New York restaurants offer creative spring and summer cocktails

Leave aside caramel Irish coffee, snowballs, rum eggnog or other cocktails that decorate the winter season. Spring has sprung and with it comes a big choice of creative cocktails from a few of New York City’s best eating and drinking spots. To be honest, you do not have to be an authority Big Apple mixologist to make these refreshing drinks. Simply prepare them at home in your next social gathering.

Cucumber Gin & Tonic at Romeo’s, East Village, New York City

Romeo founder Evan Hawkins is all about giving people what they need. Over the course of his 20+ years of bartending, he realized that a cucumber gin drink was in high demand and so their Cucumber Gin & Tonic was born. These include a pleasant, clean old Tom gin and a cucumber (honeydew melon) liqueur with a little bit of lime juice, garnished with Fever Tree’s elderflower tonic. The tonic has a pleasant, smooth, floral note and shouldn’t be overly bitter, and the flavors come together to make a very simple drinking summer crusher.

1.5 ounces of gin

1.5 ounces cucumber-melon liqueur

Top up with elderflower tonic

Glassware: Mugs

Ice: rocks

Garnish: 3 angled cucumber slices, freshly ground black pepper

Hello at Jac is on Bond, NoHo

Gin is a favourite to sip on hot summer days and Jac’s on Bond Kia Ora is not any different. Combined with elderflower, lime and pear cider, guests will notice hints of bubbles and lightweight flavors. The secret ingredient? Kiwi, for a very fruity note.

1.75 ounces of Hendricks

0.5 oz Giffard elderflowers

0.75 ounces of kiwi puree

0.5 ounces lime

0.25 ounces easy

Pour some lemonade on top

Shake, strain, garnish with Collins, kiwi slice

Blue coconutout of Rose Lane in Park Lane New York

Guests visit this Parisian Art Nouveau-inspired bar for a fascinating experience unlike another. Light fare, drinks and comfy nooks are perfect for a morning coffee, an al fresco lunch or a straightforward nightcap.

2 ounces Casamigos White

0.5 ounces of cocoa cream

0.5 oz Blue Curaçao

0.5 ounces lemon juice

1 ounce Coco Lopez

Method:

Add the ingredients to a mixing glass with a handful of ice cubes

Stir to chill then strain right into a rocks glass

Garnish with dried pineapple wheel

Meloni Spritz, from Rose Lane in Park Lane, New York City

2 oz Aerled Melon Aperitif

2 oz Eroica Riesling

1 ounce Prosecco

0.25 ounces lemon juice

Method:

Add the ingredients to a mixing glass with a handful of ice cubes

Stir to chill then strain right into a rocks glass

Garnish with a slice of fresh melon

Mexicanaout of American bar, New York City

Paying homage to the country’s culinary classics, the American Bar offers timeless continental cuisine in an area with the design and community of an old-fashioned European club, with a brass-railed cocktail lounge, a terrazzo bar, a sunny yellow dining room and a curtained-off private area Dining area.

1.5 ounces Yola Mezcal

0.5 ounces lime juice

Fever Tree Cucumber Soda

Method:

Fill a highball glass with ice

Add Yola Mezcal and lime juice and top with soda

Garnish with a cucumber stick

Milady’s Spritz, by Milady’s, New York City

The folks at Milady’s consider that cocktails ought to be beautifully crafted, food ought to be comforting and delicious, and that all the things ought to be shared with people you’re keen on. They also consider that an awesome neighborhood bar ought to be a fun environment that brings people together.

1.5 ounces Aperol

0.5 oz amaro

3 ounces Lambrusco Rose dell’Emilia

1 ounce lemonade

Method:

Mix all ingredients in a big wine glass with ice

Garnish with an orange wheel