It's summer time, which means it's time to get out the gin. I guess gin joints are all the rage these days. New York Magazine has provided a list of these "gin-centric cocktail joints." Each entry also features one of the joint's favorites, most of which sound pretty good. . . or interesting: "The menu boasts a hundred gins–from American craft to Indian. Try the No. 3, a gin tipple made with bright sparkling wine and tart-sweet rhubarb jam."
The same issue has a large section about the drinking scene. I recommend it. Even if you don't live in NYC, it'll get you thinking/drinking in the right direction this weekend. . . or not. They have some awfully scary things over there, too, like "The New Bacon Cocktail: Fashioned with bacon-infused bourbon, frothy egg whites, bittersweet Aperol, and bright lemon, and topped with a salty-sweet strip of maple-glazed bacon, it's creamy and savory and hits all the right carnivorous notes, not to mention a few boozy ones."
But if you, like me, are staying in Michigan these days, you still have plenty of options. You might hate the micro-brew craze, but it has helped spawn interesting and classy bars. This article from The Detroit Free Press features one beer expert's top ten. Number 6 is one of my old haunts, Ashley's in Ann Arbor: "72 taps, always something interesting to try."
