Drink and be merry with wintry cocktails from The Press Room
Queue the holiday music, it’s time for some Christmas cocktails. And while hot toddies and eggnog are certainly wholesome, sometimes our culinary tastes long for a holiday spark. If you’re leaning a little less peppermint, a little more avant garde, the winter menu at AC Hotel Greenville’s Press Room bar and lounge might be just the gift you’ve been looking for.
The modern speakeasy is led by beverage director Baileigh Wilson, whose background is an impressive hodgepodge of baking arts (she trained at the Culinary Institute of America), restaurant management, and hands-on learning behind the bar. When it comes to seasonal drinks, Wilson has her plate (or glass) full, crafting concepts for the hotel’s entire lineup of restaurants and bars. She relies on The Press Room’s head bartender Alex Harvey’s creativity and expertise, and together they keep the bar top flowing with inventive drinks and unexpected flavor pairings.
“The Press Room is where we go very eccentric and push people with new drink concepts,” Wilson says. “It’s outside of the box. It’s a unique cocktail experience—drinks you can’t get anywhere else in downtown Greenville.”
In the past, The Press Room has gone wild with its seasonal themes (think Après Ski or Harry Potter), but Wilson says this winter they’re transitioning back to a traditional speakeasy vibe. However, guests can still expect cozy winter decor, making The Press Room an intimate spot to snuggle in with an unexpected holiday drink.
When it comes to drink titles, Wilson refuses to use AI to help generate ideas. “Never in my career have I used ChatGPT to name a cocktail. They all come from my head.”
The Press Room Winter Cocktail Menu
Here’s a sample of what’s on the winter menu:
Winter Frost | Like a classic martini but with cold-season vibes
- Aquavit
- Gin
- Dry vermouth
- House-made rosemary and cranberry tincture
- Lemon bitters
Hey Sugar | A drinkable sugar cookie
- Angel’s Envy bottled-in-bond bourbon
- Johnny Walker Black Label scotch
- Mr. Black coffee liqueur
- Espresso
- House-made sugar cookie syrup
Last of the Flock | A riff on a traditional Last Word cocktail
- absinthe
- Cocchi Americano (wine aromatized with herbs and spices)
- Zirbenz Stone Pine Liqueur of the Alps
- Acid-adjusted orange juice
The Press Room Bar & Lounge, AC Hotel Greenville. Thurs–Sat, 5pm–12am. Reservations no longer required.
