spring cocktails Buddha’s Dream
Buddha’s Dream at Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant
In Southern California, “seasonal” cocktails can usually be divided into two categories: cool-weather cocktails that tend to be spirit-forward, with nods to holiday flavors, and warm-weather cocktails, which feature floral spirits, lots of citrus, and lighter fruits. Here are three cocktails that hit all the right warm-weather notes.
spring cocktails Hundred Proof old fashioned
Hundred Proof’s Seasonal Old Fashioned | Photo: Stephen Kurpinsky
Seasonal Old-Fashioned @ Hundred Proof:
What’s in it: Wild Turkey 101 bourbon, Chareau aloe liqueur, marigold syrup, and lavender bitters
You can’t go wrong with Hundred Proof’s seasonal old-fashioned. They honor the classic, but always with an interesting twist. Here, it’s marigold syrup—simple syrup infused with marigold petals (Yes! They’re edible!)—which pairs perfectly with Chareau’s soft floral notes.
Buddha’s Dream @ Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant
What’s in it: White rum, French Caribbean rum, Alpine liqueur, Buddha’s Hand, jasmine, and lemon
Lead bartender Liz Farrell is a also a certified herbalist, and she’s brought that expertise to Bankers Hill’s latest cocktail menu. What caught my attention with this cocktail was the Buddha’s Hand. Known as a citron (think ancient citrus), this creepy-looking fruit has a subtle, blossom-like flavor that makes it a magical ingredient.
Spring cocktails Earth Sermon
Kindred’s Earth Sermon | Photo: Arlene Ibarra
Earth Sermon @ Kindred
What’s in it: Gin, apricot-thyme liqueur, makrut lime, and lemon
Gin is my favorite spirit, and thyme and apricot two of my favorite cocktail flavors. But if you’re in the mood for something more out-there—a category of cocktails Kindred excels at—you might try the Hanging Garden: gin, Belizean rum, melon liqueur, rice nectar, dill, cucumber, almond yogurt, and celery bitters. Bar manager David Kinsey says the idea for the cocktail “was somewhere between a lassi and tzatziki.” He describes it as refreshing with a tangy, savory kick.
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