Cardinal Spirits

The actual space is nice but there’s no sexiness or interesting characteristic to make this a place I’d come back to. It’s not a full bar, as they have to explain, and it’s just not interesting enough, as the drinks weren’t strong nor that tasty. Sorry, but 2 stars is what I have to give it. I know it’s trendy but it’s not earning that substance for me. There are a zillion places I’d rather be going out for a night of drinks. However, among graduate students, they seem to just zero in on this place. Not sure why. Seems really boring in its offerings and its atmosphere.

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!

I visited Cardinal Spirits for a Unilocal 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!

I love the ambiance and outdoor patio of this place. Spirits are excellent, and if you come on a Saturday, there is a great Mexican food truck in the parking lot to enhance the smaller food offerings.

Awesome place, drinks, and products! I can’t wait to go back.

This place has grown on me immensely.
When it first opened, I was underwhelmed — I honestly don’t like their «American gin» and at the time, they had few other offerings. However, if you haven’t been back in a while, please try it again!
They now have a solid lineup of gins (american and traditional; I prefer the traditional), vodka (the flavored varieties are lovely); and what they call «whiskey» but I might call «moonshine» (I think it would sell better if they did the same!). They make great cocktails — everything from the basics to fun bartender creations (the one with mango and egg white is really good), and they’re CHEAP ($ 5-​$ 8). They also now serve some light food (pickled things, cheese and meat boards).
The best feature, in my opinion, is their patio (which is never too busy), which looks out on the B-​line trail (great people watching). I am over here whenever we’re in town for a weekend. Bonus: not too terribly popular with undergrads (which is a good thing once you’re not an undergrad anymore). Sunday mornings, they even offer brunch, and their bloody marys are fabulous (another thing that has really improved since they’ve opened — they now make their own delicious mixer!).
TLDR: awesome place, good cocktails even if I don’t like all of their spirits.

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!

Dropped in on Friday evening to celebrate selling our house in California. Friendly staff. So nice to be greeted with smiles! Atmosphere is great here, even older townies like us did not feel unwanted or out of place.
Cocktails were on point. I had a Moscow Mule which was delicious and refreshing. My partner had a gin martini. She felt like the gin was a bit more floral than she normally would enjoy. (she is a Bombay Sapphire girl) She asked the bartender if she could sample the gins and they were happy to oblige.
We also ordered the pickled veggies (artichokes) and the ham and cheese plate. Food was good and perfect nosh to go with our cocktails.
Two thumbs up for Cardinal Spirits. Look forward to returning when the evenings are a bit warmer to enjoy the deck.

Two words: natural. light. Can I camp out here all afternoon?
On a sunny afternoon, this place is spectacular (and provides for spot-​on lighting for you Instagrammers). It has a clean but rustic vibe with ample patio space (open to all ages and species) overlooking the B-​Line. Expect an expansive (read: yuuuggge) cocktail list with their signature tiki cocktail inspirations. Cardinal Spirits sells small plates, and a food truck frequently parks in the lot out back for grub.
As someone who doesn’t like alcohol, I took Brittany S.‘s advice and challenged our bartender to make me a mocktail of his creation. I have no idea what was in there, but man oh man, it was incredible. Not to mention it was the prettiest drink at my table, in my humble opinion.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my obsession with their branding. OH MY LANTA I am in LOVE with their packaging and labels. Perfectly matches the distillery atmosphere they’ve created: bright, simple, clean and a little rustic/​retro.
Distillery tours offered on weekends, too! Pick up a bottle of spirits here or at lots of other retailers in Bloomington and Indy.

Whisky is much better now that it has been aged. The old fashion is decent and the Moscow mule is good. Very refreshing! Not a huge fan of the food but the drinks and décor are fantastic.

Great, Cardinal Spirits.
So I hate to go Negative with this one. I really want to like Cardinal Spirits. The space is pretty beautiful and a little weird. Like I don’t really Get the normal ol’ tree branches hanging from the ceiling with ribbon. Maybe that’s a thing? If it’s a thing contact me at
and we’ll set this straight.
I wasn’t sure what angle to take with this review. I was thinking maybe something with Birds. Or like spirits as in ghosts? I don’t know; I guess it’s kinda funny how there is like a food truck permanently stationed in their parking lot. It’s like one of those tiny fish that attaches itself to other larger fish. Remora. One time I went here and the food truck was somehow inside and they were serving a $ 12 buffet and I had to pay them directly to get anything, and I wasn’t allowed to pay my server; it was honestly a pretty weird situation. I don’t know whose uncle owes a debt to that food truck.
Okay guys though, here’s the substance. The cocktails are pretty good, I mean at least I assume they’re good. I live in Indiana, and I have lived in Indiana since I have been 21. I don’t travel a lot. The cocktails are good probably, okay? The prices are not. The prices are horrible. On top of that, I mean again I’m not a cocktail expert, but it kinda feels like 50% of the menu is devoted to like different «takes» on a Moscow Mule. Also for some reason the Moscow Mule itself is pretty reasonable priced. Like it’s the only non-​shim on the menu for like $ 5 and everything else is $ 8.
It’s kind of funny how one of the ingredients in their spring cocktail is «Shrub»
Oh yes, let’s talk about the Man Behind the Counter. This dude was shakin’ up a storm the whole time I was there. Shakin’ n Shakin’ n Shakin’. Man or Cocktail Machine? No way of knowing. He seemed maybe a little grumpy, I don’t know. It seemed like a man shakin’ that fast must love his job, and I guess he’s probably good at it. I don’t know what was biting him that day. Maybe MY ugly mug, hah, who knows.
3 shrubs out of 5.

This place knocks my socks off every time — — from the creative spirit portfolio and beautiful interior to the friendly service and sleek branding, Cardinal Spirits has got it going on. Located along the B-​line (similar to the Monon and Cultural Trails in Indy), Cardinal Spirits has a spacious outdoor patio over looking the trail as well as plentiful bar and table seating inside.
The menu offers light eats that pair beautifully with cocktails. If its your first visit, I recommend going for the sampling (its generous!) for a taste of what Cardinal has to offer. I’ve never been a gin fan until I discovered their super smooth botanical gin. In addition to the gin, you can’t go wrong with any of their flavored liqueurs (note: the coffee liqueur is made using coffee beans from neighboring Hopscotch Coffee). Cardinal is known for having visiting food trucks as well as leading the pack when it comes to tiki-​inspired concoctions.

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.

Mad props to Unilocal 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.

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!

I came here with my dad on a Friday evening and managed to snag the last table on the veranda. This was lucky for us, because in favorable weather the veranda is one of the nicest spots in town — overlooking the B-​Line trail and facing some adorable new housing developments. The atmosphere is quite low-​key, with a nice mix of young people, older folks, and families.
First we sampled the Bramble, their limited edition black raspberry hibiscus vodka. For someone whose perception of vodka has been formed entirely at dorm room parties, this stuff was a revelation — mild, subtly flavored, smooth as velvet. I ordered the Midnight Brambler, which combines this with orange juice and Cardinal’s coffee liqueur. My dad had a Moscow Mule followed by the Uppers and Downers, a bartender creation made with their gin, a ginger syrup, black walnut bitters, and green coffee extract sourced from Hopscotch across the street.
The drinks were fantastic without exception, the service was excellent, and prices are fair on both drinks and bottles. (The graphic design and overall look of the place are on point as well, if that matters to you.) I think a bottle would make the perfect gift purchase for Btown dwellers who wish (as I do) to inflict their rabid townie pride on city friends.

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.

I hate to hop on the bandwagon… but this place is top notch. The server was incredibly friendly, the bartender had great brows, the atmosphere was modern and clean, the drinks were freaking fantastic.
We sampled the vodka first and then ordered a Moscow Mule and a screwdriver. The drinks were delicious and the details were spot-​on. Great ice, classy cups, metal straws. The food menu looked great too.
At $ 25 a bottle, the vodka is reasonably priced and I can’t wait until they are pouring whiskey.
Get you some!!!

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!

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 13^th, and they are ready for the city with their first of what I hope will be many fine spirits.