Cherry-blossom madness is about to hit town, and everyone—including some of our favorite bartenders—is getting into it. Check out our guide to cherry-blossom-inspired drinks around Washington.
Agraria The Bourbon Blossom, made with Knob Creek bourbon, sweet vermouth, and house-made Cherry Blossom syrup is $12. The cocktail is garnished with a stemmed cherry.
Art and Soul Art Smith's restaurant is serving the Cherry Blossom ($10), made with St. Germain elderflower liqueur, cherry reduction, orange bitters and Lucien Albrecht Brut rose.
Domaso Arlington’s Domaso has the Bubbly Blossom cocktail, made with Prosecco and Campari, for $11.
Equinox Equinox has three cocktails: the Cherry Rum & Cola; the Cherry Pie, made with vanilla-infused vodka, white-chocolate liqueur, and Maraschino cherry juice; and the Cherry Sphere, a combination of sweet vermouth and cherry-infused vodka. All are $10.
Firefly Alice Gaber has an assortment of drinks: the Spring in Bloom, made with cherry vodka, elderflower liqueur, white wine, and grapefruit ($12.50); the Cherry Bomb, which incorporates cherry brandy with sparkling wine ($12.50); and a drink based on Bing cherries, which Gaber is putting the finishing touches on. Also available during the Cherry Blossom Festival is the Smuttynose Hanami Ale, made with cherry juice ($6).
Founding Farmers Jon Arroyo's Washington's Bing Delight cocktail ($12) is a blend of organic vodka, peach extract, Prosecco and brandied cherries.
The Gibson The Japanese Cocktail—made with angostura bitters, brandy, and orgeat, a syrup made of almonds, sugar, and orange-flower water—ranges from $10 to $14 depending on the brandy.
Hudson At this spot in DC’s West End, the Hudson Sakura cocktail has Skyy Infusions cherry vodka as its base, with agave nectar, Cointreau, and pineapple sorbet ($14).
Ici Urban Bistro The Cherrilicious Cocktail, a mix of Heering cherry liqueur, rum, simple syrup, and lemon juice and topped with sparkling vodka, will be available at this downtown DC restaurant for $14.
Jackson 20 The Bloom cocktail at this Old Town restaurant is made with Maker’s Mark bourbon, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, guava nectar, Heering cherry liqueur, and muddled ginger ($11).
Mie N Yu Georgetown’s Mie N Yu will be serving the Cherry Blossom, made with grape vodka, Fuki Cherry plum wine, and cranberry juice ($10).
Nage Nage is offering the Crisp Cherry Cooler, for which cherries are muddled with mint and then served with gin ($8); the Cherry Bomb Martini, made with a Kirsch sinker ($9); and the Sundried Cherry Collins, a vodka Collins with sun-dried-cherry syrup ($8).
Poste The Cerise en Fleur (French for “cherry in bloom”) at this brasserie in DC’s Chinatown is a mix of Skyy Infusions cherry vodka, aloe-vera juice, and shochu, a Japanese spirit distilled—not brewed like sake—from rice or barley. The drink is topped off with kriek, a cherry-fermented Belgian beer ($11).
PS 7’s For her Salted Cherry Bourbon, Gina Chersevani uses house-made brandied cherries, honey, fleur de sel, and egg white ($10).
Restaurant 3 Ria Freydberg’s Cherry Town has raspberry vodka, a Bing cherry, and rose-infused syrup mixed with fresh orange juice and a dash of cherry bitters ($10).
Tabard Inn Chantal Tseng will be serving a variation of the Cherry Rum Fizz using Cachaça, a Brazilian rum made from sugar-cane juice. The price isn’t set yet, but Tseng says it’ll be $10 or $11. She’s also working on a concoction featuring sparkling sake and house-made orgeat syrup. More details to come soon.
Urbana The Hotel Palomar’s restaurant and bar has the Cherry Sour, made with vanilla-and-sour-cherry-infused Basil Hayden’s bourbon and sour-cherry juice and garnished with cherry cotton candy ($11).
I have a supply of Bing cherries and just purchased a fifth of vodka. I want to infuse the vodka with the cherries and think I know how. Now looking for recipes for cherry flavored vodka as the main ingredient
Posted by: Pat, Oct 19, 2010 03:05:26 PM
yes, to the cherry blossom martini at Elephant & Castle.. was there on Friday. It’s Dark Cherry Vodka, Grenadine & Triple Sec with a maraschino cherry garnish... yummy! To follow our escapades in life and design check out facebook.com/joyhomedesign.
Posted by: Joy Waida, Apr 04, 2010 08:07:50 PM
I had a dink Called the Cherry Blossom MArtini at the elephant & Castle in Dc and it was great. Does anyone know how it is mADE
Posted by: DC , Mar 30, 2009 02:01:07 PM
I had a fantastic cocktail called the Cherry Blossom at Thai Chef. It’s sparkling wine, cherry vodka, and a splash of cranberry. Very tasty!
Posted by: ladybug, Mar 27, 2009 06:37:41 AM
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