Spring has SPRUNG! This time of year, we’re seeing a whole new crop of seasonal food and drink trends blooming in popularity.
…and it’s time to toast to Spring with delicious seasonal appropriate tipples (that’s cocktails you’ll want to drink again and again).
Whether you’re trying to up your hosting game or looking for the deets on what all the “cool-kids” will be ordering at the bar, read on to discover the ingredients and flavors you need to taste test this Spring.
I pulled up a barstool and chatted with Catherine Lien, Lead Mixologist at Delmonico Steakhouse at Grand Canal Shoppes inside the Venetian Resort Las Vegas to get the inside info on Spring cocktail trends and what we will be drinking this season. From the rise in Instagrammable cocktails to a call for low-ABV and healthy cocktails, Catherine shares the secrets to the perfect spring libation and recipes to make three of Delmonico Steakhouse’s signature cocktails.
Q: What are the biggest cocktail trends you are seeing for Spring 2021?
CL: Health conscience drinks promoting wellness and well-being.
Q: Tell us “THE” drink all the cool kids will be ordering?
CL: Variations of classic cocktails. Anything from margaritas to old fashioneds. Also mezcal and tequila with fresh fruit.
Q: With health and wellness at the top of people’s minds these days, what types of cocktails are the best guilt-free cocktails for the health-conscious?
CL: Hard seltzers that are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C as well as hard iced teas and probiotic hard kombuchas.
Q: There has also been increased demand for carbon-negative/environmentally friendly products and packaging. How has that spilled over into the world of cocktails?
CL: People are specifically looking for brands that are environmentally friendly. Companies are now looking for ways to bottle and package their brands in an environmentally friendly way, reducing their negative impact on the environment. Anything from using biodegradable or recycled bottles, sending their leftover grains to farm for livestock feed, converting waste into energy to run production of more distillation, or using locally sourced sustainable ingredients.
Q: Over the last year, (especially with TikTok) we have all been embracing at-home cocktails. Do you have a fave cocktail to mix up at home.
CL: As far as what I drink at home it is usually a dram of whiskey. However, when I do mix up a cocktail at home I prefer one that has simple ingredients and isn’t too labor-intensive. A Manhattan or old-fashioned are my go-to’s.
Q: What should the average person have on-hand to make a great cocktail at home anytime?
CL: Spirits for one. Fresh citrus, mixers, bitters, and bar tools including a mixing tin and a jigger.
Q: You mentioned that gin, mezcal, and tequila are booming — why do you think they’re doing particularly well?
CL: I think that they are lighter spirits that can be complemented by a plethora of other flavors. Think of margaritas and tequila and mezcal with fresh fruit. Gin is a lighter spirit that has more nuances than vodka for those with more mature palates.
Q: Define the perfect cocktail.
CL: A perfect cocktail to me is one that has balance and harmony, that you want to keep drinking. It creates a symphony in your mouth and makes you really think about the ingredients and how they work together.
Q: The one thing you wish more people knew about bartending?
CL: It’s not nearly as easy as it looks.
Q: What is the weirdest drink anyone has ever ordered from you?
CL: Louis XIII rusty nails. It’s actually a classic cocktail but why would you ever mix Louis XIII with anything?
Q: Your go-to drink order right now?
CL: Any of the Glendronach single malt scotches neat.
Q: What are three must-have cocktails to order at Delmonico Steakhouse?
CL: Thyme Out of Mind, Strawberry Fields and Citrus Paradisi (recipes below)
Spring is nature’s way of saying “Let’s Party”. I hope these Spring cocktail trends have inspired you to be blissful, be creative and be daring. Most of all I hope they have inspired you to “BE” sitting on a barstool at Delmonico Steakhouse while Catherine Lien, Lead Mixologist mixes you up a signature cocktail.
Enjoy these splashes of joy, Chickees!
Delmonico Steakhouse Thyme Out of Mind
1.5 oz Thyme infused Whiskey0.75 oz Blackberry Syrup0.75 oz Lemon Juice
Delmonico Steakhouse Strawberry Fields
1.5 oz Strawberry Infused Gin0.5 oz Maurin Quina0.5 oz Simple Syrup0.5 oz Lemon JuiceMuddled BasilSplash of Club Soda
Delmonico Steakhouse Citrus Paradisi
1.5 oz Pink Grapefruit Infused Vodka0.5oz Ginger Liqueur0.5 oz Lemon Juice0.5 oz Pink Grapefruit Juice0.25 oz Simple SyrupSplash of Sparkling Wine
