Wel­ling­ton is full of bars, and those bars are full of drinks (and drunks). But if you only want the very best in your mouth, this is what you’ll be order­ing.

G&T with Marmalade – Hooch

We’ve had sev­er­al read­er nom­in­a­tions for the hooch at Hooch, includ­ing their Bed of Roses as well as clas­sics like Neg­ronis, Dirty Mar­tinis and their sig­na­ture Rum Man­hat­tans. But with sum­mer com­ing up, it’s time to cel­eb­rate their refresh­ing com­bin­a­tion of the two best things about break­fast: marmalade and gin.

Hooch: 46 Cour­tenay Place

Beer through the “Modus Hoperandus” – Malthouse

Tak­ing per­fectly good beer and infus­ing it at the last minute with cof­fee, man­dar­ins or pears? Sac­ri­lege! But even beer pur­ists admit that using addi­tion­al hops in this infernal machine can bring new dimen­sions to the fla­vour.

Malt­house: 48 Cour­tenay Place

Paper Bag Princess – Bettys

Since Betty arrived in town with her rak­ish dis­reg­ard for punc­tu­ation, she has aimed to seduce Wel­ling­ton cock­tail lov­ers.

Pour­ing a Paperbag Prin­cess, by Asi­at­ic League

Her latest secret weapon involves mul­tiple rums with ber­ries, lime and ginger beer, all served in a brown paper bag to really impress people with your no-non­sense atti­tude to drink­ing. They may bring you two glasses for your $19, but you’re not going to want to share.

Bettys Func­tion House & Bar: 32 Blair Street

Gingerbread Martini – Apartment Bar

Strictly speak­ing, a drink that involves any­thing oth­er than Gin, Ver­mouth and olives is not a Mar­tini. But if you for­get the nomen­clature, this is one cock­tail that just makes you smile.

The Apart­ment: 25 Allen St

Peanut Butter Milkshake at Sweet Mother’s Kitchen

In our token nod to sobri­ety, we’re nom­in­at­ing a drink that divides opin­ions in the Wel­ling­tonista (and not just because it’s non-alco­hol­ic). The thought of this milk­shake might creep you out, or it might make you sal­iv­ate. If you have a pea­nut allergy, it just might kill you. But it’s a death worth dying, espe­cially if you ask them to make it pea­nut but­ter AND car­a­mel. Although we haven’t tried it, we think order­ing two shots of rum on the side and stir­ring them through might make it even bet­ter…

Sweet Mother­’s Kit­chen: 5 Cour­tenay Place