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 Shoga, with bourbon, nonino, ginger tea and orange bitters. 
• We’ve heard that Geronimo Tequila Bar in Fairfield (there’s one in New Haven, too) serves a splendid Spicy Passion Fruit Margarita, blending jalapeno-infused tequila, passion fruit, Triple Sec and fresh lime. 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.
• Escape to Key Largo without leaving Connecticut at l'escale restaurant at Delamar Greenwich Harbor. The Key Largo is made with the finest ingredients, including Uncle Val's Botanical Gin, Giffard Creme de Mure (blackberry), fresh lemon juice, and a Prosecco topper with lemon oil.
• Try the Into the Sun cocktail at Delamar Southport’s Artisan Restaurant. Into the Sun is a delicious blend of neversink gin, ketel one vodka, saffron, green cardamom, cocci americano and citrus zest.

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. 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.
• In the fall, try the Apple Old Fashioned at Winvian Farm in Morris, in which you’ll find Bushel & Barrel bourbon, bitters, sugar, nutmeg, a splash of soda and apple slices. Consider luxuriating in the lobster risotto at the same time.
• The Irons Restaurant and Bar at the Hilton Mystic features The Heart of Mystic, a refreshing blend of Hendrick’s gin, watermelon, citrus and cucumber.
• Keep in mind that Max’s Oyster Bar in West Hartford is well regarded for its cocktails (not just shrimp!).