Our Enchanting Venture to The Corner Social

Just Another Day

I meet many interesting people in my line of work. I always ask them what they do for a living and usually, that leads to interesting discussions. It was just another day when I met this man (Mike). He told me he owned The Corner Social.

The Corner Social (which is a Coffee House/ Bar) is located in the quaint town of South Lyon Michigan. Our talk continued and we casually moved our conversation to our favorite cocktails.

Kindred Spirits

We soon realized we were kindred spirits while swapping our favorite cocktail recipes and talking about life. I even shared with him the interior of my refreshment refrigerator (or as my husband calls it – the Beer Fridge). When he left I had Mike’s phone number with an invitation to come to one of The Corner Social’s upcoming events as well as to visit the bar anytime.

Michigan Day Trip

My husband Scott and I have a Michigan Day Trip list. We have restaurants and other places on the list to keep in mind when we want to just do a short day trip around Michigan and The Corner Social was on it. A few weeks ago we decided to check out The Corner Social.  The drive was about 45 minutes away so we invited our friends Kelli, Tim, Tonya, and Kevin to join us for a tasting and a light meal.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was this ice cream counter in the front (not normal for any bar I’ve been in). You see this place not only serves Spirits but also serves coffee and ice cream as well. The Corner Social’s premise is a creative way for a business to work these days. Mom and Dad can go have a cocktail while the children get a delicious treat.

Once past the Ice Cream counter, we were warmly welcomed by Mike and his staff. They gave us the choice to sit inside or out under the covered patio. We decided to sit outside since it was a beautiful evening and we were promptly waited on by one of the servers. She gave us a few cocktail recommendations and we quickly chose our first drinks. 

Cool Cocktail Names

#1 The Bourbon Trail

The Bourbon Trail is made with Woodford Bourbon (which is a favorite among friends), toasted marshmallow extract, and fresh lemon with a red wine topper. This combination didn’t exactly sound good to me but it did to Tim and Tonya and they promptly ordered it. Once it came to our table I was able to sample it and that is when I realized why it is one of their most popular drinks at The Corner Social. The flavor was delicious and the wine topper added the perfect sweetness. I highly recommend this drink!

#2 Sex on the Snowbank

I watched this one being made. This was the drink I ordered for myself and it looked delicious from the start. This drink starts with Coconut Rum mixed in a shaker with fresh pineapple juice, shaken well, and poured into a martini glass. Next, they dropped a large dollop of whip cream mixed with coconut cream on top that looked like a fluffy mound of snow. Even though this drink has a winterly name it has a very summery taste. I loved it!

#3 Espresso Royale

Since the Corner Social is also a Coffee House they make delicious espresso. Espresso Royale starts with just that. Housemade espresso, Licor 43 (which is a Spanish Liqueur) with a topping of fresh ground cinnamon. The first taste was very espresso forward but then I got a hint of the Licor 43 and cinnamon. This one will keep your energy level up for sure!

#4 Berry Social

I love St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur (because the mixture of citrus, fruit, and floral notes tastes so delicious) so this one caught my attention right away.  It mixes Vodka, St. Germaine, fresh lemon, and blackberry puree. Then it is topped with a splash of soda for a delightful little fizz. This drink was absolutely delicious and I am now a big fan of blackberry puree. I will be making this drink from my home bar for sure!

#5 Rye-Chai

This is a drink for those of you who like Chai Tea (which is not me).  Rye-Chai starts with a Woodford Reserve Rye. Then they add Yellow Chartreuse (which is a herbal liqueur from France that tastes slightly sweet with notes of anise spice, honey, and saffron), Chai Tea, and fresh lemon. It was shaken and poured into a glass with ice. It was a win for those who liked Chai at our table.

A Toast to a Delicious Adventure

At the end of the evening, Mike came over with a tray of Mini Beer shots (which isn’t beer at all) for us to toast the end of a great visit. Mini Beer starts with a shot glass and you pour Licor 43 about halfway up the glass. You then add heavy cream to top it off (it looks like the head you get with beer). I was skeptical the first time I tried this shot years ago but it soon became a favorite for myself and my friends. 

Come Check it Out

We really enjoyed our visit to The Corner Social and look forward to going back very soon to try more of their delicious cocktails. As we were walking out I did notice the table next to us had a few other cocktails that I can’t wait to try. I encourage you to visit The Corner Social in South Lyon Michigan soon. Tell them Renee sent you!