PARSLEY, SAGE, rosemary, and ... chipotle? Spices from all over the globe are popping up in local cocktails, and we couldn't be happier. Herbs and spices add depth to your favorite dishes, so it makes sense that adding a pinch or a dash to your drink will do the same. And these days spices serve as more than just last-minute sprinkles and mix-ins. Infusions of savory herbs are becoming more popular, and the heat of cayenne and dried chipotle is heating up the tongues (and watering the eyes) of Bostonians faster than they can grab a glass of water.
It's new to the Boston scene, but Church (69 Kilmarnock Street, Boston, 617.236.7600) is already making us eager converts. Part restaurant, part pool hall, part nightclub, and part cozy neighborhood hang, Church is a conglomeration of style and sophistication - and so is its specialty cocktail menu. They've got seven drinks for seven sins, so there's a drink that's perfect for your mood, no matter how the devil may choose to tempt you. Feeling selfish, you little piggy? You'll love watching the bartender plunk a fistful of cucumbers into your glass to start building a Greed martini ($10). Drowned in Hendrick's gin and St. Germain, sprinkled with white pepper, then strained into a martini glass and garnished with a salted cucumber, this delicately spiced cocktail will have you craving more. And more. And more. Speaking of more, lustful barflies can't get enough, well, Lust ($10), a drink that's just as bold and complex as l'amour itself. Lavender and honey give Spanish brandy a well-deserved spanking in a naughty drink that will leave you dizzy (in a good way).
A tribute to the ultimate sinner can be enjoyed, guilt-free, at the Met Bar at the Metropolitan Club (1210 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, 617.731.0600), where the Fallen Angel ($11) embodies all things indulgent. A satisfying, nearly addictive concoction of Angelique, mango purée, and jalapeño syrup, what really makes this drink sing like a cherubim choir is its rim of sugar and smoked chipotle. Smooth, spicy, salty, and fruity, the Fallen Angel pleases every facet of your palate. It's primarily a brunch drink, but if you flirt nicely, we think the staff at the Met Bar will whip one up for you. Many of the drinks here are takes on modern classics, with general manager Stephen Zeneski and bar manager Leo Neves taking inspiration from whatever's on the shelf or in the produce section of local markets. There are no synthetic ingredients to be found anywhere near the Met, and your taste buds are better for it. That means no Pucker, no Rose's Lime - everything is made and/or infused in-house, including pepper vodka, lemongrass and ginger tequila, and a cilantro-infused gin that's used in the Modern Martini ($11). That earthy, soapy aroma hits you square in the kisser when you lift your glass, and the grape-tomato garnish absorbs a lot of flavor if you let it marinate. Hang on to it for a savory post-martini treat.
Also at the Met, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon take center stage in the Ipanema ($11), a tall and lovely Brazilian version of the classic Hot Toddy. In it, cachaça is infused with orange and classic cold-weather spices, then served warm in a snifter. The aroma is cozy and intoxicating, the taste even more so.
The soft lighting, über-trendy furnishings, and floor-to-ceiling windows at Rocca Kitchen & Bar (500 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 617.451.5151) set the scene for a hell of a night out. Cocktails here have an aura of mystique, enhanced by unusual ingredients. Try a sophisticated Vino Francesca ($9), rosé wine that's infused with sage and blended with lemon and honey, served cold and brimming with fresh sage leaves. It's a surprisingly savory drink, with the sage adding a pungency that balances the honey and lingers on the tongue. For a cocktail that's not for the faint of heart (or taste bud), sip - and we mean sip - the Devil's Garden ($9): Svedka Clementine with jalapeño, lime, and fresh thyme. Bartender Dave Nasiff describes this as a "progressive" drink: the longer it sits, the spicier it becomes. Usually peppery cocktails deliver a pure, concentrated heat, but here the thyme adds dimension and character. This is definitely a drink with which to take your time, as the spice will catch in the back of your throat. It's pleasant if you're going slow, excruciating if you try to gulp.
You're not the only one cursing the recent drizzles and snow flurries. At Dante (Royal Sonesta Hotel, 40 Edwin H. Land Boulevard, Cambridge, 617.497.4200) the Damn the Weather ($12) is a warming blend of gin, orange cardamom, and fresh lemon sour, perfect for chasing away the stormy-day blues. Equally inspiring is the Mango Cocktail ($12), made with house-infused liquors, pineapple, mango, and a dusting of cayenne pepper. The drinks are as sexy as Dante's neo-sleek atmosphere; if you feel like really heating things up, book a room upstairs at the Sonesta for a post-cocktail romp in the sheets. We won't tell. @
