TURTLE BAY — In record-breaking heat, water might be the most reasonable beverage choice. But as the thermometer dipped just slightly from its scorching high of 104 degrees this weekend, people instead sought relief from the heat wave with their favorite summertime cocktails.
“Beer is, like, flying off the shelves,” said Xan Garcia, one of the owners of Cornerstone Tavern on East 51st Street and Second Avenue.
Brian Scharfman, 25, was among the beer drinkers on hand Friday. While his friend sipped a vodka and cranberry, Scharfman ordered a pint of Shock Top, a Belgian-style wheat ale that he described as “very summer-esque.”
Scharfman made sure to order a water as well, but his intention wasn’t entirely healthy.
“Before I started boozing, I wanted to pound a glass of water, get myself back to neutral,” Scharfman said.
Cavatappo, an Italian restaurant and wine bar with locations in Gramercy and the Upper East Side, suggested via Twitter that perhaps a variation of the standard beer might be the best warm-weather libation.
“I know 2 some of U this may sound CRZY but when it's hot the best drink is a 'Beer Panache' 1/2 beer and 1/2 sprite or 7up…” the restaurant posted.
At Opal, one block north of Cornerstone on Second Avenue, the black and blue lemonade — a mixture of blueberry and blackberry vodka and fresh-squeezed lime juice — has a been a popular cocktail lately, said bartender Emmy Scelsi.
Scelsi was also taking quite a few orders for the bar’s signature cocktail, which blends Bombay Sapphire Gin with St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, pureed strawberries and champagne and is served in a chilled martini glass.
Despite the more complex options available, Stacia Bedford opted for a simple glass of rosé. In this heat, she said she wanted “something crisp and fresh and refreshing.”
Just another block north on Second Avenue, Redemption was serving sangria.
“A lot of sangria,” said Marissa Rhodes, a cocktail waitress and bartender.
Frozen drinks and mojitos have been popular choices too, Rhodes said. But the sangria — buy one get one free on Friday — was the hands down hit.
“It’s fruity. It’s cold. It’s the first thing we always get,” said Latifah Mickey, 22, who was at Redemption on Friday with her friend, Gigi Patel.
“I love slushy drinks,” added Patel, also 22.
Mickey nodded her head in agreement and took a sip of her sangria.
“Ice is a must,” she said.
