The Drink: “Cherry Blossom”

The Location: Blue Duck Tavern, 24th and M Streets NW, (202) 419-6755

The Price: $12

The Buzz: Recently, I tried an experiment at Blue Duck Tavern. I ate a three-course meal with a different pot of tea paired with each dish. I failed to figure in the caffeine factor to my evening, and by the end of dinner, I was amped up. An after-dinner drink was in order. With a stomach sloshing with tea, I ambled over to the bar and discovered, with some dread, that they have a list of tea cocktails. Feeling obligated to continue my research, I ordered one. Cherry blossoms are a prominent theme in the hotel’s design and even adorn the bar napkins. I chose the Cherry Blossom. Using the good stuff, it calls for 10 Cane Rum, Cointreau, Kyoto Cherry Blossom tea syrup (which is what Blue Duck uses for its iced tea), lemon juice, grenadine, and Champagne. It’s possible that this is a recipe for a yummy, summery drink—-but not this night. The Champagne was too flat, and the cocktail smacked of grenadine. I think a little bubbly would have cut the candy sweetness and given the drink a needed refreshing quality. One I was also in need of at that moment.