CLAWSON, Mich. – If you’re looking for a fun yet sophisticated cocktail bar to check out this winter, be sure to stop in Downtown Clawson: There, you’ll find Weiss Distilling Company’s speakeasy has once again transformed into a winter wonderland.
Adopting a new menu and donning new decorations for its second-annual rendition of the Weiss on Ice theme, the bar has transitioned into a sultry, blue lounge serving winter-inspired drinks. It’s a returning theme for the bar -- which takes the changing of the seasons seriously by altering its interior, exterior, and menu several times each year.
With icicles and snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, and cool hues emanating from seemingly everywhere, the latest makeover is more of an ode to winter in Michigan than it is to the winter holidays. The normally neon orange wall that illuminates the bar’s cocktail shelves was also toned down for an even chillier feel.
While I personally love how the interior changes with each new theme, I’m always particularly interested in the new menus (and flavors) that they bring.
In addition to making all of their own spirits, the cocktails on the menu are curated by the team that actually mixes and shakes them each night. Together, they collaborate on drinks that cater to a wide range of tastes, and then give those drinks seasonal, and often silly, names.
I had the opportunity to taste the new menu just before it launched -- here’s what I tried:
- Absinthe Minded: This absinthe-based drink was light and bright, while also feeling seasonal. The cocktail was refreshing and juicy with flavors of pineapple and lime, and was sweet and well rounded with the almond orgeat syrup. Overall, this was a favorite of mine, as their absinthe drinks typically are for me. They mix absinthe really well, but note this drink definitely was absinthe-forward compared to some of their previous options.
- SSX Tricky: A really unique drink with apple brandy as the primary spirit. This boozy cocktail was savory and creamy -- which seems like an odd pairing, and I wasn’t really sure how to feel about it. The orange liqueur flavor was prominent, and so was the flavor of carrot. The horchata and cinnamon added some seasonal spices. It’s worth a try, if you like these flavor profiles.
- Whispering Bones: This cocktail blended rum and coffee, making for a strong and bold drink that was definitely a sipper. The drink had both espresso and coffee liqueur -- though I thought it didn’t really need much of the liqueur on top of the espresso. Overall, the drink was tasty, especially with the chai spices. As a coffee lover, I would order this again.
- Becky The Icebox: A vodka-based cocktail that was extremely light and simple. It’s made with vodka, vanilla, lemon, and egg white. Even with the egg white, the drink was refreshing, and the citrus flavor wasn’t too pronounced. If you like to keep it light, this is a great option.
- Heady Empty: Another light cocktail, but with more flavor and zing. This drink felt like an Asian-inspired spin on a French 75. It’s a vodka drink with elderflower, taro, yuzu, and seltzer. It tasted citrusy and bubbly, like champagne. Its flavors were delicate but promising. Easy to drink and fall in love with.
- Griswold’s Bonus: This mixed shot is Weiss’ take on a Rumple Minze shot. It still has that jarring peppermint flavor (and feel), but it’s much easier to sip. A refreshing option that would work well to either start or end your night here.
Though still a new kid on the block, Weiss has surely established itself as a staple in the bustling Clawson community. Yet, the changing themes and menus create a fresh, pop-up-like feel each time, offering something new ... even to those of us who visit often.
Weiss is open Wednesday through Sunday. You can check out the complete Weiss on Ice menu on the bar’s website here.
If you’re interested, don’t wait too long to taste the Weiss on Ice menu! Soon, it’ll be onto the next theme (and it’ll probably be even better than the last).
Weiss first launched its revolving door of seasonal themes with Halloweiss in 2022 after being open for less than a year. This year, they introduced a new summer theme -- Weiss in the Wild, which had my favorite menu so far -- and brought back their Halloweiss theme for Halloween, and now their winter menu to end 2023.