In Canberra, there are ways to salute the arrival of spring which don't involve crippling hay fever and Floriade visits. There's springtime sipping. As we migrate from our wintry dens to garden bars, alfresco restaurants and outdoor happy hours, the city's bars are rolling out new concoctions to complement the warmer days. Our capital's mixologists are favouring blossom wines, peach liqueur and sakés, aromatic gins, pastel tones, and botanical ingredients. Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking. And delicious.
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'The Rochwork Spritz' @ Bar Rochford
If the poster child of the European summer, the Aperol Spritz, has swamped your social media feed, meet the Rochwork Spritz. This tipple, which features Frontignac orange wine, lemon sherbet and Rondo rhubarb apertivo, is the delicate answer to the loud orange one. It's the perfect day drink.
'Meow Tai' @ Lazy Su
Your island cruise-loving aunt's favourite cocktail, the Mai Tai, has been playfully made over by Lazy Su. The Meow Tai fuses white rum, peach saké, orgeat syrup, lime and mint in a ceramic kitty kat.
'The Horse' @ Natural Nine's Pop Yum Cha
The Asian-fusion drinks menu at Natural Nine offers this sweet and simple cocktail made with pink lemonade tea and pomegranate, ingredients which allow the colour-changing "unicorn vodka" to take centre stage.
'Lady Ashley' @ Molly
Winner of ACT cocktail bar of the year, Molly, has crafted an elegant beverage which begins with a gin and takes a refreshing turn with grapefruit liqueur, peach bitters, lemon juice and sparkling water. Their housemade rhubarb honey also joins the party, imbuing a sense of slowing down to savour spring.
‘What’s The Word Hummingbird’ @ Highball Express
This "Floriade inspired drink" - a beverage to prove there is truly no escaping the flower festival - pairs the juniper and spice of Tanqueray Rangpur gin with the fruity notes of a pineapple-infused dry vermouth. Green tea soda is splashed in for a dry touch, making it just the thing to sip on Highball's open-air patio.
'The Rabbit' @ Natural Nine's Pop Yum Cha
This zodiac-inspired fruity mix creates a Canberra sunset in a glass with apple schnapps, Midori, and pear, kiwi and carrot juice trickled through an inverted lime up top.
