Cool off at Brasserie 19 with the Chienne De Base.
There’s something irrational about our urge to drink alcohol in the sun while our bodies are craving hydration — especially in Houston’s heat. But who are we to pass up a drink? After all, cocktails have a singular purpose: to cool you down. It’s officially time to indulge in those refreshing spritzers, boozy martinis, and rosés that make a Houston summer worth the heat.
Here’s what’s on the menu this season:
Pineapple Express, $14
Wild, 2121 N Shepherd Dr
Order the Pineapple Express from the Tulum-inspired bar just in time for summer. The vibrant pink drink is Wild’s response to a Moscow Mule. The cocktail’s mix of sweet and spicy — vodka and ginger, plus an edible mandarin orange and hibiscus flower — will ship you to the tropical destination of your dreams. wildconcepts.com
Spice Trader, $13
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, 4310 Westheimer Rd
If you could do without flowers and frills in your drink, Bosscat Kitchen & Libations is carrying a cocktail with a robust and tangy flavor. The Spice Trader is an auburn-colored cocktail with a Wild Turkey rye base. The taste is unforgettable but balanced with passion fruit, citrus, plenty of allspice, and bitters. bosscatkitchen.com
The Kool-Aid (Oh Yeah), $42
Present Company, 1318 Westheimer Rd
Remember when we used to slurp down those Kool-Aid jammers? And if you still wouldn’t mind sipping on a sugary drink, Present Company is reviving that nostalgia with an adult-style Kool-Aid. Dubbed the Oh Yeah, the cocktail is a sweet poppy-seed fruit punch for you and your friends. The best part? The drink is an actual Kool-Aid pitcher, and if you want that summer feel, our best suggestion is to add rum. presentcompanyhtx.com
Chienne De Base, $12
Brasserie 19, 1962 W Gray St
Bartender Lucio Fernandez keeps it simple this season with the Chienne De Base, which translates to “Basic Bitch” in English. The ingredients are straightforward — simple vodka, St. Germain, grapefruit juice, and soda; blended, but no tart aftertaste. Request a salted rim, and get a “Salty Bitch.” brasserie19.com
Aphrodite, $16
Thirteen, 1911 Bagby St
Awaken your senses this summer at Thirteen with the Aphrodite. The drink’s fuchsia color base derives from rosé Champagne; however, the cocktail’s boozy blend of prickly pear cordial and Ketel One Peach tastes so fruity that you almost forget you’re drinking alcohol. thirteenhou.com
Paula Fay, $16
Bloom & Bee, 1600 West Loop South
Paula Fay peonies are the gorgeous blossoms that arrive in the summer, and Bloom & Bee reimagines the flower in a lovely magenta cocktail, the Paula Fay. If the summer heat is weighing on you, prepare to be revived — the drink ups the ante with a splash of Ketel One Botanical Peach Blossom, St. Germain, and yellow Chartreuse. thepostoakhotel.com
Sevilli Vanilli, $15
1751 Sea & Bar, 191 Heights Blvd
There’s no summer without citrus. Get your dose of Vitamin C with the Sevilli Vanilli at 1751 Sea & Bar. A play on the name of the defunct German R&B duo, the bright orange drink has mascarpone-infused Tanqueray Sevilla orange and is topped off with a brûléed orange slice. 1751houston.com