Summer Drinks

The best summer cocktails, plus ice cold coffee and the perfect margarita

By Seattle Mag May 27, 2011

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Tall, Cold Ones

Seattle’s mixologists are chefs in their own right, and come summer, they’re inspired by the sweet, fresh tastes of the season. Fizzy, chilly and cool make for the best summertime cocktails.

Sunrise, Pressed at Madison Park Conservatory
(photo above) A gorgeous twist on the classic Tequila Sunrise: hibiscus, lemongrass, orange and jalapeño-infused tequila with the bracing juice of a fresh grapefruit to set it all off. Over ice. Nice. $11 >> Madison Park, 1927 43rd Ave. E; 206.324.9701; madisonparkconservatory.com

Transparent Rose at Sambar
An herbal, exotic marriage of Cocci Americana, sotol, rose water and fragrant cardamom bitters to echo early summer.  $10 >> Ballard, 425 NW Market St.; 206.781.4883; sambarseattle.com
“How ’Bout a Fresca, Hmm?” at Alibi Room
Fizzy and refreshing, with grapefruit vodka and muddled citrus, plus soda water. (Like a Fresca with benefits.) $8 >> Downtown; 85 Pike St., Suite 410; 206.623.3180; seattlealibi.com
Seelbach at Tavern Law
A serious summer sipper, smoky with bourbon, but with a little orange from Cointreau. bitters and a bubbly topper of champagne. $9 >> Capitol Hill, 1406 12th Ave.; 206.322.9734; tavernlaw.com

Viola Rosé wine at
Cedergreen Cellars
A pretty wine made in Grandview, WA, with lots of early summer fruit—strawberry, rhubarb—and a clean mineral finish. $14/bottle >> Kirkland, 11315 NE 65th St.; 425.827.7244; cedergreencellars.com
Cold Brew Stubbies at Stumptown
There’s no alcohol in this low-acid cold coffee, made by soaking the beans in cold water, but it is addictive. $3.50 >> Various locations, including Capitol Hill, 1115 12th Ave.; 206.323.1544; stumptowncoffee.com
Moscow Mule at Book Bindery
The classic is renewed when made with fresh lime juice and a shot of ginger beer. $8 >> Queen Anne, 198 Nickerson St.; 206.283.2665; bookbinderyrestaurant.com
Porch Swing at The Walrus and the Carpenter
Pimm’s No. 1 gets tarted up with a shot of sweet-tart limonata, plus gin and apple. Mmmm! $9 >> Ballard, 4743 Ballard Ave. NW; 206.395.9227; thewalrusbar.com

 

 

 

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