaurant.com.
Nice Guys Pizza, Beer and Cocktails
Where: 1404 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral.
When: Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Closed, Monday.
Information: (239) 549-7542 and niceguyspizza.com.