Punch! Unity Barrel Cocktail
Old Dominick Distillery exists today because Chris and Alex Canale were inspired by a cocktail they discovered 133 years after their great grandfather invented, bottled, and sold it from the streets of Downtown Memphis. The Craft Minds at Watson’s Shack & Rail, Punch! Bar & Lounge, and Big Grove Tavern have come together to support downtown unity and this piece of cocktail history with collaboration on the Downtown Unity Barrel Pick—available at all three locations in Downtown Champaign, Illinois. While the same bottle is available at all three locations for the same price, each cocktail experience is unique.
The Punch! Minds use Poli Elixir Camomilla to reunite Old Dominick whiskey with its Italian heritage. This chamomile liqueur adds uplifting floral and subtle fruit notes similar to the Dominick Toddy introduced in 1880. Bravo Amaro #14 balances this cocktail’s profile with the dry earthy flavors of Guatemalan chocolate, thyme, and sarsaparilla.
In 1880 Dominick Canale began a legacy with whiskey cocktails sold from a fruit cart in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2023 this legacy inspired three independent businesses in Downtown Champaign, Illinois to come together to offer their guests not just a bourbon, but a three-generation-long story. In the same way that Old Dominick invites the world to, “Share a Sip of Pure Memphis,” the Downtown Unity Barrel invites all who live and travel through Champaign to share a sip of unity.
Old Dominick Distillery exists today because Chris and Alex Canale were inspired by a cocktail they discovered 133 years after their great grandfather invented, bottled, and sold it from a fruit cart. The Craft Minds at Watson’s Shack & Rail, Punch! Bar & Lounge, and Big Grove Tavern have come together to support downtown unity and this piece of cocktail history with collaboration on the Downtown Unity Barrel Pick—available at all three locations in Downtown Champaign, Illinois. While the same bottle is available at all three locations for the same price, each cocktail experience is unique.
Old Dominick Distillery exists today because Chris and Alex Canale were inspired by a cocktail they discovered 133 years after their great grandfather invented, bottled, and sold it from a fruit cart. The Craft Minds at Watson’ Shack & Rail, Punch! Bar & Lounge, and Big Grove Tavern have come together to support downtown unity and this piece of cocktail history with collaboration on the Downtown Unity Barrel Pick—available at all three locations in Downtown Champaign, Illinois. While the same bottle is available at all three locations for the same price, each cocktail experience is unique.
The Punch! Minds have paired this spirit with fire and love by infusing glass with chamomile and ceder smoke. This unity barrel pick is shaken wish chamomile and lemon and bravo#14. double shaken to remove any residual water the crisp cocktail is topped with a dash of smoked sea salt before it is poured into a soft of chamomile and cedar smoke.
Fried Chicken, tavern fare, and craft cocktails unify around quality whiskey.
Punch! Bar & Lounge in Downtown Champaign Il was opened with local partnership in mind
Old Dominick Huling Station Downtown Unity Barrel Single Barrel
Poli Liquore Camomilla Poli Distillerie founded in 1898 125 years ago
Bravo Amaro #14
Vanilla
Sea Salt
Chamomile-Cedar Smoke
Dominick Toddy – bourbon-based cordial with fruity overtones 1880
the successful grocery and beverage businesses they grew into sold Bev in 2010 and food in 1999
Domenico Canale sold his hand crafted Dominick Toddy from the same fruit cartwas sixteen years old when he journeyed to Memphis, Tennessee to join his uncles in their grocery, liquor, and wine business. He was twenty-three when he began
Domenico journeyed to his uncles Downtown grocery within The United States and began distribution of fruit by cart along the streets of Downtown Memphis. This horse-drawn cart would add ceramic jars with an Old Dominick label upon them within a short span. These jars lead to the creation of a cocktail. That cocktail’s discovery 133 years later lead to a calling.
Following the surprise discovery of an unopened bottle of Old Dominick Toddy from the late 1800s, Chris and Alex Canale decide to reinstate the storied spirit brand started by their great great grandfather, Domenico. A world-class distillery is planned, to be located in the heart of Downtown Memphis on South Front Street.
Fried Chicken, tavern fare, and craft cocktails unify around quality whiskey. hese jars lead to the creation of a cocktail. That cocktail’s discovery 133 years later lead to a calling
Downtown Unity Barrel
Downtown Unity Barrel Punch! Cocktail
Following the surprise discovery of an unopened bottle of Old Dominick Toddy from the late 1800s, Chris and Alex Canale decide to reinstate the storied spirit brand started by their great great grandfather, Domenico. A world-class distillery is planned, to be located in the heart of Downtown Memphis on South Front Street.
The Craft Minds at Watson’ Shack & Rail, Punch! Bar & Lounge, and Big Grove Tavern
2017 became first to legally distill whiskey in Memphis since prohibition
Domenico sought to write the definition of unity when he traveled to the United States in 1859. He journeyed to his uncle’s Downtown Grocery where he began distribution of their abundant fare by cart along the streets of Downtown Memphis. Their legacy grew when the cart’s inventory grew ceramic jars with an Old Dominick label.
Today, a globally-branded locally-owned hotel within a street’s cross of their front doors empowered The Craft Minds at Watson’ Shack & Rail, Punch! Bar & Lounge, and Big Grove Tavern to unify toward a vision of downtown excellence. Together they gifted the Downtown Unity Barrel Pick—available at all three locations in Downtown Champaign, Illinois.
Located within a street’s cross or less of the Hyatt Place Champaign/Urbana The Craft Minds at these locations collaborated to bring us the best new piece of Memphis, TN history we didn’t know we needed. Carmel flavor with a dry finish carry an experience much in the way Domenico Canele carried it all in the late 1800’s.
This glorious little trio is just a taste of what Champaign Illinois has to offer. Home of The University of Illinois means home to innovation and pride. Over 35 downtown businesses provide The Craft Minds of the midwest a canvas. This canvas takes more than one weekend to take in. Book a stay.
collaborated on a mutual gift to the world. The Hyatt Place Champaign/Urbana is located within a street cross of these locations.
These three establishments are among the many craft displays of passion Champaign – Urbana have to offer.
Sparkle
Punch! Crafted Citrus Vodka is infused with fresh peels from lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit at Punch! Bar & Lounge in Downtown Champaign Illinois for full citrus flavor. The Punch! Minds have paired this citrus experience with the unique flavors of Lychee and Guava in their Winter 2023 Cocktail Collection with Sparkle.
Chicago’s CH Distillery credits their city and the fundamental compounds in alcohol, carbon and hydrogen for the CH in their name. CH Distillery‘s commitment to locally sourced ingredients spoke to The Punch! Minds much the same way their CH-Dogma Amargo de Chile spoke to Sparkle.
Lychee and Guava were sweetened with hints of pineapple and lemon to round out the citrus explosion that is Punch! Crafted Citrus Vodka. The Punch Minds utilize CH’s unique Amaro and Bittermen’s Habanero Shrub to balance that sweetness with hints of Mole, Chile Pepper, Cocoa, Cinnamon, and Habanero. Served in Punch Bar & Lounge‘s classy Nick & Nora glass, Sparkle’s complex nature and beauty are tied together with glitter and an orchid.
Giffard Lichi-Li sweet aromatic rose flavor
CH-Dogma Amargo de Chile – Mole Spice, Chile Pepper, Cocoa, Cinnamon – CH – Chicago/and the fundamental compounds in alcohol, Carbon and Hydrogen CH Distillery
Pineapple Juice, Lemon Juice, edible Glitter, Orchid
Smolder
The Punch Minds have catered to their Buffalo Trace brand-love since their open. Initially, Buffalo Trace Bourbon was kicked up by Punch! Bar & Lounge in Downtown Champaign Illinois with a touch of smoke and a hint of vanilla to accent Buffalo Trace’s signature flavor. Punch! Crafted Smoked-Vanilla Bourbon was born. They elevated these flavors another level in year two with the still requested cocktail Smoke. Next, they hippyfied it with The Business. Both Smoke and The Business have made returning appearances on following menus.
The Punch! Minds unified their love of Buffalo Trace with the most infamous fireside dessert of all time when they introduced Smolder to the world. Inspired by an affinity for patio-dining while centered in the midwestern United States around the winter solstice, this warm treat was just what no one knew they needed. Smoke and Smolder were perfect compliments.
Smolder has come back for the Winter of 2023 craft cocktail menu featuring Punch! Crafted churro marshmallows toasted to perfection. Punch!’s Smoked-Vanilla Bourbon compliments Mozart Chocolate Cream Liqueur along with a splash of Oppidan Smoke + Sea Bourbon to bring an adult-zing to a familiar childhood hot cocoa treat.
Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Oppidan Smoke + Sea Bourbon, Mozart Chocolate Cream Liqueur, Habanero, Oat Milk, Churro Marshmallows, Smoked Sea Salt (served warm)
Booch with the Fir
Libelula Tequila, Brovo Douglas Fir Liqueur, Vanilla Syrup, Lemon Juice, Rosemary Hexagon Ice, Rosemary Tincture, Rosemary Sprig
Punch! Partner Walnut Street Tea Co.’s Rooibos Tea
Teas are capable of capturing many of earth’s flavors, and Kombucha is made from fermenting tea. Punch! Partner, Cloud Mountain Kombucha Located in Urbana Illinois is working to capture flavors of the midwest. The Punch Minds worked with Cloud Mountain’s Black Currant-Rosemary Kombucha in their Winter 2023 Cocktail Collection to introduce Booch with the Fir.
The Punch Minds at Punch! Bar & Lounge in Downtown Champaign Illinois double down on their Punch! Partner dedication by pairing fermented tea with cold brewed Rooibos Tea acquired from their downtown neighbor Walnut Street Tea Co. The Punch! Minds bring a bit of the mountain range Cloud Mountain envisions with spring buds clipped from Washington Douglass Firs grown on the side of Mount Baker with Brovo Douglas Fir Liqueur. Tequilla, vanilla, and lemon round out the true nature of this cocktail.
Rosemary infused water is frozen into green hexagonal shapes for a mesmerizing drink that will grow stronger rosemary notes as their size dwindle. Punch! Crafted Rosemary tincture creates a mist of aroma over the mouth of the glass to compliment the rosemary sprig and bring about a trifecta of rosemary support to Cloud Mountain’s local garden flavor.
A Gentian and a Scholar
Punch! Crafted Chai Scotch – Infused with Punch! Partner Walnut Street Tea Co.’s Chai Masala Tea
Suze, Big O Ginger Liqueur, Lemon Juice, Demerera Gum Syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters, Absinthe
The Empress’s New Groove
Empress 1908 Gin, St. George Aqua Perfecta Basil Eau de Vie, Hamilton Pimento Dram, Fruitful Coconut, Fruitful Mango, Cinnamon Butterfly Pea Flower Tea, Lime Juice, Micro Dianthus Flowers
Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli
Punch! infused White Chocolate Vodka, Punch! made Chocolate-Pistachio Liqueur, Campari, Amaro Montenegro, Demerera Gum Syrup, Cannoli Cream, Pistachios, Chocolate Chips
You Put the Bourbon in the Coconut
Punch! Crafted Smoked Vanilla Bourbon, Fruitful Coconut, Hamilton Pimento Dram, Punch! Crafted Cinnamon Cordial, Maple Syrup, Vanilla Syrup, Oat Milk, Hella Smoked Chili Bitters, Bittercube Blackstrap Bitters, Chocolate-Chai Ice
Snowbird
Cardinal Spirits Tiki Rum, Cointreau, Fruitful Pink Guava Liqueur, Fruitful Coconut Liqueur, Punch! Crafted Toasted Macadamia Orgeat, Lime Juice, Tangerine Juice, Cereal Infused Oat Milk, Cardamom Bitters, Fee Brothers Grapefruit Bitters, Cocktail Parasol, Pineapple Wedge, Orchid, Punch! Crafted Grapefruit and Cinnamon Tinctures
Gingerbread
Rum (Winter Rum), Hamilton Pimento Dram, Cinnamon Cordial, John D. Taylor Velvet Falernum, Molasses, Vanilla, Lemon Juice, crushed gingersnap cookies, gingerbread spice
A Gentian and a Scholar
Punch! infused Chai Scotch, Suze, Big O Ginger Liqueur, Lemon Juice, Demerera Gum Syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters, Absinthe
The Empress’s New Groove
Empress 1908 Gin, St. George Aqua Perfecta Basil Eau de Vie, Hamilton Pimento Dram, Fruitful Coconut, Fruitful Mango, Cinnamon Butterfly Pea Flower Tea, Lime Juice, Micro Dianthus Flowers
Java the Hutt
The rich molasses produced from sugar cane grown on the foothills of the active Mt. Kanlaon Volcano is used to craft the smooth and unique flavors of Don Papa Small Batch Rum. Punch! Bar & Lounge in Downtown Champaign Illinois features this unique rum in their Winter 2023 Cocktail Collection with Java the Hutt.
The Punch! Minds paired this Philippines craft rum with Pama Pomegranate Liqueur and vanilla to bring out the sweet vanilla & fruit notes infused within Don Papa Small Batch Rum. Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur and cold brew coffee steeped from a Punch! proprietary blend produced by Punch! Partner Page Roasting Co are blended with a hint of maple to further round out the compliment of flavors found in the exceptional rum selected for this particular cocktail.
A dash of Bittermen’s Habanero Shrub brings forward the natural spice felt within a sip of Don Papa. The drink is completed with a large cold brew coffee ice cube made from the same Punch! proprietary blend of Paige Roasting Co Coffee and three pomegranate seeds placed on top of the cube to give the drink a mind-blowing appearance to match its mouth-blowing flavors.
Don Papa Small Batch Rum, Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, Pomegranate, Vanilla, Maple, Coffee Ice
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