Over the past several months, bar-goers in D.C. may have noticed an uptick of clarified options on drink menus. The centuries-old technique of cocktail clarification has made a recent splash as bartenders explore nuanced techniques to achieve bold flavors with fewer particulates. The result is a transparent, smooth pour with a deliciously light mouthfeel and less alcohol burn.

The fun and whimsy associated with cocktails lies within their vibrant and spirited colors. “The first thing we do is drink with our eyes,” explains Sherra Kurtz, co-owner and cocktail queen behind the bar at Your Only Friend. “For us, it comes down to giving people something that is expected in some ways but unexpected in another.”

The methods used to achieve clarification include milk-washing (the OG), centrifugation, and gravity straining among others. Still, the general idea is simple: The higher the number of impurities (such as fruit puree, spices, etc.) extracted from the alcohol, the clearer and more refined your cocktail becomes.

To give you an idea of how this works, consider the banana-clarified punch at Bryant Street Market’s Alegria. It features an intoxicating banana flavor but leaves little trace of how it arrives here. This rum-forward favorite uses a classic milk-washing technique and a coffee filter to remove bits of fruit, cinnamon, and star anise that have been infused with alcohol for several days.  

To get started, “we cook the bananas with cinnamon and star anise for 30 minutes,” says William Martinez, co-founder of the year-old hot spot on Rhode Island Avenue NE. Pleasantly warm aromatics overwhelm the small oven and waft toward the common area; once removed from the oven, the concoction is combined with alcohol: Two types of rum and a banana liquor are required. The batch is then left to sit in the refrigerator for several days.

When ready, the milk-washing process can begin by heating milk in a saucepan. “The reason we cook it is because we want to make sure it curdles faster,” explains Martinez. Then add the steaming milk to the cold tub of banana-soaked booze to begin curdling. Next, add lime juice for acidity, which speeds the process along as it mixes with the milk.

Finally, strain everything through a coffee filter to yield a clear, boozy, and fragrant liquid with a light golden hue. Intense banana flavors dance on the tongue with notes of cinnamon and star anise. But be careful: It goes down easily.

Some clarifieds arrive with a tinge of color depending on the method and cocktail itself, while some are crystal clear. It’s a sensory illusion to see the bartender pour a drink that resembles water but tastes like concentrated fruit. Don’t panic! You’re not tripping. In addition to the wow factor, clarification offers multiple benefits.

“Now, I think bartenders are using it more like a building block tool to enhance the drink and enhance the flavor instead of just trying to achieve clarity for the sake of clarity,” says Deke Dunne, the acclaimed bar director at Allegory. He also points out that clarification helps stabilize the mixture and provide a significantly longer shelf life—another notch in the “pro” clarifieds column.

Reducing spoilage is an important factor, but beyond simple preservation, this allows bartenders and creative directors the freedom to experiment and accentuate any ingredient(s) with confidence that, at a bare minimum, it won’t ruin the drink. 

With endless possibilities on hand, Josh Valencia, owner of the Alchemist on U Street NW, limits the clarified offerings with an iteration of a Negroni. “We really wanted to pay homage to the classic cocktail itself,” Valencia explains. The Codmother’s successor offers quarterly menu updates with the goal of consistently researching and refining traditional practices.

“The process is arguably more labor-intensive,” says Alchemist creative director Aakash Gala. The effort takes coordination on days the bar is closed, but if executed correctly, can yield enough drinks to last a few weeks, ultimately saving your bartender time amidst a busy scene. But the main benefit to clarification, is a better all-around experience for the imbiber.

Offering something new and clarified is “more about showcasing a skill,” Martinez says in closing. “Bartenders want to explore a little bit more and give the customer a little bit more. For me, I’m like, ‘Let’s have fun!’”