The first day of Spring is here and New York City’s top restaurants, lounges and bars are celebrating with fresh new, seasonally inspired cocktail offerings. Evident this year is a fast growing garden-to-glass trend, following the farm-to-table movement of recent years. From red bell pepper and jalapenos to cilantro, rosemary and Thai basil, fresh produce is amping up the flavor profile of this season’s cocktails.
To celebrate the advent of our favorite season, here are our top three picks for Spring’s must-try cocktails at some of our favorite venues around New York!
The Red Riding Hood by Enzo Cangemi
Ovest Pizzoteca, 513 West 27th Street
Bursting with fresh garden flavor, this red bell pepper based cocktail will wow even the most discerning cocktail enthusiasts. The natural citrus elements and smooth mouth feel of Martin Miller’s Gin shines through, allowing for hints of ginger, lemon and grapefruit to harmonize perfectly with the flavor of the red pepper to create the perfect, refreshing Spring libation.
Ingredients:
• 5-6 chunks red bell pepper
• 2 bar spoons ginger marmalade
• ½ ounce lemon juice
• ½ ounce Combier pomplemousse rose
• 2 ounces Martin Miller’s Gin
Basil B. Bennett by Michael Manjon
Brannon’s, 119 Essex Street
Sweetened with a homemade basil syrup, Michael Manjon’s newest bar-chef creation is a perfect example of the growing prevalence of herbs as cocktail ingredients. Seamlessly balancing the sweet notes with celery bitters, this herb-infused cocktail will inspire imbibers to start their own cocktail garden.
Ingredients:
• 2 ounces Martin Miller’s Gin
• ¾ ounce Mike Manjon’s basil syrup
• ¾ ounce fresh lime juice
• 3 dashes Bitterman’s Celery Shrub Bitters
Miller’s Crossing
Hundred Acres, 38 MacDougal Street
Bringing some sizzle to your Spring, this strong, fresh and spicy cocktail incorporates jalapeno and basil as key ingredients – making for a truly unique flavor profile. The jalapeno gives it a strong kick of heat, with the citrus elements in the Martin Miller’s Gin and fresh lime juice providing the perfect balance. If you’re looking to spice things up with a new twist on infused gin cocktails, this is the drink for you!
Ingredients:
• 2 ½ ounces Martin Miller’s Gin
• 2 basil leaves
• 1 slice jalapeno
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• ¼ ounce lime juice
What are some of your favorite New York hotspots to enjoy Spring cocktails?