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Berry refreshing drinks for summer

By Alexis Korman | Special to amNewYork

June 1, 2007

Summer is berry season, and what better way to enjoy the colorful, seasonal fruits than in cocktail form? Whether blended, mixed or muddled, fresh berry cocktails are sure to satisfy warm-weather drinkers.

Here's where you can find refreshing, berry-focused drinks around town:

Dos Caminos
The pisco sour, the unofficial drink of both Peru and Chile, gets a refreshing twist at the upscale, popular Mexican restaurant and bar Dos Caminos in SoHo. Though the patrons of this swanky bar typically order off of the extensive tequila list, the Strawberry Pisco ($10) is a welcome departure, combining Strawberry puree, Pisco (a South American brandy), sour mix and egg white (optional).

475 W. Broadway
212-277-4300

Spotlight Live
You may need a few cocktails before grabbing the mic at Spotlight Live, the new Times Square restaurant and entertainment complex that combines American cuisine with Idol-type karaoke. Here, diners can sing onstage accompanied by live backup dancers and singers. Before belting out hits, wannabee singers sip on drinks like the Blueberry Mojito ($14), a mix of blueberry puree, powdered sugar, Monte Cristo rum, lime juice, and mint.
1604 Broadway
212-262-1111

davidburke & donatella
Tony UES restaurant davidburke & donatella is a meeting of the minds: David Burke inspires the kitchen and Donatella Arpaia works the floor, creating an upscale yet inviting atmosphere. Just blocks from Bloomingdale¹s, the sleek stone bar is populated by Park Avenue princesses, shoppers, and professionals looking to unwind. The Rasberritini ($14) is a potent mix of Stoli Ras vodka, cranberry juice, fresh muddled raspberries and champagne.
133 E. 61st St.
212-813-2121

Blue Owl
At speakeasy-style East Village lounge Blue Owl, custom-made cocktails and live DJs set a sexy mood in the dimly lit, cavern-like space. Drinkers can nibble on small plates and sip drinks like the Strawberry Caipirinha ($12), made with strawberry infused Leblon Cachaca and fresh blended strawberries.
196 Second Ave.
212-505-2583

Employees Only
West Village bar Employees Only is known for drawing a fashionable crowd and its serious, old-school style cocktails. The Amelia ($12), named after a woman who took one of the owners into her home during his travels in Greece, is a blend of Russian Standard vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, and pureed blackberries with fresh lemon juice.
510 Hudson St.
212-242-3021

Aquavit
The elegant Swedish restaurant Aquavit is named after the Scandinavian distilled beverage, which, roughly translated from Latin, means ³water of life². In line with its Scandinavian décor, the bar and lounge feature egg chairs created by famed designer Arne Jacobsen, as well as aquavit-based cocktails like the Cranberry Caipirihna ($14), a concoction of white cranberry aquavit, muddled cranberries, lime wedges, and simple syrup.
65 East 55th St.
212-307-7311