As New England weather starts to feel more and more like summer, late spring cocktails seem to be popping up everywhere. Bartenders are shaking up seasonal ingredients with a variety of creative delights that mirror the colorful gardens that bloom in the spring. Grab your jacket (just in case!) and make your way around Boston to try a bouquet of vernal drinks.
The Avery Bar – Feeling Blue
Sip in mid-century splendor at The Avery Bar at the Ritz Carlton, where old school elegance and mind blowing cocktails come together. Feeling Blue, one of their ten spring libations, will take your mood from cloudy-with-a-chance-of-showers to sunny-spring-skies. The drink showcases gin, dry vermouth, grapefruit bitters, tonic water and garnished with pea tea ice cubes, blackberries and grapefruit.
A4cade – Beauty School Dropout
Want to beat your high score at Pac-Man and enjoy a classy cocktail? A4cade has you covered with the Beauty School Dropout, the latest addition to their drink menu. This spring delight mixes strawberry-infused Sombra mezcal, Giffard Passionfruit, Velvet Falernum, orgeat and lime — a refreshing way to level up!
Back Bar – Gardens of Dorne
Feeling bereft now that Game of Thrones has come to an end? Backbar celebrates those lost from Dorne with Gardens of Dorne, their unbowed, unbent, and unbroken spring cocktail. This sun-speared drink fuses gin, Kleos, lime, basil and Chartreuse for a luxurious spring cocktail that would delight any full-blooded Dornishman (or woman).
Bambara – Campari Kiss
Swing on over to Cambridge to taste what Bambara is shaking up for their new spring cocktail list. You’ll want to pucker up and prepare for the Campari Kiss — a fusion of Elijah Craig bourbon, strawberry Campari, crème de pêche, and mole bitters.
Bar Lyon – T.A Daiquiri
There are daiquiris and then there are ‘Tres Aromatique’ daiquiris — Bar Lyon is putting the capital T.A in their new spring cocktail. Their take on this classic drink involves Privateer ‘Trés Aromatique’ Overproof Rum, Giffard Abricot du Roussillon, Giffard Orgeat, and fresh lime juice. A beverage that would have any pirate sit, sip, and splurge!
Better Sorts Social Club – The Exploding Plastic Inevitable
Better Sorts Social Club is presenting a Blossoms spring cocktail list, with a series of drinks named in some way for the iconic Andy Warhol. The Exploding Plastic Inevitable, inspired by his multimedia series with The Velvet Underground, is an imaginative journey back to the late 60’s. This beverage builds on Buzz Button (also known as the electric daisy or szechuan button) infused Vida Mezcal, star thistle honey grapefruit lime stock, aquafaba and Q Grapefruit Soda for a masterpiece you can sip on!
Forage – Spring Cocktails
If you’re looking for some local libations, Forage’s evolving spring cocktail menu — with their variety of fresh local produce and innovative cocktail creations — will surely hit the spot. Munch on a magnolia petal as you sip on the Platypus (left), a mezcal based cocktail, with Cocchi Rossa, Cassis, grapefruit soda and lemon juice. Do you prefer simpler solutions to complex ones? Crush an Occam’s Razzor (right) – a beverage blended with Bonded Rye Whiskey, raspberry juice, wild mint, lemon and ginger beer.
The Gallows – The Elder Wand
The spirits of The Gallows invites you to try their new cocktail list. Solemnly swear you’re up to no good as you sip on The Elder Wand, a tribute to Dumbledore that mixes gin, sage, lemon and elderflower and is topped with cava. Craving a drink with a more competitive edge? Try the Violet Beauregarde— a bourbon-based beverage with blueberry and mint.
Map Room Tea Lounge – Tequila Mockingbird
As a sense of rejuvenation fills the air, this seems like the best time to finish that book you put down mid-winter. Head on over to Boston Public Library, nestle in and sip on a tea cocktail — wait, what? Boston Public Library has booze? A tea lounge that’s making cocktails with literary punny names? Tequila Mockingbird would surely stun Atticus Finch, with its balance of prosecco, blood orange hibiscus tea infused tequila and strawberry juice! You might need a bookmark for this drink.
Rail Stop – The Smokeshow
The Rail Stop makes its claim to flame with The Smokeshow, its new spring cocktail. This layered libation is shaken with raspberry-infused Bacanora (the less smokey, once-illegal cousin of mezcal), orange cordial, lime juice and Oleo Saccharum and topped off with a flaming rosemary garnish that fills the air with an intoxicating herbal aroma.
Wink & Nod – Born to Run
The South End’s Wink & Nod may be a password-free speakeasy, but they manage to continuously mystify the cocktail scene. Their recent spring menu release ensures a drink of choice for everyone, from their American Girl’s lemongrass Absolut Elyx beverage — with coconut-lemongrass sake, basil and sparkling citrus — to their Born to Run Cognac mashup, with coconut fat-washed Aperol and Vermouth di torino. Step underground and watch these mixologist masters at work.
Zephyr – The McFly
Marty Mcfly has traveled to the future and back, but this time he has landed at Zephyr with a refreshing cocktail in hand. Enjoy the views and sip on their new cocktail, The McFly, which mixes homemade strawberry and passionfruit syrup, along with vodka, triple sec, lemonade, and citrus juice. Maybe you’ll even time travel to the beach afterwards!
