Here are the nominees for Best Drink in Town

When going out for a few drinks, the wine connoisseur of the group will always ensure you select the best bottles. Well, this is your chance to tell that smarmy bastard what a real drink is. The following five concoctions could be served in any place, but these bars have taken them and made them their own. (Oh, and we were kidding about the wine)

The Mega Mai Tai at the Matterhorn (Cuba Street)
Some of us are pretty reluctant to set foot in The ‘Ho, but there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to draw us in: a ridiculously over-the-top, incredibly strong and very large drink that’s on fire. It may be $60, but a whole herd of people can guzzle it collectively like pigs at a trough, and it’s so packed with exotic fruit that you can even pretend it’s healthy. Please note: the Wellingtonista will not be held responsible for your next day if you choose to drink one on a school night.

Zombies at the Hawthorn Lounge (82 Tory Street)
When Lisa tries some of Apu’s curry she says she can “see through time”. That is exactly how we felt when we first tasted the flaming rum-filled drink at the Hawthorn Lounge. At first we were totally impressed that they knew that there was more than one zombie recipe and that the best ones used grapefruit. But flaming 151 on the top and instructions to ignore the straw and sip was the tipping point from happiness to Zen. We do not, however, endorse having more than one unless you want to end up as the titular zombie.

Tea for Two at Alice (Forresters Lane, off Tory Street)
If you venture down the rabbit-hole, you’ll be treated to a beautiful little teapot and fancypants china cups and saucers, filled with a smooth mixture of peppermint tea, vanilla vodka and rose syrup. So refined and delightful, we kind of wish we could have it for breakfast every day.

A Martini at Capitol (Embassy Theatre building, Kent Terrace)
A tendency to over-garnish aside (six olives isn’t a drink – it’s a gin salad), Capitol delivers some of the best Martinis in town. With a wide range of premium gins, including cucumbery smooth Miller’s gin, they take the king of drinks seriously, and the light and airy atmosphere is more conducive to a quiet afternoon Martini than some of the more tucked-away places.

League of Nations at Motel (Forresters Lane, off Tory Street)
Combines five different alcohols from five different nations: bourbon (USA); vodka (Russia); gin (UK); cognac (France); and one other I can’t recall but I think it’s some kind of whiskey. But unlike the real League, this one sure is effective and keeps all of its constituents in harmony.