I haven't tried the food because it was a little too pricey for me. However, the cocktail I had, I believe it was an Old Fashioned made with gin, was absolutely wonderful! It's a lively, vibrant place in a cool part of town, tucked away from campus and downtown. Highly recommend for a chill night out with friends. read more

Took a tour of the distillery and had dinner there later in the evening. I highly recommend it doing both! The food was very good and the cocktails were fab! read more

I love Cardinal Spirits. The liquor is great, the food is almost always amazing (I've had one or two experimental dishes that were less appetizing but almost always great). The only problem I have with the place is the pricing. The food serving sizes are minimal though they may be delicious and artistically created, but the prices for both the food and the drinks makes it an occasional visit only, even though I only live a couple of blocks away. Still, I recommend it, especially if that's the kind of experience you're looking for. read more

I loved my experience here! The staff of course are top notch!!!!!! I can't say anything negative about this little place other than it was empty! Why? I have no clue.... go try this place people.... wonderful experience 10's across the board! read more

Oh. My. God. This place is amazing!! Yelp reviews don't lie y'all! Just go there already. We have not had better cocktails than the ones made here in this state. They make their own alcohol and unique cocktails with fresh ingredients and interesting combinations. Our favorites this trip: Dirty Diana, Miss Mint, Flowers in the Attic, and Red Card. The staff and other patrons were friendly and helpful recommending drinks. They have food but we didn't eat here. The food smelled and looked delicious though. This was supposed to be a one drink nightcap that turned into multiple hours and multiple drinks because of how great everything was. Plenty of parking available. You can purchase their alcohol on site to take home. Don't see something you like on the menu? Let them know and they can make you your favorite cocktail. They also have mocktails available. Sit at the bar and watch them mix the cocktails. If you haven't headed that way yet- what are you waiting for?! read more

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Pros: Excellent food and cocktails. Worth a visit for the food alone. Nice view out the window over the deck, looking over the B-line trail. Good service. Wide variety of cocktails using their own spirits. Cons: Noisy; limited food selection. Almost reduced my rating by a star because of the noisy echo chamber inside. But, the excellent food makes it worth a visit. We had the Caprese Salad (house-pulled mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, Thai-spiced tomato water, garden basil, black pepper) and Sate Panang (skewers of coconut milk-and-chili marinated beef ribeye, garden herbs, Farmer Dustin's cucumbers). Both were fabulously tasty and nicely presented on the plate. We also splurged on the Blueberries & Cream (Madagascar vanilla pot de creme "pillow," blueberry sorbet, candied ginger) and Banana Split (house-made single-origin Tumaco chocolate and milk ice creams, hot fudge, bananas, pecans, luxardo cherries). The vanilla was what vanilla is supposed to taste like; excellent! All the flavors in everything were rich and balanced. read more

Wonderful brunch & delicious Moscow Mule! We're looking forward to going back for the tour

This distillery is amazing! Every dish is created in house from scratch! I have tried many items and they are all my favorite. The menu changes seasonally. We happened in on the debut of "Tiki Tuesday's". You MUST try this place!! read more

Food varies from passable to excellent. Cocktail drinks are strong. Simpler drinks are better than cocktail concoctions. They messed up our order and said they will not charge us for the wrong appetizer but did anyway--we didn't quibble but they lost us customers because of that. read more

Inventive starts that take my breath away! The signature drink specialties are a surprise of flavors that always work together.

I visited Cardinal Spirits for a Yelp event. I had a blast. I had the opportunity to sample many of their products. I liked their tiki rum! They are known for their brunch! I can't wait to make a trip back and enjoy their food and drink! I loved the building and the patio area is huge!! They have new lighting out there! Check it out! read more

Cardinal Spirits - Pics of the bar and such - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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My fiance and I did the VIP tour this past Sunday, and it was great! Super informative, and Ben was very knowledgeable. We loved our cocktails--delicious. We chose the Tiki Rum for our free bottle, but we also left with bottles of Flora, Valencia, Bramble, and Songbird. Our home bar is looking mighty fine now! Highly recommend. This is one of our favorite things we've ever done in Bloomington, and I regret not visiting Cardinal Spirits sooner! read more

Great food, better service!! I had the truffle chicken and it was delicious! Also try the banana bread!

In my previous review, I mentioned how it wasn't kid friendly and I didn't see anything outside the doors that mentioned this. However, the owner got a hold of us and she mailed me a gift certificate as an apology! We were able to go a few months later and I am glad we did go! The drinks were great and the atmosphere was wonderful. They sold out of the distilled beer but we were able to find it at the liquor store. Next time we have a babysitter, and we want to feel fancy, we will go again! read more

Cardinal Spirits makes Bloomington a better place. Love this place. There are so many college bars in Bloomington and it can be boring and don't worth you spend money for drinks there sometimes. When this bar opened, I was so happy. It's a bar that always change for better. The service is awesome. It provides variety options for cocktails. My favorite is the coffee liqueur cocktails. If you live in Bloomington or just visits Bloomington, you have to go there order drinks and have food from the taco truck next to it. read more

My boyfriend and I took the 1 hr VIP tour and it was fun! Just like all the other reviews, Ben the tour guide was funny and knowledgeable, definitely made it a great experience. I recommend it for a date or a friends thing to do. The cocktails were great! read more

Had a really nice brunch with my friend and our IU kids. The food was delicious and the staff truly wants to make sure that the experience is good. The manager stopped by to get our feedback. The brunch menu isn't extensive, but everything was fresh and very tasty. It's a bit off the beaten track so it's easier to get a table than the downtown breakfast places, and it's worth the trip. I will definitely go back. read more

I absolutely love this place. Favorite bar in Bloomington. There drinks are amazing! Best Bloody Mary you will find.

Thank you Cardinal Spirits for being as far away from me as you are. I so love your creative concoctions, aesthetically pleasing marketing, and good liquor. I would go bankrupt if I lived in Bloomington and had access to Tiki Tuesday. Your distillery is a beautiful place to hang out and enjoy a drink. Everyone is so kind and knowledgeable. And the cocktails. I had an Anamaria, which consisted of their Tiki Rum, coconut, pineapple-mint shrub, lime and club soda. What a pleasant, delicious drink. So, thank you. Please don't ever expand to Indianapolis. For both of our sakes, I need you at arm's length. But please don't ever change (except when your menu changes, because that's awesome). read more

Enjoyed the blackberry vodka served in a passion fruit mule. Yum! The bourbon was a bit corn heavy but also good. The bartender was friendly and gave us some food recommendations while in town. read more

This place is f'n awesome!!! From Washington DC here for a conference. I'm 24 WOW! Searched high and low for a Moscow mule (a real one copper mug and all). Boy did I find it! Distilled vodka from the back fresh out the oven! Cool staffs small plate excellent cheese. This place is in the middle of nowhere so don't worry if you can't find it/think it Dosent exist. Because it does. And it is delicious. Yummy yummy vodka in my tummy. read more

The cocktails are fun and the food is excellent. Try a sample of their specialty vodkas. Prices are moderate and the deck overlooking the walking trail is great. read more

Great food and (obviously) drinks! We took the tour - $10 for a tour, a dribk, and samples. Highly recommend!

My group did a VIP tour of the distillery and it was fantastic! They worked with us last minute for a tour time that day and were very accommodating. The cocktails were fantastic and the tour with Jeff was very informative and fun. We even got to try some spirits that hadn't been released yet. It was clear interacting with the staff that they all were very passionate about their job and loved to answer questions. I highly recommend the VIP tour and I will definitely be back for more cocktails! read more

Had the pleasure of touring this facility on Saturday. The tour guide did an awesome job of explaining the of distilling spirits. She was very enthusiastic even though she didn't have answers to all of our questions she did a very good job. The cocktails that were offered before the tour were very good and creative. We stuck around for a couple appetizers after the tour and some more cocktails I found them to be all very good. I thought the prices were very reasonable it wasn't overpriced at all. read more

So so food. Nothing that special or exceptional, a little on the boring side. So so spirits. They all kinda have the same taste to them. The cocktails get better the more you have but you can say that about any booze. Overall a bit overpriced but a nice atmosphere to come and chill out in once in awhile. read more

This place is just so imaginative, warm, eclectic... the homemade spirits are wonderful, the food is great, the cocktails have amazing ingredients. The creativity of this place is nuanced, not forced. Also a lovely space. So glad this has opened in Bloomington -- we're lucky. read more

Awesome! Great White Russian! We loved the vodka! Gonna get a bottle for take some :) intimate setting great service. read more

Cardinal Spirits - The best cut meat plate I've had in yrs. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Bloomington has many fine places for a snack and/or a drink. But I have found myself returning to Cardinal Spirits a surprising number of times. Last week I went as the last stop on a progressive dinner and we enjoyed the cheese plate and the meat plate. We had already eaten well but it was a superb finish for our evening. What I appreciate about Cardinal Spirits is they are content to have a short menu very well done instead of a long mediocre one. This gets my vote every time. Every time I go I am pleased to see how popular it has become and with a post college age generally. I am not calling them more sophisticated or quieter, just more mature. Go see if you fit in there, you may really like it as I do. They do samples and you may want to try the coffee vodka. read more

Very fun place. Local distillary with restaurant/bar attached. They have inventive and unique drinks and interesting food (think tapas)... The patio is for all ages, but IN law has inside seating only for 21 and up. We will definitely be back... ​ read more

They have fantastic seasonal menus. There are items on the menu for everyone. They create some great flavors in the food and the drinks. Ive never had anything I don't like. I highly recommend you try it and be prepared to be amazed! The service is good and staff is friendly, one of my favorite places to go in Bloomington. read more

What an absolute gem! Great people with wonderful spirits! One of the best places I have visited in Bloomington in a long long time.

Love Cardinal Spirits! The atmosphere here is amazing! Staff are friendly, helpful, and knowledgable. Many of the drinks are fun and unique, but they can make many classics as well. :) They have indoor seating and a great patio as well. Will have to try some of their foods as the reviews look stellar - we've usually just had a bite to eat at the taco truck they've had on site before (yum!). read more

Great spot to enjoy creative delicious drinks and equally creative and delicious food. My daughter and I were in Bloomington for 4 days this week and enjoyed the the outdoor deck twice for sunset drinks and dinner. Menu offerings are super fresh and so good. We had the good fortune to experience two different seasonal menus for both drinks, mocktails and dinner as Cardinal Spirits transitioned from Spring menus to Summer during our visit. While everything we ate and drank was fantastic it's worth noting that the Summer Sashimi on the new menu was fantastic - sweet light with a little heat -- I'm not one to order sushi or sashimi in a non authentic Japanese restaurant,this shareable was as interesting and satisfying as any I experienced in NYC at the original Nobu. Other notable was although Cardinal Spirits is a distillery under 21's CAN enjoy the deck, food menu, mocktails and other nonalcoholic beverages. Great place to enjoy with your family when attending an IU visit. read more

Just got back from having a nice afternoon cocktail at Cardinal Spirits. This place is AWESOME. I don't even know where to start raving about this place. First, the service was outstanding. Our server was super nice, very knowledgeable and incredibly warm and genuine. A real pleasure. was able to speak freely about the entire operation and future plans. Really cool stuff coming up! The atmosphere is great. Reminds me of Oliver downtown. A really neat modern industrial setting. Intimate without being dark (granted, it was the middle of the afternoon). But easy to relax and enjoy. We had a chocolate and spirits pairing/sample - and it was awesome. The vodka is great, but I have to say - PLEASE MAKE THE INFUSIONS AVAILABLE! The sampled spirits were amazing and I would gleefully purchase several of those options to take home. We also had cocktails that were really good and VERY reasonably priced. We were only there a little while and were already planning multiple return trips. We are excited to try some of the small plates next time. If you're looking for something new and fun to try in Btown - I would ABSOLUTELY check out Cardinal Spirits! We'll be going back VERY soon. read more

This place is fantastic! I love gin, and they have the best gin I've ever tasted. I HATE vodka as a general rule, but their vodka is incredible. Go there a lot and order every cocktail on the menu. I can't recommend this place enough! read more

Cardinal has become one of my favourite hang out with friends spots in town, especially in the summer on their large patio. They make a wide variety of spirits, with as many locally sourced ingredients as possible. I love their liqueurs and rums. The only disappointment so far has been the whiskey, which is way too young, but I expect that to improve to their regular excellent standard once they have several more years of aging on it. Their new kitchen puts out great food, but it is pricey for the amount of food you get. I really miss their prior arrangement having a taco truck on site. For me, this means switching my Cardinal plans from dinner & brunch, to just cocktails & apps/snacks. Definitely still a must-go. read more

A very enjoyable evening. The staff was great in answering our questions about the craft still and greeted us with free samples. Handcrafted cocktails were made in front of us at the bar and were amazing. read more

The atmosphere is unlike any place in Bloomington. I feel like I am on the west coast or on vacation! I love this place. The staff is so accomodating. The drinks are worth every cent and it is impossible to leave without a new distilled bottle of vodka for home! read more

Amazing. If you have not been here you must go. It's a nice place to relax and have a few drinks. They have their own kitchen now, but on the weekends they have the best taco truck in town in their parking lot. The taco truck beats their kitchen. I feel they try too hard with their food. It's a distillery, tacos were perfect. That rant over, best cocktails in town. Try tiki Tuesday, they have he best drink on their menu, but it's only on Tuesday nights...at least for now (the totem). It is a great place to go to avoid the annoying college drinkers. read more