The arrival of spring brings the cherry blossoms and some bars and restaurants — particularly in the Capital area — celebrate the season with specialty drinks.  For instance, the Park Hyatt Washington, D.C. offers the Cherry Blossom Spritz.

It’s made with Cappelletti Vino Aperitvo Rosso, Mancino cherry blossom vermouth, and cherry bitters, and priced at $18. The drink will be available in the hotel’s Blue Duck Tavern and Blue Duck Lounge for the duration of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the remainder of April.

Blue Duck Tavern restaurant in DC, its sister restaurants Ambar Clarendon and the newly opened Ambar Shaw, has the Shumadija Iced Tea. The cocktail, priced at $14, combines cherry-infused rakia, bourbon, house-made cherry purée, fresh lemon juice and a berry-mint tea blend.

Macon, GA, which boasts 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees, hosts an International Cherry Blossom Festival each year. The city’s Hotel Forty Five offers a signature pink cocktail called the Cherry Blossom, made with St. Germain, rosé, lemon juice, cherry juice and basil leaves. A commercial cherry blossom syrup provides an easy way to develop signature sips for the season.

Need some ideas for your operation? Mixologist Jenn Chow has created a Cherry Blossom Gimlet that combines 2 oz. gin or vodka, ½ oz. Pratt Standard cherry blossom syrup, ¼ oz. simple syrup and 1 oz. lime; shake with ice and serve up in a coupe.

Here are two more Cherry Blossom cocktail recipes, both from Natasha Velez, master mixologist of Davos Brands. 

Print Pin

Cherry Blossom Sour

Course Drinks

Keyword cherry blossom syrup, egg white, lemon, sake

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Iichiko Saiten shochu
• 1 oz. Lemon juice
• ¾ oz. Cherry blossom syrup
• 1 Egg white
• Sprinkle of yuzu salt and matcha powder

Instructions

• Mix all ingredients into cocktail shaker without ice.
• Dry shake for 1 min, add ice and shake again.
• Double strain into sour cocktail glass or coupe.
• Garnish with a sprinkle of yuzu salt, matcha powder and flowers

Notes

Natasha Velez, master mixologist of Davos Brands, created this recipe.

Print Pin

Sakura Dreams

Course Drinks

Keyword cherry blossom syrup, lemon, sake, sparkling wine

Ingredients

• 2 oz. TYKU Junmai sake
• 1 oz. Lemon juice
• ¾ oz. Cherry blossom syrup
• Top with sparkling wine

Instructions

• Mix all ingredients except sparkling wine into cocktail shaker.
• Shake and strain into coupe glass.
• Top with sparkling wine.
• Garnish with edible flower.

Notes

Natasha Velez, master mixologist of Davos Brands, created this recipe.