Celebration-Worthy Cocktails Courtesy of The Bar at Bohanan’s
We’re asking some of our favorite local culinary folks to share recipes with us so we can share them with you through our new series, Alamo City Moms TASTE. We kicked things off with a recipe perfect for spring, summer, or really, anytime you want an easy dessert with flavors that wow: Clementine’s Strawberry Crumble.
But now that we’re in full-on Fiesta® mode, we thought it was time to raise a glass to all things fun, flavorful, and Fiesta-worthy in San Antonio. When it comes to cocktails, The Bar at Bohanan’s is hands-down one of our favorite spots in town. Bohanan’s elevates cocktails to an art, and seeing as it founded the San Antonio Cocktail Conference, that’s really no surprise. It’s the perfect spot for pre-show drinks and noshing before a night at the Majestic, or for a great after-show cocktail with friends. Of course, the bar food here is far from your standard fare, so if you don’t have time to head upstairs to the dining room, your taste buds won’t go home disappointed. Did you know that you can also enjoy lunch at Bohanan’s? Yes! Just one more reason why we included this downtown staple as one of our favorite things.
Bohanan’s believes in giving back to the community, truly celebrating Fiesta’s “party with a purpose” mission. The talented mixologists at Bohanan’s crafted two new cocktails to help celebrate Fiesta this spring: the VIVA-tini and the Miss Lila. The VIVA-tini was created in honor of the Fiesta Commission, the folks who work year-round to make Fiesta the amazing fundraising event that it is. The Miss Lila honors the President Emeritus of the San Antonio Parks Foundation, former San Antonio Mayor Lila Cockrell. Both drinks are available at Bohanan’s throughout Fiesta. But if the busy season means you need some time to kick back, either cocktail is perfect to toast the season and a great way to bring Fiesta home. ¡Viva!
Note: You’ll see syrup listed in the ingredients, marked with asterisks below. Bohanan’s makes all of its syrups in-house. But don’t worry—for a quick Alamo City Moms tutorial on how to make flavored syrups, scroll to the bottom of this post!
Bohanan’s Fiesta Cocktails
“VIVA-tini”
1.5 oz. Deep Eddy Vodka
.75 oz. hibiscus syrup*
.75 oz. lemon juice
Shake, then top with soda. Garnish with lemon wheel.
“Miss Lila”
2 oz. Citadelle Gin
.75 oz. lime juice
.75 oz. basil syrup*
Bar spoon of honey syrup*
Shake and serve up (in a martini glass, champagne coupe, or low ball). Garnish with a basil leaf.
Hibiscus, Basil and Honey Syrups
Hibiscus Syrup: Steep 4 hibiscus tea bags in 1 c boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags and combine liquid with 1 c sugar in a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool before using.
Basil Syrup: Combine 1 c water and 1 c sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat, add 1 c basil leaves and let syrup steep, about 30 minutes. Remove basil leaves.
Honey Syrup: Put equal parts of honey and water in a small saucepan. Boil, then turn down to a simmer and stir until the honey is completely dissolved.
