Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery Ft. Lauderdale

For the Standard Crowd
Stop ordering Tito’s Sodas and Espresso Martinis. These are not Fort Lauderdale Airport bartenders. They are on another level. Explore new drinks and discover a world previously unbeknownst to you.

For the Cocktail-Savvy Crowd
Expect well-executed classics and a menu full of smash hits and acquired tastes — crafted by a legend and brought to life by up-and-coming cocktail superstars. Their Bounty Daiquiri and Probitas Daiquiri are both delicious. While the fast-paced environment does limit the level of detail and technique I personally enjoy, it’s understandable — they’ve got quotas to hit. It’s the standard big-city bar rhythm: efficient, energetic, and volume-driven.

For the Cocktail-Autistic (Like Me)
Their classics are phenomenal.
If I had feedback, it would be temperature control. Some drinks felt slightly too warm, likely due to missed chilling steps. I recommend chilling everything before building: spirits, mixers, glassware — even carbonated ingredients. There might be some technique improvements that could be made.

Also, consider investing in spear ice. Yes, it’s pricey, but it meaningfully improves the experience by reducing surface area and slowing dilution.

Another detail: avoid garnishing sour drinks with lime wheels directly on the surface of the cocktail. As they sit, they leach bitterness into the drink. Skip the lime wheel and save a bit on your happy hour daiquiris — lime prices are only going up. You’re welcome; I just improved your margins.

Lastly (and this may sound counterintuitive): your drink volumes might be too high. Many feel like they’re built with 3 oz of base spirit. The Negroni in particular feels like 5 oz total. I’d suggest slightly lowering the overall volume. It would:
-Allow guests to enjoy more drinks in one sitting
-Improve guest pacing and per-head spend
-Make pricing more approachable (e.g. from $17–20 to $15–18)

I know this means changing every glass and possibly reworking your build strategy, but the long-term payoff in margins and guest experience could be well worth it.

Train your staff (especially on slow days) on unreasonable hospitality.

Amazing cocktails. Great atmosphere. Warm an friendly bartenders. Made me feel like back in the day EO.

Wow. I was finally able to make my way here with some friends after hearing such great things about this bar and it was everything I heard plus more. We went on a Tuesday night so the crowd was small but I’m glad because it made for a more intimate and cozy atmosphere.

Finding the bar felt like a little side quest but my friends and I weren’t mad about it at all. We loved that it wasn’t out in the open like a mainstream bar, open to the annoying Fort Lauderdale teeny boppers.

The lighting was dark and sexy reminding me of NYC cocktail bars. The bar is filled with a never-ending array of mainly rums and other spirits. Their extensive cocktail list had my friends and I studying for quite some time but our bartenders, Jel and Kiki(?) were incredibly knowledgeable, helpful and kind.

I started my experience with the El Presidente and I had to force myself not to chug it because it was so delicious. Spirit-forward, perfectly balanced with sweetness, bitterness and brightness. Highly recommend for old fashioned, sazerac and perfect manhattan lovers.

I also had the Chocolate 50/50 Manhattan and was blown away. Just imagine a big bite of bittersweet dark chocolate in liquid form. Perfect balance of sweet and salty, great viscosity, garnished to perfection with a luxardo cherry at the bottom of the glass (I love when they make you work for the treat at the end).

God, this review is so long and obnoxious but I have to tell you this was an 11/10 experience. Very, VERY happy to see a sexy, proper cocktail bar in the Fort Lauderdale area. Great hours - I WILL be regularly visiting every week. Five big fat stars.

Swizzle is such a unique spot in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The decor is beautiful in this speakeasy-like bar and lounge. The cocktails are fantastic and there is something for everyone with the extensive drink menu. What my favorite part about Swizzle though is the service. Jesus, Iker, Rihanna, and Ben are all so friendly and go above and beyond to ensure everyone is taken care of and having fun. They are all also incredibly good at what they do. Each cocktail is crafted expertly! Swizzle is a go to spot on any night out.

Cool underground speakeasy vibe with some very creative cocktails. The atmosphere stands out, too. I ordered a cocktail with plum brandy and plum liquor, which I enjoyed.
Only downsides: it’s way too dim—one or two 3” recessed lights for walkways would help a lot, and not be overly bright.
The QR menu kills the vibe a bit and takes away from the vintage feel. A paper menu option would go a long way.

Love the drinks sip bite sip was great

Great speakeasy. Every day happy hour 6 to 8.

Outstanding Experience from Start to Finish

From the moment you approach the sleek black doors, there’s an air of mystery—what’s inside isn’t what you’d expect. Step in, and you’re instantly welcomed by the pulse of house music and a vibrant atmosphere where everyone seems effortlessly connected, whether mingling at the bar or lounging in cozy booths.

Despite the crowd, the bartenders were sharp and attentive—even in the thick of it. Jesus, our bartender, was especially gracious, guiding us to a table and taking excellent care of us all night.

The hors d’oeuvres and finger foods were top-notch, with fresh ingredients and beautiful presentation. From drinks to bites, everything was spot on.

A truly memorable night—stylish, flavorful, and full of energy.

Excellent experience. Chris was a great server with plenty of knowledge on the cocktails. Music was just a bit too loud

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Chris was our server and was amazing. Knowledgeable about the menu, was great with recommendations, and ensured a great time. The manager was present on the floor 👍🏻 and super accommodating. Great drinks and atmosphere. Will be back.

Ps friend had chicken tenders and said they slapped tremendously

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Chris was amazing!! Manager was so kind too, super fun cocktails and great staff!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Came for my first time on a tuesday night with my family and had the best experience! Chris was so knowledgeable about every single cocktail on the menu and had the best recommendations for us. The one we didn’t order that he recommended was our favorite! Ben is an amazing bartender and we have known him for years so it was a pleasant surprise seeing a familiar face! Love that everything is homemade and that they have outside seating and open late every night. definitely a new go to!

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Chris was AMAZING!!! His cocktail recommendations are spot on and his energy and kindness is superb! Anytime I come back I’ll definitely ask for his as my waiter! This place is amazing and exactly what Fort Lauderdale needed!!

Absolutely loved this place. Perfect for date night as the ambience is very intimate. Our server Chris was amazing as he talked us through all of the unique drink options and made us feel extremely welcome. All of our drinks were delicious, can’t wait to go again!

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Chris was an amazing server! The drinks were amazing and the music and atmosphere were welcoming and cool.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5