There’s nothing that accompanies summer weather better than a chilled cocktail. Whether you prefer fruity concoctions, or something a little more simple, this is the season to get crafty with your drinking game. Here, we went to restaurants and rooftops around New York to see what seasonal sips they’re bringing to their menu, plus the ingredients behind them so you can imbibe on your own time. Salud to summer.
The Skagen
Sea buckthorn has a deep orange color and a bright taste that works really well with the peppery, green flavor from the lovage and aquavit. It's a great and refreshing cocktail, perfect for summer. It reminds me of summer vacation in Skagen – the most northern part of Denmark, where the North Sea and Baltic Sea collide in a big wave. Here, the sea buckthorn grows wild on bushes near the beach." – Jonas Andersen, Beverage Manager 2 parts aquavit 2 parts sea buckthorn juice 1 part lovage syrup Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake well. Double strain into glass over ice.
Beyond the pine
"By introducing the fresh scent and subtle flavor of pine into this spicy Gin based cocktail, you create an intriguing flavor profile that calls upon a traditional winter flavor while presenting it in a light and summery way." —Dean Blockey, Bar Manager 1 oz Nolet's Gin 1 oz Blue Plum Brandy ¼ Douglas Fir ¾ oz Fresh Lime Juice ½ Honey Simple Syrup 1 Muddled Jalapeno Splash of Gosling's Ginger Beer Add all the ingredients except for the beer to a shaker and shake. Strain over ice and top off with the ginger beer. Garnish with a rosemary sprig to serve.
Thyme after time
"We take a traditional Pisco Sour—already a light, refreshing drink —using both fresh lemon and lime juice, add a bit of fresh Thyme to really wake your mouth up. Add summer herbs like basil or mint to any cocktail to give them a refreshing and seasonal flavor boost." – Adam Pribila, Bar Manager 2 oz Pisco .5 oz Lemon Juice .5 oz Lime Juice .5 oz Thyme-infused Simple Syrup 1 oz Egg White Dry shake all ingredients. Shake with ice. Strain and serve, up, in a coupe. Garnish with a sprig of thyme.
The Sanguina
"A play on a margarita, the Sanguina is made with blanco tequila with MEM blood orange hibiscus tea, mixed with fresh blood orange, lime and ginger agave syrup. The name comes from the Spanish word for a blood orange, which is naranja sanguina. It also means 'blood thirsty' – which kind of works perfectly for this drink." —Gretchen Thomas, Wine & Spirits Director 1/8 Blood Orange (or 1 wedge cut into 2 small pieces) ¾ oz. Ginger Agave Simple Syrup 1 oz. Lime Juice 2 oz. Hibiscus infused El Charro Blanco 1 Blood Orange wedge for garnish Add all measured ingredients to shaker and fill the shaker with ice. Shake very well. Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice. To serve, strain over ice and garnish with blood orange wedge.
The IC Pop
This season, the bar is rolling out a brand new Rosécco and Ice Pop cocktail, served with Rosé sparkling wine. Each unique people's pop creation offers a full flavor experience starting with the naturally sweet flavor of a specific seasonal fresh fruit, picked at the peak of its ripeness, and following-through to a finishing note of an herb, spice or floral essence." —Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar -1 glass of Rosé or Brut champagne -1 people's pops Ice Pop of you choice
Cucumber East Side
"This cocktail is refreshing and clean with a nice herbal undertone from the cardamom." —Percy Rodriguez, Beverage Director 1.5 oz. Ford's Gin ½ oz. lime juice ½ oz. simple syrup 1 oz. house-made cucumber mint water 3 dashes house-made cardamom tincture Combine all ingredients in a shaker, double strain and pour into a coupe glass. Garnish with a long cucumber slice and a pinch of cayenne pepper
Passion fruit Cosmo
"Refreshing, fruity ingredients are the perfect remedy for cooling off in the summer heat. We give the traditional cosmo a spin with passion fruit to make the ideal summer cocktail." —Chef Michael Ferraro. 1.5 ounces Rokk Citron Vodka 0.75 ounces white cranberry juice 0.75 ounces triple sec 0.75 ounces passion fruit puree 0.5 ounces simple syrup Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass.
The Viola
1 ½ oz. Piedra Azul Blanco Tequila 1 ½ oz. green apple & red beet (preparation directions below) 1 oz. citrus mix ½ oz. simple syrup Pour in a shaker filled with ice, shake for 10/15 sec; pass through a strainer into a tumbler glass with ice. Garnish with a lemon peel.
Mango Margarita
"Nothing screams summer like a great frozen cocktail – especially a refreshing frozen margarita. We offer a variety of fresh fruit flavors like mango, white peach, caramelized pineapple, and strawberry. These cocktails are the perfect sipper whenhanging poolside or even batched for a backyard bbq." —Drew Sweeney, Beverage Director 2 oz. Milagro Silver Tequila .75 oz Fresh Lime Juice Ice Fresh Fruit, 2-3 slices (or to taste) In a blender, blend together Milagro Silver Tequila, fresh lime juice and ice. Add fresh fruit, or a fresh fruit puree, of your choosing. (e.g. watermelon, sliced strawberries, mango, etc.) Blend once again for smooth consistency. Add agave, to taste (*you may not need to add since the fresh fruit will add a layer of sweetness).
The Telenovela
"The Telenovela is a blend of sour, sweet, and spice which makes for the perfect summer refresher regardless of your mood." —Karl Franz Williams, Mixologist/Co-Owner 1.5oz Cachaca .5oz Mezcal .75 Simple Syrup .75 Lime 2 bar spoons Passion Fruit Puree 5 cilantro leaves All of the ingredients are added to a shaker and shaken vigorously. The drink is then strained into a coupe or Martini glass. I recommend a double strainer to get the small bits of broken cilantro. The magic happens at the end. Sprinkle the smallest amount of ground turmeric on the top of the drink and add a cilantro leaf.