Favorite Drinks from the Seattle area Cocktail Scene

ELLEN M. BANNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Seems apt to talk about what's being shaken or stirred behind the bar these days. The Seattle-area cocktail scene is vibrant; the drinks more sophisticated and inventive than ever.

Look at all the fuss around drinks. Some cocktail dens require reservations. Patrons scurry to grab bar stools as if they were front-row seats to a sporting event. Folks know bartenders' names like they do our big-name chefs.

And like chefs, bartenders talk about seasonal ingredients and hit farmers markets during spring and summer. Liberty, the cocktail bar on Capitol Hill, is even putting an herb garden on its rooftop.
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Cocktail bars boast $10,000 ice machines, vintage glassware and oak barrels to age cocktails. This is all a way of saying our cocktail culture has evolved in the past five years, and I've experienced a lot of it covering the Happy Hour scene for The Times.

This list of my favorite cocktails focuses on original drinks, though some are updated or riffs on the classics.

I like balanced, spirit-forward drinks. I like them bitter and smoky. With big finishes, not subtle or wimpy. But I also varied the list with drinks that are fruity, sour, spicy and even savory. Cheers.

Charlie Don't Surf, at Liberty on Capitol Hill. For those who like fruity cocktails: Mango and ginger are the dominant flavors, with hints of lemon and apple from the Pommeau de Normandie in this gin drink. It's garnished with a Kaffir lime leaf. Goes down easy. 517 15th Ave. E., Seattle (206-323-9898 or libertybars.com).