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TREN DI NGI NEW INFUSIONS
Havana is best seen from a vintage car, so h ail a i95os convertible and cruise the waterfront Malec6n to the Miramar neighborhood, where you can walk through the high-ceilinged parlors of the converted mansion Espacios (espacios-habana.com). In the b ack is a leafy outdoor bar with a louche, garden-party vibe. In nearby Vedado, where the bes t bars are located, Bar Bohemia (1065 Calle 21; 53-7-833-6918) isn't a bohemian den, but rather a restored villa that's been transformed into an airy, colonial-era lounge with a swank backyard. Order the house cocktail, a frozen blend of vodka and basil. Gay nightlife, too, has become more visible: friendly, basement-level Humboldt 52 (52 Humboldt; 53-5-295-4893) has young, attractive barmen and the occasional drag show, while the wild dance floor at King Bar (kingbarhavana.com) showcases DJs spinning Latin and American hits. Elsewhere in Vedado, El Cocinero (Calle 26 between Calles 11 and i3; 53-7-8322355) is secreted up three fli ghts of stairs in what was once a cooking-oil factory. It's now a sophisticated roof bar with sharp, professional service (not a given in Cuba) and some of the city's best daiquiris. Sip a round before braving the crowd at Fabrica de Arte Cubano (fac.cu; open Thursdays through Sundays), a warren of stages, galleries, and bars-don't be surprised
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From California to Cuzco, Peru, ingenious bartenders are altering the flavor profiles of classic cocktails. infusing spirits with unusual ingredients, creating some deliciously avant-garde results. At L.A.'s speakeasy-style Walker Inn {thewalkerinnla.com).
if you wander into a modern-jazz set, some performance art, and a s pacious outdoor terrace, all \vi th out setting down your refresh ingly dry mojito. Farther east, the hipster crowd congregates at Sia Kara Cafe (s iakaracafe.com), where Havana's eclectic aes thetic finds expression in the irreverent a rt juxtaposed with quirky vintage details. Even La Guarida (lagua rida.com), the city's mostpubl icized paladat; or in-home restaurant, has recently opened a n ew rooftop bar. IL serves refined cocktails crafted by internationally recognized British and American mixologists.
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you might find beetsteeped vermouth or a strawberry-infused cognac-and-mezcal blend, both made in a centrifuge. At the new Broken Shaker [broken shaker.com) in Chicago, indulge your inner tween with the Cocoa Puff Old-Fashioned. which uses bourbon infused with the chocolaty cereal as its base. Portland keeps it weird at Kachka {kachkapdx.com). where the menu includes whiskey flavored with caraway in the Jewis h Rye. The trend isn't limited to the States: In Cuzco. the pisco sour served at the Qespi Bar {jwmarriott.com) is made with your choice of pisco steeped with purple corn or coca leaves.- u.
0 TO EXPLORE THE ESSENCE OF CU BA THROUGH TH E ISLA ND NATION"S REGION A L COCKTAILS, GO TO TA ND L.ME/ CUBA ND RI NKS.