The Berkshire Room's New Winter Cocktails Debut Today

The Berkshire Room - a craft cocktail lounge from The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group and beverage director Benjamin Schiller located at 15 East Ohio Street inside the ACME Hotel Company in River North - will debut its new winter cocktails at 4pm today.

Schiller and his Berkshire bartending team created six new "House Cocktails" (all $12 each) that join mainstay "The Weston" on the menu that's listed below.

LA VIE EN VIOLETTE

Sake, Gin, St. Germain, Crème De Violette, Rosemary

Created by Berkshire Room bartender Julieta Campos and served in a coupe. A lite, clean, crisp cocktail with floral and herbal notes from start to finish.

2 SEMESTERS ABROAD

Gin, Campari, Grapefruit, Salt

Created in collaboration with the entire Berkshire Room bartending team and served in a coupe. A cocktail with big sweet, sour, and bitter notes coupled with a slight saline finish. The team wanted to take advantage of the wonderful ruby red grapefruits from South America that are now available in addition to finding another home for Campari on the cocktail list outside of the barrel-finished Continuous Negroni. The cocktail name refers to a semester abroad in Italy as well as in South America.

QUEEN'S PARK SWIZZLE

Rum, Lime, Mint, Angostura

This classic cocktail is served in a Collins glass. An easy mojito riff which brings Angostura and dark rum to the forefront for the holiday season.

DISCERNING ZOMBIE

Single Barrel Rum, Cognac, Berkshire Mix No. 3, Lime Juice

Benjamin's riff on a tiki classic served in a tiki mug. A gentle Zombie variation which utilizes cognac for more elegant notes. The Berkshire Mix No. 3 has big flavors of cassia, allspice, clove, and vanilla. Dangerously strong but drinks easy.

HIP FLASK

Rye, Zucca, Jamaican Rum, Garem Masala Syrup

Created by Berkshire Room bartender Christian Hetter and served in a rocks glass. It's a great "strong and stirred" cocktail -- without being just another Manhattan variation. Christian uses heavy, bitter flavors courtesy of Zucca paired with earthy notes of the Jamaican rum that transitions into a spicy Garem Masala finish.

LONG AFTERNOON

Choice of Vodka, Gin, or Tequila with Aperol, Cucumber, Soda

Created in collaboration with the entire Berkshire Room bartending team and served in a Collins glass. One of the bar's biggest crowd pleasers, this light and refreshing cocktail gives guests a hand in the cocktail making process without going full "Dealer's Choice.