Best of 2014

As 2014 comes to a close, I thought I'd join the reflective bandwagon and look back at the cocktails, coffee, tea (as well as soda, wine, chocolate, beer, ice cream, etc) that I've enjoyed over the past year (really since April when I started this little blog) and share with you my top ten favorite beverages. Cheers!

P.S. You can find all the beverages on the spirits, beans, and leaves pages of the blog.

Ten:  

Cali Cola, One More Cup

Nine:

Harry's Reviver, Harry's Bar & Tables

Eight:

Autumnal Seasonal Italian Soda
Second Best Coffee

Seven:

Cream Royal
The Blue Teapot

Six:

Lavender-Honey Latte
Second Best Coffee

Five:

Pendergast
The Rieger Hotel 

Four:

Brown Sugar & Rosemary Latte
Kaldi's

Three:

 Charlie Sour
The Westport Cafe

Two:

Red Velvet Rooibos Tea
Anna Marie's Teas

One:

The Old Square, Bluestem

Happy New Year, Kansas City! Here's to more great beverages and local love!

Autumnal Seasonal Italian Soda

Drink: Autumnal Seasonal Italian Soda
Type: Soda
From: Second Best Coffee
Price: $2
Description: Spicy

Other than the best espresso in Kansas City, one of the greatest things about Second Best Coffee in Waldo is their house-made syrups. I fell in love with the Lavender-Honey months ago and how well it compliments the coffee and espresso of the drinks instead of covering the flavors. The syrups are available as freshly-made Italian Sodas, and so in order to appreciate the straight flavor of the Autumnal Seasonal syrup, that's how I tried it.

The drink: bubbly, spicy, sweet, cool.

The Autumnal Seasonal syrup is ginger, cinnamon, and brown sugar. It's a perfect fall flavor and would be wonderful in coffee and espresso, and is delicious as a soda. The coolness and bubbly of the soda is a nice balance to the warmth and spiciness of the syrup, making for a very dynamic and tasty drink.

Raspberry Rose Slushie

Drink: Raspberry Rose Slushie
Type: Soda
From: Little Freshie
Price: $3.25
Description: Vintage

With all of Little Freshie's weekly syrups, it's hard to decide between a soda, a snowcone, or a slushie. Having tried a soda and snowcone, this slushie was wonderful. With ice of great consistency, it absorbs the subtly sweet syrup well.

The drink: floral, icy, light, and bubbly.

The rose flavor in this is really nice and not at all overwhelmed by the raspberry flavoring. The slight effervescence adds to the refreshing nature of this treat. It also has a lovely throwback, vintage feeling from the rose flavor.

Cali Cola

Drink: Cali Cola
Type: Coffee / Soda
From: One More Cup
Price: $2.75
Description: Balanced

During the Spring Caffeine Crawl, we sampled this unique beverage at One More Cup, and I'm not entirely sure why it took me so long to get another. Mexican Coke with a shot of toddy makes for a perfectly bubbly beverage, especially nice for warm Fall afternoons.

The drink: sweet, earthy, fun, tangy

The use of Mexican Coke (which is made with natural sugar) really adds to the flavor. It's not syrupy, and as a non-soda drinker (for the most part), the toddy cuts through some of the sweetness and adds a depth to the overall flavor.

Lemon Prickly Pear Snowcone

Drink: Lemon Prickly Pear Snowcone
Type: Snowcone
From: Little Freshie
Price: $3.25
Description: Tart

I haven't been able to decide what I like most about Little Freshie on the West side. It might be how adorable the shop is, the delicious pastries, the hand-crafted espresso, or the fact that all of their naturally-based flavors are available as sodas, slushies, and snowcones. Flavors change weekly, but are available online to see. They always have their spicy ginger fizz, sparkling lemonade, and house made shrubs. Other flavors I've seen are raspberry rose, root beer, and green tea pear.

The drink: citrusy, refreshing, cool, flavorful.

While not technically a drink, this snowcone was amazing. It was lemony with the tartness and pucker factor of the prickly pear. If you haven't tried prickly pears, they tend to be polarizing. My grandfather had a tree in his garden and they are truly unique. This is a great way to experience the fruit in a pleasing way, with the lemon and sweetness of the syrup adding to the taste.

I think for my next trip I'll order one flavor three ways and see how each method changes and enhances the flavors.

Be sure to check out this soda from Little Freshie!

Blackberry Lavender Soda

Drink: Blackberry Lavender Soda
Type: Soda
From: Little Freshie
Price: $3.25
Description: Fresh

So while this doesn't fall into the spirits/beans/leaves category - it was too delicious and local to pass up! Little Freshie started out in a trailer selling fresh snowcones, and now works out of a quaint shop at West 17th street. With indoor and outdoor seating, and an abundance of freshly made espresso, soda, slushies, and snowcones, it's perfect for summer.

The drink: light, aromatic, effervescent, refreshing.

Homemade soda is really the only way to go: it wasn't sweet or syrupy, just unbelievably refreshing and just slightly bubbly. Weekly flavors like green tea pear, raspberry rose, and mango ginger along with house made herb and lemonade flavors can be hand crafted into sodas, snowcones, or slushies. They all pair well with fresh sandwiches and made-from-scratch scones, hand pies, and cookies. Need more convincing? Check out all these reviews!

Need more local beverages in your life? Check the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!