3 Cocktails for the End of Summer
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Abbe Baker
- 12 Sep 2018 | News & Views
As the daylight hours are getting shorter and the oppressive heat starts to (finally!) cool off, it’s time to savor the final moments of summer with a refreshing beverage in hand. We turned to some of the newest bars on the New York City scene for their favorite seasonal ingredients, as well as what to shake and stir up before autumn approaches.
Perched 20 stories above the Marmara Park Avenue in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood lies The Blue Rooftop, a Mediterranean hideaway of blue tones and marble accents and views of nearby notable skyscrapers including the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings. Guests can expect mezze like watermelon “pizza” slices with berries, feta and mint, and smoked eggplant salad. At the bar, seasonal summer fruits and herbs are used to highlight fun takes on classics like the fresh fig margarita, made with tequila, orange liqueur, fig, honey and lime, and topped with fresh figs and lavender, as well as the aforementioned Penthouse Frozé.
“Frozen cocktails used to be for the beach, but they’ve become quite cosmopolitan recently with frozé leading the surge as a result of the popularity of rosé wine,” says Cakmak. “We created an elevated version of the frozé which balances Arizano, a rosé with more structure due to its Tempranillo variety, with the subtle, long, delicate notes of Elit vodka and just a touch of strawberry syrup.”

At the lush 2,000-square-foot outdoor pop-up oasis in Chelsea from Joshua Boissy and Krystof Zizka (of Maison Premiere and Sauvage fame), bar director Will Elliott brings forth frozen cocktails and spritzes to sip on while noshing on light seafood fare like soft shell crab sandwiches and razor clams frites.
Elliott’s favorite summertime ingredients include gentian liqueurs from France. “Slightly bitter, vegetal and racing, they are equally quenching by themselves or in a cocktail,” he says.
Butterfly Pea Flower-Infused Rum
Ingredients
750 milliliters white rum
1 tablespoon butterfly pea flower (dry)
Method
Combine the rum and pea flower in a glass jar with a tight lid; shake well and let in sit at room temperature for 10 to 20 minutes; strain and reserve.
Photo of Penthouse Frozé courtesy of The Marmara Park Avenue Hotel.
Photo of The Toucan Do It courtesy of The Golden Hour at The High Line Hotel.