Cocktails made for spring days and summer nights

By Patricia Noonan April showers bring May flowers, Mother’s Day, Victoria Day, and in that floral mode, some pretty fabulous cocktails. I’ve been inspired to seek out just the sort of cocktails I would want to be sipping on in a Parisian café or lazy drinks for patio sipping. The Rose Martini at Le Paradis in the Annex neighbourhood uses the most wondrous rose liqueur from the south of France made by Edmond Briottet. It’s sensual and simple yet such an elegant cocktail that uses the liqueur instead of vermouth in this martini. It has the faintest tinge of pink and would make anyone look and feel stylish and sexy. Rose Martini 2 oz vodka ¼ oz Edmond Briottet Liqueur de Rose Method Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice; stir and strain into well chilled cocktail glass. Maman, the wonderfully evocative take on a French country kitchen, tucked away on the second level of First Canadian Place, has a cocktail named Le Vert which can only be described as emerging summer with it’s refreshing cucumber infused spin on that classic sour cocktail, the Margarita. This is a perfect patio sipper and has an unusual salt-matcha green tea rim. The top of my list however, is Le Ti Punch - an elegant, complex cocktail packed with flavour. Le Ti Punch ¾ oz lime juice ¼ oz simple syrup ¼ oz Benedictine Liquor ½ oz Domaine de Canton Liqueur (ginger flavoured!) 1 3/4 oz Plantation Barbados Rum Method Combine all ingredients in a shaker glass with ice. Shake for 15 seconds. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass or coupe. Garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel and serve. Maman is definitely a go-to destination for brunch for these or other expertly crafted drinks to enjoy with their French cuisine. And finally, although this is Italian in name, the theme is still floral and a beautiful cocktail idea to make for a Mother’s Day brunch at home. The original recipe calls for a white rose liqueur, but any rose liqueur can be used. Rosa Bianca 1 oz Campari 1 oz rose liqueur (Briottet rose liqueur is your best bet) 1 ½ oz orange juice 3-4 drops anise liqueur Method Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice cubes, shake well then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with anise. The Victoria Day holiday on May 23 is your chance to chill out with Victoria Gin, freshly rebranded and made right here in Canada. If floral, feminine drinks aren’t your cup of gin, then keep it simple with a good old G&T. Cheers!