by Conor Flannery, News Correspondent
On a recent Friday, a couple of friends and I set out on a drinking adventure to find five drinks worth writing about. Getting out of work early, we were able to get a quick start to the evening and got to our first stop just before 5 p.m. I took notes via iPhone and compiled them below. I had to write this based on memory – have you ever tried to have five strong cocktails and type afterward? I don’t know if there’s a law about typing under the influence, but if there is I would have been dangerously close to getting a TUI. At any rate, I tried to sum up the cocktail as well as the atmosphere of the locale. This was a tough assignment, but somebody has to do it.
1. Solas Irish Pub, 710 Boylston St., 617-933-4803
Demographic: 25-35 years old, a crowd that fancies itself given the upscale nature of the Copley Square area.
Drink: Blood Red Roses – This drink is Solas’ version of Sangria. It includes Shiraz, Chambord, Gosling’s Rum, fresh squeezed lemon & lime, oranje juice and Sprite.
Professional Boston athlete you’d most likely find in here: Brian Scalabrine, for reasons that should seem obvious.
This little Irish pub on Boylston Street was our first stop on our Boston walking cocktail adventure. From the first glance at the menu, it was apparent that beers were the drink of choice, and that I was the only male in the bar who ordered a drink with fruit in it. The Blood Red Roses did not disappoint, however. It’s a very sweet and flavorful drink that covers about every fruit flavor you could imagine. I would probably put this drink in the “I’m-only-drinking-this-if-the-girl-I’m-with-doesn’t-like-beer” category.
2. Lolita’s Cocina & Tequila Bar, 271 Dartmouth St., 617-369-5609
Drink: Spicy Cucumber – Don Julio Blanco, fresh Serrano chilies, Patron Citronge, muddled cucumber and lime.
Demogrpahic: 25-40 year olds who can afford an expensive night out, including bottle service.
Professional Boston athlete you’d most likely find in here: Tom Brady as long as Giselle is okay with Tommy Boy taking tequila shots.
This bartender knew what he was doing. Completely off his recommendation, I went with the Spicy Cucumber, and I was not sorry. I have never fully understood the appeal of having a spicy drink until now. It had a real spice to it but the muddled cucumber kept it cool and in check. Lolita’s is a hidden gem right around the corner from the public library and can get busy on Friday and Saturday nights.
3. Clarke’s at Fanuiel Hall, 21 Merchants Row, 617-227-7800
Drink: Sweet Rum Drink
Demographic: After work crowd from the Financial District
Professional Boston athlete you’d most likely find in here: Tedy Bruschi. This locale is more his speed now that he’s retired.
As you get older and begin to go out to bars, you have to start finding those cocktails that you know, enjoy and can order anywhere without seeing a menu. As of Friday, I did not know this, and balked at the chance to sound like I knew what I was doing at Clarke’s. Unfortunately, what I ended up with was the most feminine, sweet, and fruity drink.
4. Hard Rock Cafe, 22-24 Clinton Street, 617-424-7625
Drink: Long Island Iced Tea
Demographic: Family-oriented
Professional Boston athlete you’d most likely find in here: David Ortiz.
We had to throw at least one chain restaurant into the mix of our adventure, and the Hard Rock Cafe perfectly filled that void. I didn’t even bother looking at the menu and told the bartender to make whatever he has sold the most of that day. He came back with three good-sized glasses filled with a melting pot of alcohol. We sucked them down as we listened to Gotye and The Black Keys play over the radio which added to the rock culture that is the Hard Rock.
5. MIJA Cantina & Tequila Bar, 1 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 857-284-7382
Drink: Frozen Margarita
Demographic: Young, 21-25 year old.
Professional Boston athlete you’d most likely find in here: Zdeno Chara. I’ve heard he loves a nice margarita.
MIJA gave us the perfect way to end our adventure. It was busy when we arrived around 7:45 p.m. Of all the places we visited, we concluded that this is the one we would most likely come back to. I had had margaritas before and MIJA was on par with the others . I think it is safe to say I might find myself here again.
