The Colorful Cocktails of the East End

February may feel grim, but these local cocktails aren’t. For a pop of color, follow our lead to the best beverages in town. First things first. Hit up the hamlet of East Hampton and add some color to your cocktailing at Fresno, David Loewenberg’s fine dining establishment, where the Ruby Rita is as gem-toned as its name betrays. Made with Rejon Silver tequila, triple sec, and a squeeze of fresh lime, this margarita will whisk you away to a beach in Mexico, no questions asked. 

But what adds a splash of color to this already delightful libation is fresh-squeezed blood orange juice, a to-die-for shade of ruby red, particularly in the drab, gray middle of winter. If you prefer your cocktail with a little less of the good stuff, the Strawberry-Thai Basil Spritz, made with cane vinegar cordial and club soda, is a sunset-pink drink that will have you dreaming of spring. 

The iconic East Hampton Grill has always been known for its plentiful martinis (the extra comes on the side, on ice). But if color is your passion, opt, instead, for the Jackrabbit, which offers up a pleasant orange hue, thanks to a mix of bright grapefruit juice and Campari. The cocktail, which also blends tequila, sour mix, and a hint of mint, is the antidote to a cold winter’s evening (although, truth be told, so is the restaurant’s comfort food — especially the fist-sized shrimp cocktail, followed by the bone-in Rutherford ribeye). 

Across the border and east into Amagansett, Coche Comedor’s frozen margaritas, topped with any manner of colorful cordials, like dark purple black currant, bright red sour cherry, and sunshine-yellow mango. Shrubs, or vinegar-tart mixers that play off of the margarita’s natural sweet-and-sour quality, are also vibrant in flavor and color. Opt for a pink strawberry version or a raisin tamarind one and watch the rainbow of spring and summer come alive in your glass.  

Sag Harbor’s Lulu Kitchen & Bar smells of wood smoke upon first entrance. Don’t let that detract you from the tropical ray of sunshine that is the Off to Shelter Daiquiri, a cocktail made with Pyrat Rum XO, Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur, lime, aromatic spice, and grated nutmeg. Yellow-orange in the glass, this drink feels and looks just like summer. The restaurant’s Ginger & Co., a non-alcoholic drink made with Seedlip 108, cucumber juice, lime juice, and ginger, is as green as a freshly mowed lawn, a verdant drink that is a useful reminder that spring does, in fact, lie in wait, just around the corner. 

While you’re in Sag Harbor, hop over to K Pasa for a taco or two and a taste of some of the restaurant’s extremely vibrant cocktails (and, if you’re laying off the liquor for a bit, mocktails). Frozen margaritas are available in a veritable rainbow of colors: orange (passion fruit or mango), magenta (prickly pear), or light pink (strawberry). 

Jarritos, or the traditional Mexican sodas served cold — and in the bottle — are neon classics: lime green, mandarin orange, Day-Glo yellow pineapple. Pair it all with a grilled steak taco, served with bacon jam and crispy shallots and you have a meal that will make you forget all about the weather.