A lot changes in Oxford in the summertime — the campus is empty, the traffic goes away and parking spots at the Square are easier to acquire. As the weather changes, so do the drinks. Bartenders see drink orders change quite a bit as Mississippi heats up.
I interviewed five bartenders at some of Oxford’s most popular bars to see what they had to say about summer consumption and other bar trends over the years.
Sean Snyder has been around the Oxford bar scene for a while. He’s tended bar here for seven years and has lived in Oxford for 11 years.
Snyder says mojitos are a popular drink in the summer. Another one of Bouré’s most popular cocktails is Planter’s Punch, a rum based drink. When fall rolls around people turn to beer and whiskey drinks. He makes a lot of Old Fashioneds and hot toddys on game weekends. Snyder added that over the years he’s seen a shift towards craft cocktails. People are looking for new variety in drinks such as Moscow mules, which is quickly becoming a favorite.
Shane Prewitt has been working at the popular concert venue for three years now. According to Prewitt, the most popular summer drink at Proud Larry’s is their margarita, especially during happy hour.
He also sees an increase in draft beers in the summer. Fall’s most popular drinks are domestic bottled beer. Throughout the past few years, he’s seen an increase in IPAs, pale ales, and fruity beers.
Lamar Lounge bartender, Mike Namorato, has been in the business for more than 13 years. He sees several drinks spike in the summer. Beer, white wine, margaritas and the bar’s signature Bloody Marys are all popular as it heats up outside.
Namorato says he makes more whiskey and specialty drinks as summer comes to an end. Over the years, he says beers come and go. Right now, hoppy beers such as IPAs are very popular. As craft breweries continue to gain popularity, IPAs have almost tripled in number. Namorato also says wider wine selections are a recent development.
John Spreafico spent six years at Bouré, but recently moved to City Grocery’s bar. During the summer, he sees a large increase in Pimm’s cups. Another popular trend seen here and other bars is the mojito, but cucumber gimlets are among the unique popular summer drinks at City Grocery. Summer beers are also popular at City Grocery.
Fall, like many Oxford bars, is largely bourbon drinks. But mojitos and lighter drinks such as vodka sodas are also popular.
Jake Fondren has been a bartender for almost two years. He says the Burgundy Room’s Bellini machine is very popular during the summer months. A Bellini is a frozen peach-champagne-rum drink. Margaritas and martinis are also trendy drinks in the summer.
Fall turns to kegs and whiskey. Fondren says he sees shots phase in and out, especially in the fall. Right now, shots like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Alabama Slammer are common orders.
Mitchell Dowden is a HottyToddy.com staff reporter and can be reached at madowden@go.olemiss.edu.
