Food

The 25 Best Cocktails in Washington

The arsenal of flavorings at Columbia Room. Photo by Scott Suchman
best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Newburn

Blended Scotch, tamarind, lemon, cardamom, and cinnamon, at the Royal, 501 Florida Ave., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Clouseau

Bourbon, fig, lime, and plum bitters, at Le Diplomate1601 14th St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Bardstown Derby

Bourbon, grapefruit, lemon, and orange-blossom honey, at Pearl Dive Oyster Palace1612 14th St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Mother-in-Law

Bourbon, maraschino liqueur, Combier, house-made bitter-orange liqueur, and bitters, at Dram & Grain, 2007 18th St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Last Frontier

Bourbon, amaretto, lemon, and cinnamon, at the Riggsby1731 New Hampshire Ave., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

London Dry Gin and Tonic

Gin, tonic, grapefruit, mint, lemon, and white pepper, at Jaleo480 Seventh St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Gettysburg Address

Square One Botanical, açai liqueur, beet purée, ginger syrup, lemon, and bitters, at Lincoln1110 Vermont Ave., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Wily Old Fashion

Rye, house-made bitters, orange, and brandied cherry, at Silver7150 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Quackenbos

Rye, Amaro Nardini, plum brandy, and long-pepper bitters, at Room 11, 3234 11th St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Shazerac

Rye, absinthe, Peychaud’s bitters, and PX sherry, at Mockingbird Hill1843 Seventh St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Jewel in the Crown

Navy-strength gin, Cocchi Americano, celery bitters, vinegar, and Cava, at Rappahannock Oyster Bar, Union Market.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Tuileries

Pomegranate-infused gin, sage simple syrup, orange bitters, and crémant, at Blue Duck Tavern, 1201 24th St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Drink the Martini

Gin, dry vermouth, and orange bitters, at Eat the Rich1839 Seventh St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Dark in Kochi

Chai-spiced blackstrap rum and house-made ginger beer, at 2 Birds 1 Stone1800 14th St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

From Scratch Piña Colada

Aged rum, smoked pineapple, coconut, cinnamon, and star anise, at Captain Gregory’s, 804 N. Henry St., Alexandria.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Cold Smoke

Vodka, flamed lemon oil, and a single-malt-Scotch float, at Hank’s Oyster Bar1624 Q St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Lox’d and Loaded

Vodka, tomato juice, “everything” spices, and everything bagel with lox and cream cheese, at Buffalo & Bergen, Union Market.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Passion & Warfare

Silver tequila, Scotch, passionfruit, lime, and ancho-chili salt, at Brine2985 District Ave., Fairfax.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Mezcal Negroni

Mezcal, Campari, sweet vermouth, flamed orange oil, and orange peel, at the Twisted Horn, 819 Upshur St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Smokeshow

Mezcal, pineapple, mint, chipotle, and citrus, at Ripple3417 Connecticut Ave., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Nicolaki

Vodka, Greek yogurt, lemon, honey, and rosemary, at Iron Gate1734 N St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Doubting Duck

Manzanilla sherry, dry vermouth, orange bitters, kelp water, and oyster leaf, at Columbia Room, 124 Blagden Alley, NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

2 Stops to Montilla

Amontillado sherry, genever, sesame oil, green-tea syrup, and a lavender-blossom garnish, at Barmini, 855 E St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Quinquina Royal

Cognac, Bonal, cassis, and sparkling wine, at Kinship, 1015 Seventh St., NW.

best cocktails in washington
Photograph by Jeff Elkins

Hennessey Jed

Cognac, black walnuts, angostura bitters, and black-walnut-infused glycerin smoke, at Masseria, 1340 Fourth St., NE.

This article appears in our April 2016 issue of Washingtonian.

Ann Limpert
Executive Food Editor/Critic

Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.

Food Editor

Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.