"I was a bay leaf truther. I seldom put it in my adobo; I float the leaves into my pots of beans mostly for the vibes. I never really believed in their power. Then I had the Bay Leaf Daiquiri at Bar Kabawa. Maybe the way that creative bartender Kathryn "Pepper" Stashek nitro-muddles the herbs unlocks something, or maybe the bar and restaurant has access to superior bay leaves, which would make sense, considering how good the food is there, too."
"('I don't even wanna know how many pounds of bay leaves we go through between the kitchen and the bar here,' Stashek told me.) Maybe I've just been wrong all along. Either way, that drink is magic, and of course one of the best cocktails of the year would come from one of our Best New Bars of 2025 ."
"The house Daiquiri at Real Charmer is truly the cocktail I keep coming back to recently. It's elevated by the inclusion of green Chartreuse and coconut on top of the classic mix of rum and lime, which makes it more multidimensional than a typical Daiquiri while remaining balanced and highly drinkable. It's hard to order just one."
New bars and emerging bartenders produced standout cocktails that either refine classic templates or defy categorization. The Bay Leaf Daiquiri uses nitro-muddled bay leaves to add aromatic depth and transform familiar flavors. The house Daiquiri at Real Charmer incorporates green Chartreuse and coconut over rum and lime to add multidimensionality while preserving balance and drinkability. Trends spanned Margaritas to M&M shots and included playful, treat-like accompaniments. Creative techniques, high-quality ingredients, and thoughtful layering of flavors created cocktails that invite repeat orders and linger as memorable drinking experiences.
Read at PUNCH
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