The Refuge Cocktail The Refuge Cocktail has been one of The Refuge’s most popular drinks since opening in 2013.[/caption]

The bar staff at The Refuge Bar and Bistro has a knack for thinking out of the box, or, in the case of The Refuge Cocktail and many of its other handcrafted cocktails, out of the glass.

The Refuge Cocktail, which runs $10, combines 2 ounces of 1776 James & Pepper rye whiskey, 1 ounce of Ramazzotti vermouth, house-made Cointreau foam and a spray of Angostura bitters for a distinctive creation reminiscent of an Old-Fashioned.

"Most places use Jim Beam [bourbon whiskey] or so forth," owner Mark Zientek said. "We try to use some liquor that is not commonly seen in the market. We use 1776 James & Pepper, and we use the rye to give it a nice little flavor profile."

Zientek said The Refuge Cocktail has been one of the bar's most popular items, with customers requesting the drink since the bar opened in October of 2013.

"People really like it. When they come up, they really ask for it," he said. "We have done a couple of things that no one is used to. We try to make sure that we stay true to what we do."