“Royal Knights” Pop-Up

Nothing says summer like a frosty, rum-spiked piña colada and Royal in LeDroit Park is celebrating National Pina Colada Day on Monday, July 10 with a one-night cocktail pop-up dedicated to the tropical tipple. The latest installment of its monthly “Royal Knights” spirits and cocktail exploration series will feature 8 creative piña colada riffs from guest bartender Doug Atwell of DC’s own Cotton & Reed and Baltimore’s Blue Pit BBQ Whiskey Bar, in collaboration with Royal’s bar manager Andrew Larsen. As always, cocktails are $8 throughout the event, which runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Guest bartender Doug Atwell made a name for himself in the cocktail world at Rye in Baltimore, and can currently be found behind the bar at DC’s own Cotton & Reed distillery bar and Baltimore’s Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar. He has collaborated with Larsen on a special one-night cocktail menu featuring 8 creative piña colada cocktails ($8).

And these aren’t just traditional iterations. Atwell and Larsen innovate on the classic rum/pineapple/coconut concoction by incorporating unique ingredients such as coconut-infused sherry, smoked and fire-roasted pineapple, mole bitters, peach-infused rum, coconut water ice, and DC-made allspice dram.

Atwell has created the following four cocktails:

Royal’s Drew Larsen will serve the following four cocktails:

This is part of Royal’s monthly “Royal Knights” event series, where on the second Monday of each month, they focus on a new batch of craft spirits, lesser-known liqueurs, and the creative people who make them, hosting guest-bartenders from around the country and introducing guests to creative new brands in the booze industry.

Next month’s “Royal Knights” will take place on Monday, August 14th focusing on agua fresca cocktails.

Royal’s monthly “Royal Knights” industry nights are free and open to the public, running from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on the second Monday of every month. Details for subsequent “Royal Knights” nights will be announced closer to each event. For more information, please visit http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001hI19y1IPF8uzdHcdFggToU-Oo5MFwF1I-NxEm7gIfWEci3BGCXxgMQyhnO_38CPDujzmVYFQ6YpmaQs6vjNkaS1UctOCzl9fFCFChaEAVVgJ5LHv8lKNZZtOVg_PraB5JkuZ3jtHPOH-jbdNkRIfYw==&c=jj3yZy9CjtNytikEtcotCjDL68u50uwzqAYFSGmBZGje3YdYGrvZAg==&ch=RrTX33g3rWVHyGfcSSxjRCwq5-h2lgx_M9Ode_O4MlbFjs4GaUOVCQ== or call 202-332-7777.