By Trish Klein • Special to The Current
The change of seasons is upon us. The sun is shining, snow melting and the birds are chirping. Spring is in the air. It’s that time of year to put-aside the Hot Toddy and Hot Cider cocktails from your cocktail collection. Don’t worry, they’ll be back soon enough.
Transitioning from winter to spring at the bar and at home is just as important as changing our clothes in our closets. People are naturally ready for the upcoming changes. Patio furniture is coming out, the weather is getting warmer and many of us are looking forward to spending more time with family and friends. What better way to catch up than over a delicious spring cocktail.
Fantastic ingredients are starting to grow. Berries are coming into season and are a great way to enhance spring cocktails. At the same time, fresh herbs such as mint, basil and cilantro are sprouting from the ground.
These ingredients add an element of brightness and freshness to your seasonally spruced up cocktails. The time has arrived to introduce these light, fresh and crisp ingredients into your cocktail repertoire.
Here’s how! Spring cocktails express the lighter fresher side of the ingredients we use. Think of a sparkling spritz, fresh and fruity sangria, the classic refreshing mule or a mint julep. All warm weather favorites. Think color! While winter provides us with the deep warm hues of the old fashioned, and the mulled wine, it’s time to bring in clean, clear, pink and bright orange sunshine to our glasses.
The spritz, it’s low-alcohol and you can incorporate many different fresh ingredients. At Marion Hose Bar, the Hose Co. Spritz returns! Fresh strawberries, planter box mint, a splash of house made simple syrup are muddled right in the glass, add ice, Lillet Rose aperitif and a nice crisp Prosecco. The light crisp look of the cocktail shines through on the palate.
Imagine sitting on the patio with friends feeling the fresh spring air blowing and the warmth of the sun shining down. Sounds like Spring to me!
Another way to bring spring into your cocktails is to look to beer. Craft beers are seasonal just as much as cocktail ingredients. Most seasonal brews are driven by seasonal ingredients. Winter beers are dark and complex. Spring and summer beers are light and refreshing. Look for, Belgian Wit’s and Hefeweizens. They have a hazy spiciness that is full of flavor. You can up that freshness by adding a wedge of orange.
Another beer style to think about is a Hazy IPA. They are also known as New England Style Indian Pale Ales or Juicy IPAs. These brews are packed with fruit and citrus flavors and smooth and soft bodied on the palate!
Visit your local brewery. Take some time look at what’s growing in the garden. Take a trip to the local Farmer’s market and you’ll see it’s easy to introduce freshness to your spring cocktails. Cheers!
Trish Klein tends bar at The Marion Hose Bar located at 16 W. Broadway in Jim Thorpe.
For more visit www.marionhosebar.com
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