Drink Like It Matters
This sounds crude and heretical, but we find cocktails to be kind of like cheeseburgers and doughnuts--if we're going to have one, we want it to be outstanding.
Lucky for us, cocktail culture is in its second golden age: Ambitious bartenders are searching out fresh and/or exotic ingredients, then mixing them with care. Here's what to drink, and where.
Budapest Gresham Puszta: apricot palinka and Tokai wine. Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, Roosevelt Tér 5-6, 011-361/268-6000.
Buenos Aires Vanilla Margarita: vanilla tequila, Cointreau, orange juice, sugar. Gran Bar Danzon, Libertad 1161, 011-54/11-4811-1108.
Hong Kong Lychee Caprioska: lemongrass vodka, fresh lychees, lime, brown sugar. 1/5, 9 Star St., Wanchai, 011-852/2520-2515.
Istanbul Bomb Baby: vodka, watermelon, mint, cardamom. 360 Istanbul, 32/309 Istiklal Cad., Misir Apt. K8, BeyoØglu, 011-90/212-251-1042.
London Vanderbilt: cognac, cherry Heering, bitters. Milk & Honey, Poland St., Soho, 011-44/20-7292-9940.
Los Angeles Shikomi Martini: sake, Midori, lemon juice, Japanese cucumber. Geisha House, 6633 Hollywood Blvd., 323/460-6300.
Madrid Letania: cinnamon vodka, cranberry and raspberry juices, fruit. Glass Bar, Hotel Urban, Carrera de San Jerónimo 34, 011-34/91-787-7770.
Miami Mojito: light rum, mint, sugar, lime juice, club soda. Skybar, The Shore Club, 1901 Collins Ave., 305/695-3100.
Moscow Moscow Mojito: rum and wild berries. Pavilion, 7 Bolshoi Patriarshy Per., 011-7/495-203-5110.
New York City Jamaican Firefly: dark rum, ginger beer, lime juice, candied ginger. Pegu Club, 77 W. Houston St., 2nd Fl., 212/473-7348.
Tel Aviv Passion: Vodka, lemon, sugar, pineapple, passion fruit syrup. Rocca, 8 Ramat Yam, Herzliya Pituach, 011-972/9-951-5122.
Tokyo Kir Royal: champagne and crème de cassis. Carmenere, Omotesando Jingumae 4-4-7 BFI, 011-81/3-3401-6779.
Zürich Sidecar: brandy, triple sec, lemon juice. Widder Hotel, Rennweg 7, 011-41/44-224-2526.