Cocktails for a cause at Emmanuelle
Head bartenders Phoebe Esmon and Christian Gaal of Emmanuelle (1052 North Hancock Street, 267-639-2470) have announced their new line-up of artful cocktails for fall including session cocktails entitled “Better Angels of our Nature,” from which 50% of all proceeds will go to three non-profit and charitable organizations personally chosen by the couple. Guests can also expect the return of popular warmed cocktails, all made from their brimming pantry of homemade of ingredients such as syrups and preserves, as well as a thoughtful barrel-aged cocktail. The new menu is available beginning today, Monday, October 14.
“We pour stiff at Emmanuelle, so we welcomed the challenge of creating delicious low alcohol recipes to encourage more donations through drinking,” says Esmon of their charity-tied session cocktails.
“Better Angels of our Nature”
Three new “session cocktails” named so due to their lower ABV (similar to a session ale), also serve a higher purpose: $5 from each $10 cocktail will be donated to a related charity personally chosen by the couple. The drinks include: Don’t Fence Me In, bourbon with Carpano Punt Y Mes, apple cider and Angostura bitters, benefittingPhiladelphia Student Union, a local, youth-led organization that promotes higher quality public education and life-long learning; Moscow on the Schuylkill, vodka with fresh lime, Sbiten (mulled honey and wine) and ginger beer, benefitting LUPUS Foundation of America, which supports medical research, education, advocacy, support and financial assistance; and Butterfly Collector No. 2, blanco tequila with plum shrub, Aztec chocolate bitters and soda, benefitting Tequila Interchange Project (TIP), which targets transparency, good corporate citizenship, sustainability and fair trade within the tequila industry through education, assistance and legal advocacy.
“We chose charities that are close to us and the people who work with us: I do a lot of work with TIP; a friend of everyone who works here suffers from LUPUS; and the state of Philadelphia schools frankly begs for help,” says Esmon. “We’re happy to do what we can to support these worthy causes, and we know our guests will feel good about doing so, as well. We also plan to host events to further benefit each group – more details on those to come.”
House-Made Components
Esmon and Gaal regularly comb local markets for exceptional produce and herbs, then use their finds to bring new breadth and depth to Emmanuelle’s already impressive bar. This season, Esmon has prepared nearly 30 components for their menu, crafting everything from pumpkin lassi (an Indian yogurt drink) to apple butter, ginger syrup to apple cider. In addition, they’re proud to debut Emmanuelle’s first barrel-aged cocktail, A Consummation Devoutly to be Wished, featuring Ilegal Mezcal Joven with straight apple brandy, Carpano Formula Antica, crème de cassis and coldbrew coffee liqueur, which takes a one-month nap in an American oak three-liter barrel.
Other seasonal cocktails, featuring house-made components, include: Bit by a Dead Bee, a riff on the classic Stinger using reposado tequila with Calvados, white crème de menthe, green Chartreuse and chamomile tincture; Zouave, Hendrick’s gin with ginger syrup, lemon and savory beet soda; and The Vanished Gardens of Cordoba, Bermuda dark rum with cognac, Amaro Meletti, orgeat, fig preserves, lemon, Falernum and Angostura bitters.
Hot Drinks
Back by popular demand, and just in time for colder weather, Emmanuelle will bring back warmed cocktails. Selections will include: Slow Boil, a Rock & Rye liquor-based toddy with hot water and a cinnamon stick; Gunga Galunga, Rhum agricole with Pineau des Charentes, sencha syrup, lime bitters and hot water; Toynbee Idea, navy-strength gin with Amaro Abano, spiced apple butter and star anise; and King of the Golden Hall, 12-year-old single malt Scotch whiskey with bonded apple brandy, lemon peel oleo-saccharum, sage tincture and hot water.
As always, menu selections are all quirkily annotated by Esmon and Gaal, giving drinkers a lighthearted lesson in libations and a genuine glimpse of their knowledgeable and charismatic barkeeps.
“We spend a lot of time developing our seasonal cocktail lists and love watching guests enjoy them, but also invite them to strike up a conversation with us so we’re able to make something tailored to their tastes,” says Gaal. Classic cocktails and Better Angels drinks are $10 each, with $5 from each Better Angels donated to the correlating charity; House Originals range between $12 and $15; and Punches, presented in large crystal bowls serving four to six people, range from $65 to $275.
The lowly lit, moody vibe at Emmanuelle is set by the dark blue, red and black velvet walls and weathered wooden floor and wall paneling. Gadrooned mirrors and pictures frames decorate the space as well as a centerpiece chandelier in the shape of a black octopus. The rich, contrasting patterns of the upholstery and walls throughout the intimate space further enhance the casual, warm atmosphere.
Emmanuelle is open daily beginning at 6 p.m. For more information, please call (267) 639-2470, visit www.drinkemmanuelle.com, like them on Facebook, follow them on Instagram (@DrinkEmmanuelle) and follow Esmon on Twitter (@Phoebe_Isabelle).