536222 Mon Jul 07 10:02:55 -0700 2008 43 12 Boston Area 0 3845118 There have been a few recent topics that have touched on pieces of this, but I thought it might be interesting to have a dedicated thread. In this warm, muggy weather, what drinks around town are hitting the spot for you? I'm curious about leaded and unleaded, chains and chowish. If it's deliciously refreshing, I'd love to hear about it. To get the ball rolling, a few I've been tending towards of late: Alcoholic: * Mojito from Chez Henri * Sangria from Dali * Vinho verde on the patio at Atasca Non-alcoholic: * Jasmine limeade cooler from Peet's (essentially a fancy Arnold Palmer, half jasmine iced tea, half fresh limeade) * Lime rickey from Good Food Cafe * Thai iced tea from Floating Rock (that and an order of tiger tears is my idea of a great summer dinner) * Green tea milkshake with bubbles from 163 Vietnamese Sandwich * [Don't hurl your farmshare tomatoes at me for my guilty pleasure] Strawberry milkshake from McDonald's Mon Jul 07 10:02:59 -0700 2008 11344 finlero 1 3845309 -Fresh ginger martini at the Blue Room in Cambridge. -Rose petal lemonade at Cafe Baraka in Cambridge. Mon Jul 07 10:50:43 -0700 2008 3845118 12889 Taralli 1 3845365 I had an excellent coconut mojito at Pops a week or so ago. Uses coconut rum with just a splash of pineapple juice...delish! Pimm's Cup at No. 9. Mon Jul 07 11:06:53 -0700 2008 3845118 101438 hsquare2southend 1 3845387 Campari and soda with a twist of lime. Cool, refreshing, not at all sweet, and you can adjust the amount of alcohol to suit your mood. Mon Jul 07 11:11:18 -0700 2008 3845118 14386 BobB 2 3865925 ditto... such a great pre-dinner drink, really cleanses the palate. Also suitable for this time of year: -any decent cold, cloudy wheat beer -a Southampton (tonic, lime, and bitters) -avocado smoothie from Flamepoeira in the north end Sun Jul 13 20:34:54 -0700 2008 3845387 108021 pierce 1 3845400 Americano highball, which any idiot can make (Campari, sweet vermouth, seltzer, lime wedge), on any of several worthwhile patios in town. Rocca has a nice one, sheltered from the street, though the food doesn't slay me. Malted chocolate frappe from Picco, which can also be enjoyed on a pretty decent patio. The $24 300ml sake at Myers+Chang, which goes great with their various dumplings and small plates. Frozen Bellini at 28 Degrees, which also has an okay patio. I hear blender drinks are making a comeback. Cazadores Gimlet up at Tremont 647, also on the passable patio. Sangria at Estragon, which is dispensed from the weirdest beverage bubbler ever, and is pretty simple, mostly just vino tinto and citrus juices, I think. They have a little patio, too, but I haven't tried that yet. The thin but tasty licuados (I like mine con leche) at Taqueria El Amigo. The chocolate milkshake (not a frappe) at Four Burgers, spun up on a DrinkMaster-style blender. Tinto de verano (red wine and Sprite) at Toro. Draft Narragansett at Jack's Family Restaurant (Warren, RI). Iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk at Xinh Xinh. Tom and Jerry from the bar at No. 9 Park. Nothing say July like a hot, steaming mug of boozy eggnog. Mon Jul 07 11:13:56 -0700 2008 3845118 10143 MC Slim JB 2 3846403 MC, you got me with the Tom and Jerry. With that said, I just last week purchased from eBay a gorgeous Tom and Jerry set, so I don't know why I am laughing, as clearly I have it on the brain as well! Already looking forward to John's fall and winter cocktails...! Mon Jul 07 15:12:36 -0700 2008 3845400 101438 hsquare2southend 2 3865773 Above you say (not a frappe) about the four burgers milkshake. I always thought frappe was just the Boston way of saying milkshake. What's the diff? Sun Jul 13 19:35:28 -0700 2008 3845400 141869 okello 3 3865886 At least in many parts of New England, the significant difference is that a "milkshake" is made by shaking/blending milk and syrup, and usually comes out in whatever flavor the syrup is. A "frappe" however is just a much much thicker milkshake that is always made with ice cream and can be made in any flavor the ice cream comes in. I think the difference is more of a New England thing...this has been my assumption for the last 20 years at least...kind of like the "jimmies" versus "sprinkles" debate Sun Jul 13 20:17:29 -0700 2008 3865773 202919 duxdubai 1 3845567 Cantina Zaccagnini has a rose out now that is wonderful. You can find it at Brix in the South End. Plus one on the Pimms cup. I got a similar drink at ESK recently that was made with ginger beer. So refreshing. And although I don't care for their hot coffee, I drink gallons of Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee in the summer. Mon Jul 07 11:49:35 -0700 2008 3845118 10232 yumyum 1 3845899 Dark and Stormy!!! Silvertone, Lucca, Sasso, and many more have this favorite of mine on the Cocktail menu this summer. Also The Mailbox Cocktail is not on any lists I have seen, but anyone with ginger beer can make one. It is a Dark & Stormy minus the Gossling's and substituted with Bourbon. I heard about it on NPR a few weeks ago. Different and good all at once. Summertime wouldn't be complete without a Negroni here and there around town. Nick at Sasso makes the best I've had in recent memory. Mon Jul 07 13:11:21 -0700 2008 3845118 66607 naughtywaitress 2 3845992 Ooh, that's a good call. I had a terrific dark and stormy a few weeks ago at Highland Kitchen. The weather was nice and they had all the windows wide open; definitely a great summer vibe. Mon Jul 07 13:28:36 -0700 2008 3845899 11344 finlero 2 3848008 Last time I saw a Dark & Stormy was when my BF ordered it at Maddie's Sail Loft in Marblehead a couple years ago - I forgot how tasty that was. Tue Jul 08 06:42:37 -0700 2008 3845899 68819 chowciao 3 3848093 Dark and Stormy's (stormies?) are a chowhound find for me... read about them here a year or two ago, and it is now one of my favorite poolside drinks. Now, I don't get out much, but do spend a lot of time outside on the patio. My current patio drinks: Wine - Bucci Verdicchio - Nice crisp summer wine with lots of flavors that change as it warms up. Beer - Dogfish head 90 minute IPA - very bitter, quite strong (more than one is a problem if I have been working outside in the sun) great floral taste. Tue Jul 08 07:18:30 -0700 2008 3848008 13084 tdaaa 4 3850120 Have to disagree on the bitterness of Dogfish 90, i actually find it extremely sweet for an IPA.....That said its very good. Tue Jul 08 15:48:17 -0700 2008 3848093 16672 phatchris 5 3856779 Can we compromise on "well balanced"? I think they increase the sweetness to balance the hops. Thu Jul 10 12:05:56 -0700 2008 3850120 13084 tdaaa 6 3859807 Sure, I find all of their beers "well balanced". Fri Jul 11 09:55:02 -0700 2008 3856779 16672 phatchris 1 3846043 Iced Lemon Tea from Eldo Bakery in Chinatown. Yum!! Mon Jul 07 13:41:50 -0700 2008 3845118 13028 kobuta 1 3846334 Jasmine Limeade from Pho & I Limeade from Pepper Sky Thai Anything from Green Street Cold, newly batched beers on the patio at Cambridge Brewing Company Iced black americano from ERC Any salt lassi I can get my hands on Pimms Cup from my fridge (ok, maybe this isn't really widely available!) Mon Jul 07 14:52:08 -0700 2008 3845118 47694 litchick 2 3846379 ERC = Espresso Royale? Mon Jul 07 15:05:14 -0700 2008 3846334 11344 finlero 3 3848291 Oh yup, sorry. Perhaps not the best cafe in the world, but nearish to me and a very decent iced americano that you don't have to add anything to for it to be drinkable (not so w/charbucks). Tue Jul 08 08:20:47 -0700 2008 3846379 47694 litchick 1 3846363 VMWs - watermelon puree, vodka, mint, ice. Mon Jul 07 15:01:56 -0700 2008 3845118 18264 steinpilz 1 3846524 did someone mention the rose petal lemonade from baraka? they did, didnt they... Mon Jul 07 15:44:36 -0700 2008 3845118 161777 gorditwo 1 3847700 -Black Cherry Mojito-Boston Harbor Hotel -Old Salt Ale with some oysters-Legal Sea Foods (only sold there) -Dunkin Donuts-Ice Coffee obviously -Harpoon Summer and Blue Moon in a chilled glass -Dark & Stormy-homemade, enjoyed anywhere as long as Goslings & Barritts are involved Tue Jul 08 02:24:24 -0700 2008 3845118 202919 duxdubai 1 3847955 The lemonade from 1369 Coffee House is the best ever!!! Tue Jul 08 06:24:00 -0700 2008 3845118 15782 aperitif 2 3847997 Had a lemonade at Sugar and Spice that came with two marachino cherries and a wedge of lime and tasted like a liquid Italian ice - it was REALLY sweet. Even better watered down a little. Tue Jul 08 06:39:38 -0700 2008 3847955 11172 Bob Dobalina 2 3860912 I had an arnold palmer there, and was so happy to see the barista reach over grab a lemon, cut it in half and squeeze the juice into my iced tea. A little bit of simple syrup, and it was amazing! Fri Jul 11 15:25:52 -0700 2008 3847955 69497 VTtoMAtoCAfoodie 1 3848012 ice cold bottle of beer(Bud, Miller, Corona) a tequila neat(top shelf 100% agave only) mai tai tequila sunrise pepsi/coke MT. Dew lemonade Tue Jul 08 06:43:57 -0700 2008 3845118 26725 swsidejim 1 3848018 Okay, I know it's just OJ and crushed ice, but I love the orange coolata at Dunkin Donuts. Tue Jul 08 06:48:55 -0700 2008 3845118 68819 chowciao 1 3848156 cold Retsina...and what's that drink called that's mexican beer in a glass with a salted rim and copious lime?? i don't even remember if that's how it's made, but they made me one at miracle of science in central sq. and it was great. i like hanging out there when they've got the big door/window open (tho not so great when it's 95 degrees out...) Tue Jul 08 07:38:34 -0700 2008 3845118 199587 KitchenArtsOwen 2 3848290 That awesome drink is a michelada -- there is a recipe on chow at the moment: http://www.chow.com/recipes/10662 Tue Jul 08 08:20:34 -0700 2008 3848156 10232 yumyum 2 3848296 Ah yes, michelada. Tue Jul 08 08:21:55 -0700 2008 3848156 47694 litchick 1 3848506 For nonalcoholic it would have to be the watermelon drink at Penang. It's the most refreshing drink I've ever had. As for alcoholic, Sel deLa Terre does a wonderful watermelon martini. Tue Jul 08 09:12:50 -0700 2008 3845118 26213 Pegmeister 1 3849532 The cucumber water at Rendezvous Central Square. It even looks cooling. photo here http://www.bostonzest.com/2008/06/cool-as-a-cucum.html Tue Jul 08 13:24:21 -0700 2008 3845118 21331 BostonZest 2 3849776 That's a great one, and I always forget about it. It is so refreshing. And as I read your post saying you like it in sparking water, BZ, I was thinking it might even be improved further with a splash of vodka! Tue Jul 08 14:16:45 -0700 2008 3849532 80286 italyinmind 1 3850256 Iced green tea at Panera's is yum! Tue Jul 08 16:25:05 -0700 2008 3845118 34507 taxi 1 3856334 Rooh-afza lassi Ayran On the spirited side: a good negroni, watermelon-cucumber-chili margaritas or mojitos cool the tempers. Thu Jul 10 10:16:55 -0700 2008 3845118 68363 JungMann 1 3858527 For me there is nothing better than an ice cold Miller High Life from Silvertone. If I can't get that than a dirty vodka martini from blu. Mostly because they have the gorgonzola stuffed olives. Thu Jul 10 21:52:57 -0700 2008 3845118 126532 FoodArt 2 3861344 I used to love Miller High Life in the bottle, but now it just reminds me of the worst night of my life as a Boston sports fan, when I had about 20 of them while watching the 2003 ALCS Game 7 at River Gods. (I nearly hurled one of those bottles at the big TV screen when Grady brought Pedro back out for the 8th.) The only thing that could have made that evening worse was if I'd left the bar ten seconds later, which would have meant missing the last inbound Red Line train and having to walk home. Everyone on that train was dead silent, looked shell-shocked: just grim. All wounds are healed now thanks to '04 and '07, but I've rarely had a bottled High Life since. Fri Jul 11 18:13:44 -0700 2008 3858527 10143 MC Slim JB 3 3861498 Seems so sad to me that "The Champagne of Beer" is associated with such sad memories for you, MC Slim. It is almost as if drinking Billecart Salmon Rose were to remind you of the day when your dog died. :( Perhaps if you tried to drink a pony or 40 of Highlife (both are available around the city's finer liquor stores), you might get over it. Good luck. Fri Jul 11 19:25:53 -0700 2008 3861344 66607 naughtywaitress 1 3859354 I'm not usually a Casablanca fan so I don't know if they still make it, but I liked their copperhead: bourbon, bitters, amaretto, topped with ginger beer. Or maybe I misremember the bourbon, because that's how I make it at home. Fri Jul 11 07:58:10 -0700 2008 3845118 25941 enhF94 1 3865568 A question, not an answer........ Anybody out there in Hound-dom know someone making consistently killer Pegu Clubs? Sun Jul 13 18:16:51 -0700 2008 3845118 45436 Harp00n 1 3865593 The white sangria at Oleana is amazingly delicious and there's a whole fruit salad at the bottom to eat when you get to the bottom of your glass! Sun Jul 13 18:27:48 -0700 2008 3845118 47772 cookiezim 1 3866063 watermelon drink from penang chicha morada from rincon limeno calamansi juice from jnj turo turo jamaica from angela's cafe passion fruit juice from tasty island aguapanela from el jardin horchata from el buen gusto jackfruit shake from floating rock mango lassi from punjabi dhaba lulo licuado from el paisa thai iced tea from s&i thai green tea milkshake from cafe mami limeade and vietnamese iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk from xinh xinh rose petal lemonade from baraka cafe morir sonando from rincon macorisano Sun Jul 13 21:46:58 -0700 2008 3845118 47608 galangatron