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