Drink Like You’re at the Grammys With These 5 Local L.A. Cocktails

The Grammys are going down at the Staples Center in T-minus-seven days, which means it’s definitely acceptable to let the preshow celebrations begin. On the top of our countdown-to-Grammys list? Classy cocktails, naturally.

While we unfortunately won’t be there to actually sip the same drinks as Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Justin Bieber and other members of music royalty, we can get pretty darn close thanks to some special recipes by Patina Restaurant Group, which will be serving the stars Feb. 15.

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Patina’s head mixologist, Evan Charest, created five fancy drinks inspired by Record of the Year nominated hits by the likes of The Weeknd and Taylor Swift, which are now being served in Patina restaurants in Los Angeles. Try these pick-me-ups at Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse, Ray’s & Stark Bar, Cafe Pinot, Pinot Grill and Kendall’s Brasserie and Bar from now until next Monday’s show. Cheers.

She’ll Be the Death of Me
Inspired by “Can’t Feel My Face” – The Weeknd
Vodka, Ancho Reyes Chile Liquor, Honey, Lemon, Mint        

“I wanted something with some heat that could hit you on your front palate, but dissipate via a well-crafted balanced cocktail,” said Charest. “To achieve this, I used Ancho Reyes Chile Liquor along with some simple and lemon to balance out the drink, and some mint to cool your palate and to achieve a clean finish. It certainly matches the song very well, if you catch my drift.”

Drunk on Jealousy
Inspired by “Blank Space” – Taylor Swift
Rye, Blackberries, Lemon, Honey 

A twist on a Whiskey Smash with lemon and blackberries fit for Taylor Swift herself. “I wanted a drink with a lot of depth, both in body (via the balance of rye whiskey, lemon, and honey) and color (via the blackberries that give a great dark hue) to match the themes of the song,” noted Charest.

All the Love
Inspired by “Really Love” – D’Angelo and The Vanguard
Mezcal, Aperol, Lime, Bitters          

The drink is a variation of the whiskey-based The Paper Plane (which itself is a variation on the classic The Last Word). Inspiration came from the opening of the song, which is in Spanish. “I immediately wanted an agave-based drink, and to both honor the drink it is based on as well as the quality of the record, I decided to use the smoky agave spirit, mezcal.”

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Say It Loud     
Inspired by “Thinking Out Loud” – Ed Sheeran 
Rum, Lemon, Simple, Strawberry, Basil, Sparkling Wine

This is variation on a Rum Smash with basil, strawberry and a little simple syrup added for balance. “I wanted to create a cocktail that had a nice red color (after all, it is a love song).”

Gon’ Give It to You        
Inspired by “Uptown Funk” – Bruno Mars                                                                 
Gin, Lemon, Apple, Ginger, Soda  

This is a riff on the classic Gin Fizz. “I added some apple for body and, to honor the essence of the record, used ginger syrup for a little bit of a kick.”