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They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach; the way to my heart is definitely through my delicious-alcohol-sensing taste buds. (To my boyfriend: are you getting this?)

So of course when I heard I would get the chance to sample Amada’s new winter cocktails, I fell in love with the restaurant all over again (as if I could ever fall out of love!) and their delicious, delectable creations.

Amada’s cocktails are all specially created by the bartenders during tri-monthly, marathon mixing sessions, where the bar staff gathers together and shakes, stirs, mixes, drinks, and spits, until they’ve come up with an impressive palate of 8-10 original recipes. From there, it’s on to head chef Jose Garces, who drinks and spits himself, and decides which 4 will make the final cut.

This season’s winter offerings were concocted by bartenders Julie, Keith and Chris, as well as bar manager Kevin Lundell, who guides myself and my friend Kara through the tasting.

“This season’s drinks are a little bit edgy, and a little bit inventive,” says Lundell. “They’re all created from classics, but each is still an original creation.”

We start off with the Talk to Her, a lavender-colored, Siembra Azul tequila-infused variant of the classic aviation cocktail, served in a martini glass. The crème de violet gives it a pleasant, botanical scent, and it tastes light and flowery “” like a spring day “” without any of the nasty “tequila” bite.

Next up: the Volver, a sweet, maple-syrup infused gin drink, mixed with ginger, lemon juice and bitters, and served in an old fashioned glass. The thick, sugary taste of the syrup plays off the sourness of the lemon and the bitterness of the ginger, resulting in a cocktail that dances around on the tongue like a circus clown. I can barely put this one down!

Third is the Dark Habits, a new take on a classic Manhattan, made with Jim Beam, bitters, and apricot and pine liqueurs. It’s woodsy, and winter-y, and tastes like nothing I’ve ever tasted before”"perhaps because I’ve never had pine liqueur. It’s shaken, not stirred, and served frothy in a martini glass.

We finish off with the Labyrinth of Passion, the heaviest of the bunch, and a creative take on an old fashioned. It’s created by soaking ice cubs in balsamic vinegar, muddling strawberries in the bottom of the glass, then adding ice, and finally, Crown Royal. The taste is incredible “” the sweet, fruitiness of the strawberries perfectly compliments the dryness of the whiskey, resulting in a brown liquor drink that even Cosmo-loving chicks will like.

When it comes to cocktails, I’ve had one too many bad experiences in my lifetime, and have learned how to be very picky. Amada’s new winter drinks all pass in my book with flying colors “” and you can bet, I’ll be back for seconds.

Amada
217-219 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 625-2450
www.amadarestaurant.com