Cocktail Countdown: Nine Top Sips of 2009

There’s another way to count down to the new year: Instead of ticking off the seconds on Dec. 31, start now, and take it in sips.

The Tico Times searched the Central Valley for the best cocktails of 2009, and we’ve compiled our nine favorite drinks here.

Some speak sexy: the combination of fresh local fruit combined with a sharp splash of alcohol wakes up the taste buds.

Others pass on comfort, with heavy liqueur and thick cream warming your throat as they go down. Each has a unique twist.

If you’re looking to bid farewell to 2009 – the economic recession, the flu outbreak and global warming – and want to do it with a fizzy, fruity or creamy cocktail in hand, try one of these. Here’s to the new year!

1. Ginger Bomb

Ginger, lemon, rum,lemongrass

¢3,000 ($5.30)

Where to find it:

Tin Jo, Ca. 11, Av. 6/8, San José,

2221-7605, 2257-3622, www.tinjo.com.

Open Monday to Thursday, 5:30 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5:30 to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

2. Tantratini

Hpnotiq, pineapple juice, sugar, Blue Curaçao

$10

Where to find it:

Tantra Lounge, Hotel Beacon Escazú, 150 m west of park, Escazú

Centro, 2228-3110, www.mybeaconescazu.com.

Open Tuesday to Thursday, 7 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

3. Brad’s Sol de Lindora Martini

Coconut rum, Cointreau,fresh mango juice

¢4,500 ($7.90)

Where to find it:

Brad’s Grille, Momentum Lindora commercial center, opposite Auto Mercado, Santa Ana, 2582-0724, www.bradsgrille.com.

Open Monday to Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

4. Pisco Sour

Pisco, sugar, lemon, egg whites, ice ¢3,062 ($5.40)

Where to find it:

Inka Grill, 100 m south of Plaza del Sol, Curridabat,

2524-2051, www.graninka.com.

Open Sunday to Thursday, noon to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.

5. Casanova

Rum, evaporated milk, condensed milk, beer, ice

$5

Where to find it:

Magnolia, Club Colonial, Av. 1, Ca. 9/11, San José,

2258-2807, www.casinoclubcolonial.com.

Open 24 hours.

6. Notte di

Luna

White wine, peach

nectar, cognac

¢3,350 ($5.90)

Where to find it:

Notte di Luna, 200

m east of KFC, San

Pedro, 2524-1755.

Open Monday to

Wednesday, noon

to 10 p.m.; Thursday

to Saturday,

noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.

7. Barhú

Watermelon,lemon, ginger,mint, vodka

¢1,200 ($2.10)

Where to find it:

Bambai, 100 m south of Plaza del Sol, Curridabat, 2234-3191.

Open Tuesday to Wednesday, noon to 9 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.

8. Caipirinha de Kiwi or Maracuyá

Cachaça, sugar, kiwi or passion fruit

¢2,500 ($4.40)

Where to find it: Porto Alegre, El Angel commercial center, in front of Hermanos Montes gas station, Santa Ana, 2282-7333.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

9. Passion

Baileys, evaporated milk, passion fruit syrup, Crema Perfecto Amor

liqueur

¢4,797 ($8.40)

Where to find it: Chocolate,

Momentum Lindora commercial center, opposite Auto Mercado,

Santa Ana, 2582-1486.

Open Monday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

To view a slide show of these cocktails, go to ticotimes.net/photoreports.