Sip Your Way Along the CT Signature Cocktail Trail

The Cocktail Culture is very cool these days in most of the towns of Fairfield County, where good ideas and innovations have a way of sticking.

• In Ridgefield, there’s The Mark Twain at Bailey’s Backyard, a combo of house vanilla bourbon, maple-cinnamon, and black walnut bitters. Check the “For the Table” menu for zucchini and sweet corn fritters.
• Meanwhile, in Westport, Kawa Ni offers the Sake-It-Tumi, a sake and vodka drink with blood orange, yuzu, and lime  
• Geronimo Tequila Bar in Fairfield (there’s one in New Haven, too) serves a Tropicale margarita, blending pineapple-infused tequila, toasted coconut, agave, fresh lime and smoked black Hawaiian sea salt. The tableside guacamole makes for a good share.
• In South Norwalk, the venerable Match serves a drink highly recommended by ctbites.com – The Rathbone. This is a frothy combination of Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin, juice of cucumber and fresh basil, squeezed lime juice and Japanese Sencha Green Tea simple syrup. For bites, everyone seems to like the Bacon & Mozzarella.
• At l'escale restaurant at Delamar Greenwich Harbor, the "How to Marry a Millionaire" cocktail features Ketel One vodka infused with mixed berry, elderflower, and lychee puree.
• At the Delamar Southport’s Artisan Restaurant, the Canta-Bury Tale features vodka, canteloupe cream, and fresh lemon.

And if you’re looking for a place to stay right nearby or even within walking distance, try the West Lane Inn in Ridgefield, The Inn at Longshore, which is close to Westport and Fairfield, or the Delamar Hotel in Westport or Southport.

• We’ve heard the Here Comes the Sun cocktail at the ever-popular Penny Lane Pub in Old Saybrook is not to be missed, with Ketel One citron vodka, Connecticut-made Wild Moon lavender liqueur, fresh lemon and a lavender sugar rim. Grab some Prince Edward Island mussels to complete the nautical theme.
• Martini fans report that Monaco’s Ristorante in Winsted shakes up a Grade-A espresso martini. On the side, the broccoli rabe and sausage is authentically Italian.
• Try the Litchfield Fashion at Winvian Farm in Morris, with Litchfield bourbon, cocchi vermouth, and housemade bitters. Consider luxuriating in the lobster risotto at the same time.
• Keep in mind that Max’s Oyster Bar in West Hartford is well regarded for its cocktails (not just shrimp!).