There's now a third option for drinking your way through Blagden Alley's Columbia Room. Aside from the tasting room and "spirits library," the Derek Brown cocktail den now includes an outdoor "punch garden," which debuted yesterday.
As the name suggests, the punch garden serves punch (and other bottled cocktails). Drinks aren't cheap at $13 to $15, but hey, it's less expensive than splurging for the tasting room, which starts at $75. Plus, drinks incorporate some unique ingredients like pickled cherry blossom cordial and salted cucamelon.
Meanwhile, Columbia Room's 14-seat tasting room has a new Japanese-inspired menu in honor of cherry blossom season. While cherry blossom-themed food and drink specials are terrible, at least this one avoids all fake cherry flavor and even incorporates actual blossoms.
Among the highlights is a cocktail called "I Never Promised You a Zen Garden" that's accompanied by an actual zen garden made of plum sugar "sand" and mochi "rocks." The drink itself includes red shiso leaf-infused sake, blanc vermouth, plum liqueur, and gentian.
Check out the full punch garden menu below.
Punch & Cocktails
May Wine (punch), $15
Riesling, brandy, sparkling wine, sweet woodruff, strawberries, cane sugar, lemon
Gin Punch à la Terrington (punch), $14
Gin, Green Chartreuse, oleo saccharum, lemon, soda, lemon verbena
An Early Morning Swim in Puerto Vallarta (punch), $15
Tequila blanco, jugo verde, supercharged OJ, heirloom pepper vinegar
Linstead Punch (punch), $14
Rye, pineapple syrup, lemon, absinthe, aromatic bitters
Citrus Chu-hi (bottle), $13
Shochu, housemade mineral water, citrus
Comes with complimentary peanuts
Salted Cucamelon Chu-hi (bottle), $13
Shochu, housemade mineral water, salted cucamelon
Comes with complimentary peanuts
Cherry Blossom Collins (bottle), $14
Vodka, pickled cherry blossom cordial, lemon, grenadine, soda
Rhum & Rhubarb Basil Tonic (bottle), $15
Aged rhum agricole, rhubarb basil tonic, lime
No Mail on Sunday (bottle), $15
White rum, rhum agricole blanc, bergamot honey, lemon, Prosecco
Suffering Bastard (bottle), $14
Bourbon, gin, ginger vanilla soda, aromatic bitters, lime
Wine
White
Bodega Attis, Xión, Albariño 2014, Spain, $12
Rosé
Clos Cibonne Côtes de Provence, Tibouren Rosé, France, $14
Red
Terres Dorées “L’Ancien”, Beaujolais, Vielles Vignes 2014, France, $12
Sparkling
Ca’dei Zago, Prosecco “Col Fondo” 2014, Italy, $13
Ayala Brut Majeur Champagne NV, France, $18
Oudinot Brut Rosé NV, France, $19
Beer
Amstel Light, $5
Dogfish Head Namaste Witbier, $6
Three Stars Citra & Lemon Peel Saison, $8
Deschutes Black Butte Porter, $6
Snacks — $5 each
Gin-soaked olives, pickled garlic, vermouth onions
Edamame hummus, Thai chiles, sesame lavash
Furikake popcorn
Breadsticks and honey
Plates— $25 each
Cheese Plate
Burrata, mint, lemon-scented breadcrumbs
Goat cheese, grenadine caramelized onions, toast
Meadow Creek “Grayson” grilled cheese, tomato jam
Sea Plate
Scallop ceviche
Trout roe hand roll, popcorn shoots, matcha salt
Blue crab, cucumbers, pickled ginger
Veggie Plate
Edamame hummus, Thai chilis, sesame lavash
Chickpea rosemary pancake, sautéed chanterelles
Pickled watermelon radish
Charcuterie Plate
Duck prosciutto, figs, honey
Fennel salami, fennel salad, hazelnuts
Chicken liver pâté, cornichons, toast
Sweet Plate, $15
Mochi daifuku wrapped in shiso
Calipico milk punch
Columbia Room, 124 Blagden Alley NW; (202) 316-9396; columbiaroomdc.com
Photo by Scott Suchman