For the perfect boozy Southern drink this summer, turn to a moonshine cocktail in the Raleigh area! Sip on one of these eight beverages here, packing a delicious punch and best enjoyed outside with friends.
The Mason Jar Tavern
With locations in both Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina, The Mason Jar Tavern uses fresh herbs and summer produce paired with N.C.-made spirits to make their drink specials. The Blueberry Mint Moonshine is a must-try and includes Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon Blueberry Moonshine, Sprite, muddled mint and lime with sugar in the raw, all shaken over ice. Of course, this local favorite is served in a mason jar!
With a name like MoonRunners Saloon, expect to find the moonshine flowing! Featuring more than 40 different types of moonshine from N.C. and beyond, this Garner restaurant and bar has become a local-favorite hangout. For a taste of summer, try the Island Shine Punch featuring strawberry moonshine, watermelon liquor, melon, simple syrup and pineapple juice, then garnished with lemon, orange and a cherry.
In the town of Wake Forest, Farm Table is putting a twist on their Whiskey Smash. Ask to have it made with their moonshine for an exciting new drink. It’s made with lemon, lime, fresh mint, simple syrup and soda. Pair this cocktail with a farm-to-table meal for something extra special this summer.
With a portion of their beverage menu dedicated to "shine," Driftwood Southern Kitchen in North Raleigh's Lafayette Village offers five moonshine cocktails. For a refreshing summer cocktail, Driftwood's Blackberry Sour is a must. This specialty cocktail features blackberry moonshine, Jim Beam rye, house-made sour, blackberries, basil and lemon, and is best enjoyed on the patio.
For a unique take on the classic Moscow Mule, The Cowfish is mixing up a cocktail with Poteen Moonshine, ginger beer, freshly-squeezed lime and shiso. Deemed the Moscow Muleshine, this cocktail offers a refreshing break from the summer heat, and it pairs perfectly with a roll of burgushi!
The menu at BRAISE—located in the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley—wouldn't be complete without a moonshine cocktail! The Nutty Delight is a combination of Evan Williams 1783, Frangelico and amaretto moonshine. Pair it with their Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich, made with classic Eastern Carolina BBQ sauce and coleslaw on a sesame bun.
At MOFU, they’re keeping things “Pretty In Pink”! Enjoy sipping on this cocktail featuring Pinetop Moonshine, hibiscus simple syrup, egg white, lemon and Falernum. But hurry in! MOFU’s cocktail menu changes with the seasons.
Crafted with N.C. spirit, Backyard Bistro's Fuzzy Mango is stirring up the South in a glass. Troy and Sons Platinum Heirloom Moonshine is mixed with peach schnapps, mango nectar and orange juice to create a refreshing summer cocktail for you to enjoy on the patio. As a plus, Backyard Bistro serves up some of the most delicious barbecue around—check out their page in our Guide to Barbecue in Raleigh, N.C.!
Header photo via The Mason Jar Tavern
