These hot August nights call for a refreshing cocktail, don’t you think? Whether you head out to one of these hot spots for drinks with friends or prefer to make them at home (2 recipes included below), I found some must-try cocktails around the city. What I love about these in particular: they combine fresh summer produce with wine, liquor and other ingredients (lavender, egg white, rhubarb, and vanilla, to name a few) with spectacular results.
Enjoy these summer cocktails!
1. Amburana Cobbler from The Gander
There are several seasonal drinks at At The Gander, acclaimed chef Jesse Schenker’s Flatiron restaurant, but the Amburana Cobbler, created by beverage director Andrew Lakin, caught my eye: it contains Avua Amburana Cachaca, Oloroso Sherry Swedish Punch and fresh berries. @thegandernyc
2. Summer 2015 from Dante
Dante is a new restaurant that replaced old-school coffee shop Caffe Dante. Beverage director Naren Young offers a selection of hand-crafted cocktails inspired by European cafes, including the Summer 2015, which is made with Lillet rosé, Elyx vodka, pink champagne, strawberry, watermelon & rhubarb, garnished with slices of watermelon radish. @DanteNewYorkCity
3. Barbarita Margarita from Café Clover
At this West Village healthy, hotspot cocktails feature seasonal, locally sourced produce and ingredients. Order the Barbarita Margarita, made with silver tequila, watermelon, agave, lime and cilantro. @cafeclovernyc
4. Wildflower from Chefs Club by Food & Wine
In Nolita, dine at Chefs Club by Food & Wine, which features visiting, award-winning chefs from around the world, and sip a variety of summer cocktails, including Wildflower, which is made with gin, watermelon, lavender, lemon and vanilla. @ChefsClubNY
5. Watermelon Margarita at Rosie’s
An authentic Mexican restaurant is definitely the place to order a margarita. And when watermelon is the main ingredients, it’s bound to be refreshing. This summer version is made with milaoro reposado, watermelon, lime and peppercorn simple syrup. @rosiesnyc
6. Strawberry Gin Fizz from The Meatball Shop
While you enjoy your dinner of mix and match meatballs (with sides of course) at cult-meatball destination The Meatball Shop, enjoy a Strawberry Gin Fizz with Greenhook Ginsmiths Gin, strawberry, cucumber and lemon. @meatballers
7. Sangria de Pomelo from Boqueria
What pairs best with Spanish tapas inspired by the Boqueria Market of Barcelona? Sangria, of course. Chef Marc Vidal’s seasonal Sangria de Pomelo is made with pink grapefruit, Campari, Aperol, gin and rosé wine. @boqueria
8. Frozen Negroni from Alta Linea
Stroll along the High Line and then step into the sultry courtyard at Alta Linea in The High Line hotel for beverage director Joe Campanale’s frozen version of a classic Italian aperitif. @altalineanyc
9. Sangria from Delicatessen
Blackberry liquor—along with seasonal fruit—is added to Delicatessen’s sangria for a summery cocktail you can enjoy with the menu of upscale comfort food. Or make it at home with Delicatessen’s recipe. @deliNYC
10. Watermelon Margarita from TALDE
The cocktails at TALDE, including this watermelon margarita, all pair well with the Dale Talde’s Asian menu. My favorites are the pretzel pork and chive dumplings, bacon and oyster pad Thai, and lobster thom ka. Click here for the recipe. @taldebrooklyn
