We finally made it to the new Exchange Whiskey Bar downtown, and I already can’t wait to go back! The Exchange opened up a couple of months ago right on the corner of Massachusetts Ave. and E. New York St, right in the center of the hustle and bustle of the Mass Ave Arts District!
When I first heard a new whiskey bar was opening up downtown I was so excited! Their building was built in 1874 and is one of the oldest original buildings still standing in Indianapolis, and it has such a classic speakeasy atmosphere. They offer hundreds of the best whiskeys around. While we definitely plan on making a dent in that list, our recent visit was to try out their new holiday cocktail menu!
The holiday cocktail menu is made up of bourbon, gin, and rum cocktails that all have a fun and festive twist. We sampled the majority of them, and let me tell you they were DELICIOUS. This menu uses Jefferson’s Bourbon in all of the bourbon drinks, including a shot of a candy-cane and cinnamon-infused version-SO good. Some of my favorite ones were the Elf-Nog and the Sugar Plum Fairy. I’ve included some photos and descriptions of each that we tried below!
Holiday Cocktails at The Exchange
The Blitzen
This was the first one we tried. It’s made with Jefferson’s bourbon and described as a “Hallmark Christmas Movie in a glass” and they are not wrong. If you have a sweet tooth then this cocktail is for you. So good!
Elf-Nog
I pretty much love anything that involves eggnog and this one is no exception! The Elf-Nog was my favorite one we tried, and it’s made with Jefferson’s Bourbon.
Sugar Plum Fairy
This one is a festive twist on a gin sour using plum and raspberry. Another one of my favorites!
North Pole Punch
The North Pole Punch is a very refreshing gin cocktail. My favorite part of this one was the frozen garnish. It looked just like snow which was such a nice touch. Their attention to detail is amazing!
Reindeer Games
Reindeer Games is made up of the Jefferson’s Bourbon and Fernet Menthe with a hint of walnut and lemon. Out of all of the cocktails, this is probably the only one I wouldn’t order again and I’m just not a fan of the menthe, which is definitely a personal preference!
Santa’s Helper
Small but MIGHTY. This little guy is a shot of candy-cane and cinnamon-infused Jefferson’s Bourbon. I loved this idea and it was so good! I recommend starting out with a round of these for sure.
Overall I was so impressed with all of the holiday cocktails we tried, and The Exchange’s extensive bar menu and atmosphere overall. I’m a huge fan of how they went all out for the holiday season from the drinks to the decor. We will definitely be back!
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