The National Cherry Blossom Festival has kicked off in Washington D.C., which means another season of pretty pink blooms across the city. It also means pretty pink cocktails, if you visit an area Kimpton restaurant, bar or lounge.
Our bartenders have been busy concocting Japanese and cherry blossom-inspired sips, available through April 27, when the festival concludes.
To get your taste, make like a tree and leaf to one of these D.C.-area hotspots. (Get it? Leaf? Sorry, some puns are just too good to resist.)
Poste Moderne Brasserie
Lead bartender Jason Wiles stirs up a Japanese sake-based cocktail called For Heaven’s Sake ($12), a tantalizing mix of house-made pomegranate soda, Tozai sake, vodka, Maraschino liqueur and fresh lemon juice.
Poste Moderne Brasserie is located at 555 8th St., NW, Washington, D.C. (202-783-6060 or postebrasserie.com).
BRABO
Enjoy the fruits of a Hot Cherry Mess ($13), acocktail made with Macchu Pisco, Szechuan peppercorn spiced syrup, house-made cherry jam, lemon juice, egg white foam and cherry bitters.
BRABO is located at 1600 King St., Alexandria, Virginia (703-894-3440 or braborestaurant.com).
The Grille at Morrison House
Resident bartender Rosen Ivanov whips up both sour and smoky cherry cocktails. Try a Sour Cherry Fizz ($12)made with sour cherry juice, Tanqueray gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white and a splash of club soda and follow it up with a Smoked Cherry Old Fashioned ($12)made with Maker’s Mark, bitters, house-smoked cherry syrup and garnished with a smoked cherry and a slice of orange.
The Grille at Morrison House is located at 116 S. Alfred St., Alexandria (703-838-8000 or thegrillealexandria.com).
Firefly
Enjoy the tongue-tingling delight of a Sakura Sling, a mix of cherry and vanilla bean infused Ketel One with Leopold Brothers Michigan tart cherry liqueur, simple syrup and a splash of soda in a Collins glass ($6 during happy hour and $12 during all other service times).
Firefly is located at 1310 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. (202-861-1310 or firefly-dc.com).
Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar
Lead bartender Obinna Emenyonu brings the zing with a Tuscan Flor ($13) made with cherry and apple purée, vodka, yuzu and prosecco and served with a brandied cherry garnish.
Urbana is located at 2121 P St., NW, Washington, D.C. (202-956-6650 or urbanadc.com).
Jackson 20
Spring breezes go well with a Cherry Picnic ($10), a cocktail made with ginger liqueur, spiced rum, fresh sour mix and a Campari wash that makes it a fun cherry-red color.
Jackson 20 is located at 480 King St., Alexandria (703-842-2790 or jackson20.com).
Cheers!
