Great booze. Fancy cocktails. Food looks good, but I haven't tried it. Its a good time.

I love this place so much, I got a job serving here! The cocktails are spot on and absolutely delectable. The bartenders put so much thought and creativity into each drink. They also are really great about making sure that everyone is satisfied with their experience which I absolutely love as a customer and employee. 20% gratuity is added onto each check so that is something to keep in mind. I believe it applies more pressure on us to make sure our service is top notch and also to hire the best of the best staff so customers can have the best experience possible. This place is not cheap by any means but you absolutely pay for the quality food and drinks. With that being said, wait times do take a bit longer because of the complexity and quality of our drinks and food, but I can promise you the wait is worth it and the bartenders and chefs put their heart and soul into each order! Currently in the process of reworking the menu so there are not as many veggie options right now, but hoping for more very very soon. Some of my menu favorites are the tofu tacos, steak sandwich, and of course the OMG fries with the truffle aioli. Also, follow them on Instagram! The marketing team is top notch. Hope to see you soon :) read more

Great place for date night. Super interesting drinks and food pairings. They are also incredibly generous in supporting the community!!!

Hands down, some of the best local distilled spirits and liquor in the Hoosier state. from their branding to their massive line of options, to their suggested recipes and the beautiful store front, Cardinal Spirits is a great local business to support. I've had many options but a few that stand out to me are the Bramble and the Coffee Liqueur. You can find them in many local stores, especially Big Red Liquors, but if you're down in the area, I'd encourage you to take a tour and meet the staff. They're all so incredibly nice and knowledgeable. Cheers to a great product, Cardinal Spirits. May the new options keep flowing and the spirits never stop! read more

Bloomington trying to be a city. I dig it. Specialty cocktails abound. I'm not gonna tell you what to order because drinks change seasonally. On Mondays and Sundays, Cardinal serves boozey ice cream, though. Every drink is handcrafted to perfection. Each is aesthetically pleasing and signature--with some sort of fruit, leaf, or vegetable hangin out on the rim or submerged in the glass. Some of the cocktail names are a bit lackluster, but that's just a superfluous detail. Sit outside if you can. There's a row of cute houses across the road, and 9 times out of 10 there will be a dog to play with/pet on the patio. The server was nice and didn't rush us or pressure us to buy another. For Bloomington, the cocktails are expensive--but on par with city prices. PEOPLE WITH A UTERUS the bathroom has you covered with menstrual products. All around a classy, bougie establishment that thrives off midwestern vibes married to more urban decorum and architecture. read more

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Always absolutely a delight to come here! Foodwise, I have never had anything I didn't devour as soon as it appears. The servers are always friendly and very very helpful. The atmosphere is really chill. The cocktails are all unique and taste amazing! Highly recommend everyone to give this place a try! Oh they sponsor the venue for the monthly boardgame nights too! Great way to meet people! read more

You will find nothing but the best in fine spirits, expertly mixed drinks, reasonable prices and great conversation at this truly unique drinking venue. Across the board, the bartenders are friendly, fantastic and consistently make 'em strong. Two words of advice: Coffee. Colada. Yipppy Kay Aye! Thanks for the recommendation, Alex! read more

Cardinal Spirits - Coffee Colada - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I am really enjoying the craft distillery movement that Indiana seems to be experiencing. Gone are the homogenous spirits of your local liquor store, although those can still be had. For the adventurous or just someone looking to experience the best Bloomington has to offer, try Cardinal Spirits! The ambiance in the bar area is cool and open. I was trying this place solo today, and Stella took really good care of me! She was friendly from the start and helped me decide on some yummy concoctions! I recommend the Harvest Moon - it's like fall in a glass with their apple-infused gin mixed with cider, lemon, and cardamom ginger syrup. The deck was a very popular spot to sit even on this crisp fall day. Sun was plentiful today so I'm sure a nice warm glass of mulled cider would hit the spot while overlooking the B-Line while viewing what might be B-town's cutest row of houses/duplexes. There was a taco truck on site today (Saturday) so while I don't know about weekdays, I do know you can get some hearty brunch options on the weekend. I sampled some of their spirits straight, and they are very tasty and also offer some unusual options. The coffee liqueur is heaven, and the Bramble vodka (infused with black raspberries & blackberries) would be tasty straight up or on the rocks! They also offer chocolates infused with their spirits as well as ice creams. I had the chocolates but not the ice cream today. I think I'll save that for my next visit! Put this one on your bookmark list next time you're in Bloomington! read more

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First time visit, excellent experience. We had an *amazing* behind-the-scenes tour, guided by Ben. He was very knowledgeable about the history and science behind what it takes to make these spirits truly amazing. He shared lots of in-depth information about the ingredients and fermenting/ distilling process. As part of our tour, we got to taste the spirits and were also given the opportunity to select a cocktail to drink. I chose the Late Bloomer, which was sweet and slightly tangy. My friend got the Hello Kiwi (pictured), which was incredibly refreshing on a hot humid summer day. Top favorite spirits tasted were ... the Terra Gin, Songbird Coffee, Valencia (triple sec) and Flora (raspberry and edible flowers). Can't wait to go back for brunch and more cocktails. read more

Cardinal Spirits - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

This place is my jaaaaam. If I lived nearby, I'd be tempted to meet friends here after work ... a lot. They have a great patio (I didn't even make it out there!), bright, fun ambiance inside, and killer drinks. I've been a few times now, and I feel like this review is so overdue. I came with a group, so half of us had a cocktail first, then toured (and vice versa for the other half). Worked out beautifully. The staff is friendly, helpful, and will guide you through their spirits to find a drink you'll love. I opted for the Bramble Mule. WOW! I didn't even know I liked mules until I had this one. Definitely something I'll order again. I ended up purchasing a bottle of the Flora, as I heard it makes cheap, dry champagne (which my fella adores) taste a lot better. Sounds good to me (and it's true). Cheers! read more

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We took the VIP tour a couple weeks ago! Look on Groupon if you'd like to take the tour without breaking the bank. My wife and I received one cocktail each, a bottle of their "Lake House" spiced rum, tastings of all their products, and the full one-hour tour, all for just forty-something dollars total. Which, when you figure the price of a bottle of liquor and two cocktails, you realize it basically pays for itself. I don't remember the name of our tour guide, but he was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was fun to see the operation inside a local distillery that sources to so many different states. It has very much a "we're distilling in a garage,"-feel, which actually, is basically what they're doing. I've only been to Cardinal a couple times, but I've always been impressed by their staff and the ambiance. It's not your typical college-town bar and does a great job of setting itself apart from the other bars, pubs, breweries, and the like in town. We haven't come for brunch yet, but we'd like to soon! read more

I think that Indianapolis has a thing or two to learn from Bloomington drink establishments. Cardinal Spirits should be the professor of that class. First off, they make their own spirits which are pretty decent. It's what they put those spirits in that is really great. That would be cocktails folks! Sooooo many cocktails. Something for everyone. The savory, the flowery, the sweet, and the sour - they've got them all. Even a hot coffee cocktail, which I had on my last visit. I have yet to drink a cocktail that I didn't think was good. And by good, I mean a 'value'. Nothing here is mind blowing or really outside the box. Just well executed staples and a few that sound semi-weird (if you think cayenne pepper in your drink is 'weird'.... you need to experiment with your drinking a bit more). Tom Collins. White Russian. Mojito. Cardinal has you dialed in at small town, college town prices. Service has been good on all my visits. Love the location. Has a neighborhood vibe and is located right on the B Line. Get on your bike and get down there for a few drinks and a few tacos from the somewhat permanent taco truck in the parking lot. read more

Mad props to Yelp for introducing me to yet another amazing Hoosier business. I'm glad that while I was in town this weekend, I had an opportunity to stop by for their one year anniversary celebration which included a tour of the distillery. This place always feels so inviting to me. I love the large windows and abundance of natural light as well as the wood bar. The staff is always nice and fairly attentive. I arrived a bit early for the tour, so I just chilled at the bar until it started. Although I'm am more of a wine fan than anything else, placed like Cardinal Spirits has piqued my curiosity when it comes to traditional spirits. They have such unique and enticing flavors. I forgot the name of our tour guide, but he was knowledgeable, personable, and laid back which made the tour pretty fun. He explained the process in making many of their spirits, which was fascinating. The tour was only supposed to last 30 minutes and it took an hour because the group was so intrigued by the process. We learned about an incredible new collaboration between the distillery and Oliver Winery, but unfortunately, we have to wait 3 years for the results. Awe, man. I can't wait that long for something so incredible. PLUS, um, at the end, we were able to sample 9 drinks. Yessssssssssss! The coffee and flora are by far my favorites. Fortunately, they had a holiday trio including both, so I was able to bring them back home. Yummers! This place has been added to my "must-visit" list every time I am in B-Town. If you follow them on social media, they are always posting about some exciting event or tasty new concoctions. Another gem in Bloomington. I'm soooo jealous that this place wasn't around when I was a student at IU. read more

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always delicious food and super friendly staff! have gone a few times over the years and each time is better than the last. for non drinkers - their mocktails are just as delicious as their cocktails. definitely recommend when in Bloomington :) read more

Cardinal Spirits - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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So, we didn't get to really spend too much time here but I feel it's really important to write a quick snapshot review of the environment. We are from a state that allows babys into distilleries, wineries, breweries, etc. We were ignorant to the Indiana laws. We went in here with our daughter and asked if she was allowed and they said no. While this sounds negative it really wasn't. The way they went about it was so polite and respectful. It was definitely our fault not theirs! We apologized and left. They even followed us in the parking lot with a snack because they understood. It's crazy how a place that doesn't allow anyone under 21 could be so family oriented. Maybe you all will make it to Virginia Beach one day. Thank you for your hospitality as brief as it was. Southern Indiana hospitality is better than the actual south. read more

I think I found my happy place! This town is run by beer joints (I love beer don't get me wrong) but I stepped foot in this place, sat down at their bar and realized that I've missed a great cocktail drink! The bartenders actually talk to you and make you feel welcomed. We took their tour! And let's not forget about the drinks; so good.. We had several!! Very reasonably price too! I'm in awe by this place and I can't wait to go back... In my humble opinion this is what this town needed! read more

Cardinal Spirits - Trust them with your palate! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Let me spare you the details (unless you ask me why). I recently (15 minutes ago) had the best vegetarian burger in town. I believe it was a quinoa/shiitake mushroom (formidable) duo. Don't sue me if I'm wrong, haha! The brioche bun was buttery and amplified the spices from the burger. Additionally, the fries are hand-cut, and you do feel a little guilty when the iconic moment happens in yr mouth that you can treat yourself this well. I will be back!! read more

Being a Moscow Mule fan, I felt the need to sample their classic drink and my shining copper mug of ginger-y goodness (made with their own vodka) did not disappoint. Imagine my delight when I found they had teamed up with hometown favorite The Chocolate Moose to make a mule sorbet with the same fine spirits: Served with crystallized ginger and a wooden spoon, it was such a treat! Grand opening February 13th, and they are ready for the city with their first of what I hope will be many fine spirits. read more

Cardinal Spirits - Moscow Mule cocktail & Moscow Mule sorbet. What can I say, I know what I like. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Popped in at the recommendation of a friend during a visit to Bloomington even though I'm definitely more of a wine enthusiast. The atmosphere was pleasant and lively and I was definitely impressed with the friendly service. We didn't order food but I tried the Beauty school dropout which was smooth and delicious and topped with a purple cauliflower that gave the drink a natural pink glow. This spot is definitely a great place to socialize and I can't wait to come back for brunch and try the Bloody Mary. read more

Cardinal Spirits - Beauty school drop out - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Love this place! Went for brunch with a gal friend and we enjoyed delicious food, aMAYzing drinks, and the best service ever by Kevin. We ordered the lemon almond cake and split it (it's like candy!) and I got the polenta porridge and she got the potato poblano hash which was LIFE CHANGING. I'm getting the hash next time for sure. Thanks to the bartender for making me an "evening" drink for brunch (The Seersucker is to die for!) Can't wait to get back here for an evening chill on their sweet deck. read more

I was fortunate enough to be able to take part in an event put on by @Visitbtown and this was one of our stops. Having tried their products before there's just something about being able to visit the place where the magic happens. We were with a large group at least 20+ people which can be overwhelming to some. The service was amazing. We never felt rushed. I chilled on the patio which, if it's open, is where I recommend sitting. If you get a chance I highly recommend the Distillery Tour. It's an awesome behind the scenes experience. Now the Bramble Mule which is their twist on a Moscow Mule (one of their summer concoctions) has my heart. Instead of regular vodka they use their Bramble Vodka which has been infused with black raspberries & hibiscus. It's so fresh. The Bramble would even be good on it's own poured over ice. If you find yourself in Bloomington pop into Cardinal for a bit. read more

Cardinal Spirits - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Great place for brunch and a distillery tour! Staff was super sweet and knowledgeable. Not crowded for weekend brunch, delicious food and cocktails. Love this local operation! read more

Cardinal Spirits - Porchetta benedict - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Cardinal Spirits is a great addition to the Btown scene! I love that it has a great porch overlooking the B-line, and that it has great craft cocktails. I really miss the wonderful drinks they served at The Rail, so it makes me happy to see similar care given to mixology here. I had the Gin Gimlet and my guy had the Negroni special, as it happened to be launch day for their new drier gin. Really well-priced cocktails (similar ones where we live would run $12, here they are $6-9). We loved both, and since were visiting (we live near Nashville, TN) we bought a bottle of vodka and the smooth American Gin. They had a special 25% discount off the second bottle for Father's Day, so I got to take home double the fun. I will be honest, the only reason I'd heard about the place as an out-of-state visitor was because I used to follow a Btown fashion blogger and she plugs it since her husband is involved in the biz. She, too, loved The Rail so I was pleased to find this place offered great drinks as well. read more

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Cardinal is in a really cool spot in Bloomington. Their spirits are particularly good. We had a Groupon for a tour and cocktails for a big group and really enjoyed it! The tour is thorough but they let you sample everything as they walk you through the process. I'm not normally a fan of gin but actually enjoyed theirs quite a bit! read more

Cardinal Spirits - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I've never had a great experience here. The food is okay, but expensive and the drinks are so-so. Better places in town to spend your monies! read more

A Chicagoan here, writing to let the world know how much I LOVE Cardinal Spirits! I was just recently introduced to Cardinal Spirits at an event in Chicago, to celebrate the release of their new coffee spirit, Songbird. Little did I know that Cardinal Spirits was more than just coffee liquor. Oh no, this is a company with all of your favorite spirits (hello gin!). These products are made with a taste and smoothness that is to be reckoned with. I was able to sample four or five of their products, and did not find a spirit that wasn't delicious. While I have not been to the distillery, I can say that the cocktails at the release party were amazing. My favorite was the gimlet! But I also loved the poison ivy punch. At this release, I also had the opportunity to get to know some of the Cardinal Spirits staff. These are all lovely people! Customer service and learning about a product are huge for me, and all of the staff members were more than happy to discuss the products and pour a very stiff drink. Thank you for being down to earth, friendly, and more than happy to discuss your products! read more

This is an amazing hidden gem in Bloomington. They have an awesome rotating seasonal menu - with just about something for everyone. The drinks are great and unique. Always have amazing service when I go there. Not to mention the incredible management! This place has a beautiful, quiet ambience tucked away by the B-line trail. Would recommend to anyone in Bloomington. Just know they have smaller plate sizes, but delicious food. read more

Newer establishment meaning only a couple of years old. I love the newer feel as well as the industrial urbanism. Great place, menu, cocktail list, and service. Loved the variety of cocktails. A couple of items were out that would've been up my alley. A reason to come back. Food is smaller in portions but very well prepared and tasty. Ordered the meatballs (extremely tender with a tasty cheese sauce) and the mozzarella with candied beets (perfect mesh of salty and sweet!). Drinks were well made - Moscow mule and cosmo. I never order the latter anymore. It was yum and mighty. Recommend if in Btown. read more

Cardinal Spirits - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Cardinal Spirits is an oasis of craft cocktails and chic snacks in a town whose bar scene caters primarily to undergrads. Featuring their own line of liquors distilled in house, Cardinal has a rotating seasonal menu that never fails to delight. My current personal favorite is the "Golden Girl," a rum-based drink featuring pineapple and turmeric, which is just as beautiful as it is tasty. Tiki Tuesday features its own unique menu and is a MUST for anyone who enjoys drinks dressed up with orchids or has dreamed of drinking out of a conch shell. Cocktail classes--while a little pricey--are also a great time; my fiancé and I attended one featuring the release of their Nocino liqueur (a traditional, walnut-based Italian liqueur, for those, who like me, didn't know) and it was one of our more memorable and fun recent date nights. read more

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We have been going to Cardinal Spirits, since they've opened. I gave them a two star rating for their drinks which are superb, however we recently stopped in for a drink. To our surprise when receiving the bill we saw a 20% tip had been included in the price. Also, below there was a line that read "additional tip". I think it's horrible for a restaurant to automatically include a 20% tip. After the tip was included we figured we just had a $15 drink. What if, you have a waiter/waitress that didn't do well. You sure wouldn't want to tip that person the full 20% and then to ask for an additional tip. I DON'T THINK SO! We will not be visiting the establishment for a very long time, if ever. read more

I am a bit sad I have to write this review of Cardinal Spirits because we have been customers for a while. tonight we went for dinner and as usual the drinks were amazing, the waiters were attentive and the ambience was really nice. However, two items on a main dish menu were missing so only 4 were available. How hard it is to get and make more drumsticks and pork chops? And it was 6:30, prime dinner time. The dinner salad had three small orange slices and not much else added, practically no dressing. My salmon was very good but my husband got two tiniest tofu tacos I have ever seen for a MAIN dish. And NO DESERTS not even a classic brownie. Husband was so hungry that he had to order fries (ok). All of this was not a lot for such a hefty price. We will pay this much again when Cardinal Spirits quits offering a mix bag at best. read more

Delicious cocktails. Delicious food. Outstanding service. We love Cardinal Spirits! Our server was outstanding and we enjoyed the recommendations on cocktails. I would highly recommend bringing home your own bottle of their liquor. It's the best! read more

Great service, made us feel welcome to be there. Liquors were ok but drinks were well made. If you're out for a place to have a drink and chill, it's exactly what you expect. read more

The burger was worth maybe $7. The service was awful, food took forever and gratuity was added on to a bill for a server we never saw. The only good part was the cocktail. read more

Talk about spirited!! This restaurant/distillery oozes friendliness - from the servers to the bartender to the head chef. We hit a little snag upon arrival - I did not know that the restaurant could not seat my son, who is under 21. But before I realized it was a problem, the staff had figured out a solution: they put us at the kitchen table, which is far enough away from the bar to adhere to Indiana law. Were we bummed? At first I thought we might miss the ambience but as it turned out? We got even more personalized service. Their original botanical gin is off the hook delicious. The risotto, the farm chicken, and the "OMG" basket of fries left us all really happy. And we packed a box of booze to bring home to Chicago! Will 100% go back!! read more

Cardinal Spirits - Kitchen table!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I love Cardinal Spirits spirits- the only gin I enjoy and the best vodka. The food though, it is interesting and uses very good ingredients. This chef's particular pallet leans towards astringent seasoning like turmeric and cumin, balsamic. Which I do like, but it could use a bit more variety and lush mouthfeel. The biggest disappointment for me however is that they tend to overcook things. The frittata I just had was cooked hard. Frittata should be crispy on the bottom and soft inside- not like an art gum eraser throughout with a hard bottom. I don't think the chef likes eggs because they kill them so mercilessly. This is not the first or second time I have been served overcooked food. I don't like to waste food, so I ate it, but it is disappointing. The burgers are pretty good, the charcuterie good and the ceviche is very nice. This could be a very good restaurant with a bit more finesse and care in prep. read more

I've been verbally raving about Cardinal Spirits for about a month now so I better Yelp rave about it also. If this were in Indianapolis, I would say this would be at the top of my current favorites list. Heck, I'll still say that with it being in Bloomington. I wish it was just closer so I could dine more frequently. Let me just start with their masterpiece; the Butternut Squash Risotto with Crispy Brussel Sprouts. This is phenomenal and I didn't even order it. Truthfully I didn't even consider ordering it as I'm a meat eater and newly a fan of Brussel Sprouts. Thank goodness my friend being a vegetarian ordered this dish and let me sample a few bites because damn it was magical. There's even cookie crumbles in it which truly tie it all together in the most bizarre way. Bravo Chef, you know your shit! I ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese which was also fantastic and actually better than those from most Italian restaurants I've been to. The menu is small but they definitely know what they are doing here. Oh and don't let me forget the cocktails..delicious booze makes delicious drinks. They were fancy but not over the top on ingredients like I feel some of the cocktail bars are doing now. Obviously I can't wait to return! read more

So fancy and so casual. Love this place! Farmers only, Farmers daughter, and hello kiwi are the best so far. The bramble mules are pretty good to. read more

Cardinal Spirits - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Loved this place! I wish I utilized it more before I graduated! Friendly staff, great atmosphere, and tasty spring/summer drinks! Highly recommend going and sitting on the patio on a nice day! Only downfall is the kitchen doesn't open until 4:00 so I wish I could've tried their food, but if it's anything like their drinks it won't disappoint! read more

Cardinal Spirits - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Always such a pleasure coming here. The list changes frequently and if there isn't something on the menu that tickles your fancy the men and women behind the bar can whip you up something great. They have WiFi. Outdoor seating. Single stall bathrooms. Now are expanding into food. Stop by you won't regret it. read more