March 2018 Cocktail Events Round-Up

Spring is coming!  And I’m here to help you plan for it with a round-up of March 2018 cocktail events in the District.  This month we have two categories of events:  (1) cherry blossoms; and (2) everything else.

Cherry Blossom Events

“Cherry blossom” is the byword (are the bywords?) this month, with multiple events celebrating the annual bloom that typically begins at the end of March.  That seems fair – cherry blossoms are worth celebrating.  One shot from my archive:

If past is prologue, many D.C.-area bars will have cherry-blossom-themed cocktails on offer this month.  Those who enjoy mixing at home might experiment with these pickled cherry blossoms or this cherry blossom honey syrup.  In any event, here are two places you can go to get your cherry blossom/cocktail fix:

Cherry Blossom Pop-Up Bar at Mockingbird Hill and Southern Efficiency.  The folks from Drink Company (they of the Christmas Bar pop-up in the same space) have done the cherry-blossom-themed pop-up before.  They are back again this year, this time as an official partner of the National Cherry Blossom Festival (detailed preview at Eater).  If you have hit the Christmas Bar or other pop-ups in this space in the past, you know this will be a must-see event.  If you haven’t, here’s a preview to help convince you:

A post shared by Drink Company (@drinkcompany) on Feb 8, 2018 at 12:39pm PST

That, and the menu:  10 Japanese-inspired cocktails to celebrate the occasion.  So, yeah, see you there.  1841 7th Street N.W.; March 1 through April 29.

Cherry Blossom Cocktail Class at Via Umbria.  If you want to go beyond consuming cherry-blossom-themed cocktails and get some tips on creating your own, there is a class this month at Via Umbria that promises to do just that.  They will walk you through three recipes:  a Gin Blossom Dearie, a Sake Blossom, and a Cherry Blossom Daquiri.  Tickets are are $35.  1525 Wisconsin Avenue N.W.; March 21, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

Read on for the best of the rest of March events, not necessarily cherry-blossom-themed.

Best of the Rest

Hold the Fort…ified Wines! at Columbia Room.  Columbia Room promises to educate you in the use of fortified wines in cocktails, including sherry, vermouth, and madeira.  The class is led by head bartender Suzy Crithclow and includes light snacks and three drinks.  Tickets are $85 and available here.  124 Blagden Alley N.W.; March 3 at 3 p.m.

Tequila & Mezcal Festival Kickoff Party at Oyamel.  For several years, now, Oyamel has been celebrating tequila and mezcal in the month of March.  The festival is back for another year, and the kickoff party promises tequila and mezcal tasting stations, specialty cocktails, and light fare, including tequila cotton candy(!).  Tickets are $49 and are available here.  401 7th Street N.W.; March 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Cocktail Class: Back to Basics at the St. Regis.  The St. Regis offers monthly cocktail classes, and March brings a course aimed at beginners.  This two-hour class promises to teach you the essentials of cocktail mixology and includes hors d’euvres, cocktail tastings, and a parting gift.  Reservations are $85 and made here.  923 16th Street N.W.; March 9 and 16 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Cocktail Class: From Garden to Glass at barmini.  This month’s #barmini101 class at barmini features St.-Germain and edible flowers as cocktail garnishes (and on that note, stay tuned for my next original recipe here, which makes use of hibiscus flowers).  As always, the barmini team will greet you with a cocktail and then show you how to make three more, this time with the assistance of St.-Germain brand ambassador Jenny Feldt.  Tickets are $145 and available here.  501 9th Street N.W.; March 14 at 5:30 p.m.

Watercolor and Cocktails at Union Market.  In case you didn’t know, cocktails and art go very well together; indeed, if you’re doing it right, making drinks is itself an art form.  So it only makes sense to mix it with watercolor painting (for a great D.C.-based blog that pairs the two, check out The Cocktail Artist).  Try your own hand at combining these two great arts this month at Union Market, where Buffalo and Bergen will craft you a cocktail to serve as inspiration for your watercolor, with the help of cookbook author and illustrator Marcella Kriebel (@marcellakriebel on Instagram).  Tickets are $50 and available here.  1309 5th Street N.E.; March 14 at 6:30 p.m.

That’s all for this month.  As always, let me know if you think there is another event that should be included here!