Temps are rising, flowers are blooming, patios are opening for the season – there are signs of spring popping up all over the place, even on the drink lists at your favorite bars and restaurants. The warming wintry beverages that saw you through the cold, post-holiday doldrums are being replaced by vibrant sippers full of fresh, bright flavors – get out there and raise a glass to the new season.
Bambara – We Are Family
Grab your besties and head to Bambara in the Kimpton Marlowe Hotel to drink for a cause. Not only is the We Are Family is a real stunner, made with vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon, hibiscus ginger syrup, Prosecco and garnished with an orchid flower, but a dollar from every drink sold between May 1st and the 31st will support Family Reach, a nonprofit that provides financial support to families facing cancer — it’s a win/win.
Bianca – Maximillian Affair
If your May vibes lean more towards mod, pop into Bianca in Newton’s Chestnut Hill to try their take on a Maximillian Affair. This modern classic is made with Siete Misterios mezcal, St. Germain, Bordiga Rosso vermouth and lemon for a spicy, sassy taste of spring.
Bostonia Public House – Jalisco Disco
Next time you stroll through Faneuil Hall or wander down the Rose Kennedy Greenway, boogie on over to Bostonia Public House for a Jalisco Disco. It’s a mix of housemade rosemary infused Patron Silver tequila, Lilet, strawberry, lemon, and ginger beer that will have you hot stepping all season.
Casa Verde – Valhalla
Give a nod to the Norse gods by way of JP (and have a good time doing it) this spring with a Valhalla at Casa Verde. Even Odin himself wouldn’t be able to resist this tall cool sipper made with a blend of rums (hibiscus-infused and Hamilton ‘86), Aquavit, coconut, fresh lime juice and ‘Oat-geat’, which is their own orgeat made with oat milk to avoid any nut allergies.
da LaPosta – Tomato Tomahto
If you’ve been sticking to the ‘ol bloody mary all these years, it’s time to broaden your tomato-y cocktail horizons with da LaPosta’s Tomato Tomahto. This springy, savory number at the stylish Newton pizzeria is made with Moletto Pomodoro Gin, celery root, acid adjusted tomato water, Chazalettes Bianco Vermouth, and saline for a refreshing pop of flavor that’s great with eggs and bacon, but especially tasty with their fantastic wood-fired pizzas.
Equal Measure – Sugar Daddy
Head to Equal Measure, Jackson Cannon’s stylish cocktail lounge in The Fenway, this season for a gorgeous, green elixir that’ll kick your spring fever into high gear. The Sugar Daddy combines cachaça with housemade serrano tincture and cold pressed sugar snap pea juice, falernum, ginger, honey, salt and lime for a spicy, vegetal welcome to warmer months.
Five Horses Tavern South End – Tiki Summer
Get a little extra spring break in your life in the South End with Five Horses’ Tiki Summer made with gin, passionfruit juice, lemon, orgeat, falernum with a garnish of edible flowers & an orange twist. It’s fresh and delicious like an April shower, and a little bit sweet like a May flower.
Foundry on Elm – Esperanza
If the longer days and warmer temps aren’t enough to get you into a spring state of mind, get over Foundry on Elm in Davis Square to try the Esperanza. Made with tequila, cucumber syrup, lime and pink peppercorn, it’s the perfectly lovely little pick-me-up that’ll help you shake off the last of your winter blues and get ready for a sunnier new season.
Good Company Cocktail Bar – Raspberry Rhubarb
Normalize spring resolutions and make it your mission to check out this season’s fresh new cocktails at Good Company in Charlestown. Owner Seth Freidus‘ new lineup features bright flavors that’ll help you seque smoothly from the chilly days of early spring right into the summer in drinks like the Raspberry Rhubarb made with Citadelle gin, coconut yogurt, summer 2023 raspberry vinegar, lemongrass, Thai basil, mint, lime leaf and fermented rhubarb soda.
The Hourly – Sister Golden Hair
Springtime is the season to come out of the dark and sip something light and bright, like the Sister Golden Hair at The Hourly Oyster House in Harvard Square. Made with gin, yuzu curacao and Cocchi Americano, it’s an easy, breezy refresher that’s perfectly paired with — what else? — a pile of briny oysters.
Layla’s American Tavern – Viejo Fashioned
Consider Layla’s entry into the spring drink lineup as your cue to kick off tequila season. The Viejo Fashioned mixes tequila reposado, grapefruit zest infused syrup, lemon bitters and grapefruit juice, which is served with a large format ice cube, and it’s the perfect thirst quencher for those first hot days on the streets of Southie.
The Lexington – Argument Clinic
Monty Python fans can get in on the spring vibes at The Lexington in Cambridge Crossing with an Argument Clinic or two. The tasty combination of Rittenhouse Rye, Valdespino Inocente Fino Sherry, rhubarb syrup, super lemon and Aperol could make even John Cleese break character for an extra sip.
Mistral – Lavender Lemonade
If you prefer your spring drinks a little bit on the dreamy side, pop by Mistral in the South End for a Lavender Lemonade. The easy drinking combo of Roku Gin, lavender, lemon, and seltzer goes down just as easy as an early May sunset.
Northern Spy – Calathea
Spring is a time to taste something green like Northern Spy’s Calathea. Named for a flowering plant of the same name, it’s a super crushable combo of gin, green chartreuse, Luxardo and blueberry, which is just right for a wood-fired dinner in the historic Rolling Copper Mill at the Paul Revere Heritage site in Canton.
Nosh & Grog – Beets + Bubbles
The only thing springier than a day spent digging in the garden is a Beets + Bubbles from Canton’s Nosh & Grog. Earthy beet juice brings out the best in this beauteous, bubbly concoction, which also features Cognac, fresh lemon, agave and Cava.
Oak Long Bar – Spring Smash
Get a swanky spring outfit on and head to Copley Square’s OAK Long Bar + Kitchen for a Spring Smash. The elegant eatery tucked into the Fairmont Copley Plaza is mixing up Jefferson’s bourbon, Montenegro amaro, lemon, peach and Angostura bitters for a drink that’s got all the downtown vibes you need for a fresh new season.
Painted Burro – Spring Fever Gin & Tonic
Everyone knows that a good G&T is always just right for spring, so you can’t go wrong with the Spring Fever Gin & Tonic at The Painted Burro if you’re getting in a warm weather state of mind. Made with gin, Aperol, triple sec, kiwi liquor and tonic, it’s the ideal way to unwind whether you’re pairing it with tacos, nachos or churros.
Talulla – Whistle & Snap
Make a reservation and make for Cambridge for the Whistle & Snap at Talulla. The recent addition to the cocktail list at this cozy Huron Village spot features a super springy combination of French gin, snap pea, lime and nasturtium for a verdant and refreshing seasonal libation. You’ll definitely want to book a table – there’s not much of a bar to speak of at Talulla, plus chef-owner Conor Dennehy is up for a James Beard Award this year so you know it’ll be good.
Tip Tap Room – Spring Fling
If you’re missing prom season this time of year now that you’re all grown up, you can still work some dreamy pink and purple vibes into your life with a Spring Fling at the Tip Tap Room. Their tipple made with rye, blueberry, lemon, and mint is as bold as any promposal, and you don’t even need to show up at the Beacon Hill watering hole with corsage.
Trifecta – Rum Away With Me
If you’re ready to escape city life this season — at least in spirit — head to Trifecta in the Four Seasons One Dalton to order up a Rum Away With Me. It’s a mix of Banana Peel Rum, pistachio orgeat and vanilla tincture, which tastes just like a quick trip to the islands to get an early summer glow.
Urban Hearth – Forsythia
If your favorite sign of spring is when the Forsythia bushes break out their beautiful yellow buds, Urban Hearth in Cambridge has the perfect drink for you, which just so happens to have the same name. The simple elixir is crafted with Barr Hill Gin and house made licorice root bitters, for a fresh, herbal taste that’s as fresh as a spring rain.
Woods Hill Pier 4 – Cell Mate
If you’re looking for a farm-fresh cocktail to celebrate the season head to Woods Hill Pier 4 in the Seaport for a Cell Mate. This savory take on a vodka gimlet is mixed with celery root from Brookford Farm in Canterbury, New Hampshire farm and spiked with Chareau Aloe Liqueur and lime, and it’s best sipped on the eatery’s huge patio overlooking the harbor so that you can get the full sea air experience.
Yellow Door Taqueria – Pinkies Up, Loose Agenda & That Drink From Instagram
Good weather is always a good excuse for a cool cocktail, and you can take your pick at Yellow Door Taqueria with a trio of sips to kick off the spring season. First is the Pinkies Up, made with gin, dry curacao, hibiscus & pomegranate tea, vanilla, lime and sparkling wine, which will give you a seasonal rosy glow. Next is the Loose Agenda, which expertly blends cachaça, elderflower, cucumber, ginger, lemon, sea salt into a drink that’s perfect for after a day opening up the garden. Finally they’ve got That Drink From Instagram — you know the one with house infused citrus vodka, Italicus, raspberry + mint cordial, lemon and soda that you saw that girl at that place drinking and it looked so good. Grab one for yourself and don’t forget the selfie!
