Here's the Latest in D.C.'s Cocktails On Tap Trend

Where to find a Mai Tai, Singapore Sling and gin and tonic, all on tap.

byEater StaffOct 21, 2014, 10:45am EDT

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byEater StaffOct 21, 2014, 10:45am EDT

Courtesy Mockingbird Hill

Since Washington area bars started serving cocktails on tap a couple of years ago at places like Red Apron in Union Market, the trend has taken off in a big way with about a dozen bars now offering them.

Serving cocktails on draft allows maintain the consistency in each drink and serve them up more quickly to thirsty customers, says Tico Assistant General Manager Chad Cortner. "When you make one massive margarita, you can make sure the entire batch is going to taste the same." The drinks come out faster because you’re not mixing or shaking each individual drink. Here’s a breakdown of the newest offerings: what’s on tap and where. —Julekha Dash

Tico DC

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Tico has three drinks on tap: The hibiscus margarita ($10), which blends Blue Agave tequila, fresh squeezed lime juice, Patron Citronge Lime and a syrup made with dried hibiscus flowers. Papa Made Bail ($10) features Pisco, fresh squeezed lemon juice, pineapple syrup, and habanero peppers macerated in grain alcohol. The dry rosé sangria ($9) blends Pisco, wine, fresh-squeezed oranges and lemon, apples and black tea leaves.

1926 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

(202) 319-1400

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Teddy & The Bully Bar

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Two cocktails are served on tap for $11 each. The Aviation blends Beefeater gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette and fresh lemon. The Lady Outlaw mixes Bols Genever and Bols Elderflower liqueurs, lemon sour and lavender bitters.

1200 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

(202) 872-8700

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Mockingbird Hill

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One of the early adopters of the cocktails on tap trend, Mockingbird Hill offers a Greenhat Gin & Pineapple-Sage Tonic — with a house made tonic — on tap for $9.

1843 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

(202) 316-9396

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Southern Efficiency

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The Fourth Regiment ($10) combines rye, sweet vermouth, aromatic, orange & celery bitters while the smoked cola & white whiskey features a house-made cola that the bar smokes.

1841 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

(202) 316-9396

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Iron Gate

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Iron Gate, which rotates its on-tap cocktail seasonally, is currently offering the Bijou ($12), with Ransom Old Tom Gin, Dolin Genepy, and vermouth.

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1734 N St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

(202) 737-1371

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Soi 38

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The Thai restaurant offers the classic Southeast Asian cocktail, the Singapore Sling ($10) on draft. It features Beefeater Gin, Luxardo cherry, Benedictine, clarified lime juice, chili aromatic bitters, sloe gin and pineapple juice.

2101 L St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

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Chaplin's Restaurant & Bar

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Chaplin’s offers a whopping six cocktails on draft. All are $13. The most popular is the Vagabond, with gin, cucumber water, Pimms, ginger beer, lemon bitters and Lillet blanc.

1501 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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Bar Charley

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Bar Charley offers two tiki taps ($7.95) the Suffering Bastard blends gin, bourbon, ginger beer, Angostura bitters and lime. Their Mai Tai blends aged and dark rums, orange curacao, Orgeat and Lime.

1825 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009