Photo Credit: MGM National Harbor
By Olivia Cuccaro
Nellie Blossom
- 2 dashes of orange bitters
- 1 1⁄2 oz Grey Goose vodka
- 1 oz Tazo cherry blossom tea
- 1⁄2 oz pomegranate juice
- 1⁄2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 oz Chandon sparkling wine
- 1⁄2 oz rose syrup (cook 16 oz water, 16 oz sugar, 12 rose petals and 1 tsp rose blossom water in a saucepan on low heat for 20 minutes)
To create our cocktail of the week, add all ingredients into shaker, except for champagne. Add ice and shake vigorously, then pour in champagne and double strain into a Nick & Nora martini coupe. Garnish with edible flower, like the orchid seen here, and lemon peel.
Sip your way into spring with this week’s vibrant and fruity cocktail, hailing from the Blossom Cocktail Lounge at the newly-opened MGM National Harbor in Maryland. The lovely-looking beverage is a nod to both the natural beauty and historical significance of the nearby US capital, Washington DC.
“The Nellie Blossom is our standout cocktail that pays homage to the DC cherry blossoms seen lining the Potomac River that bloom every spring,” said Antony Sazerac, Head Mixologist at Blossom, in speaking to Elite Traveler. “The idea was to make a drinkable cherry blossom with the rose syrup and cherry blossom tea. The Nellie Blossom is named after Nellie Taft who was responsible for planting the cherry trees during her husband’s [William Howard Taft] presidential administration.”
Photo Credit: MGM National Harbor
With decor inspired by the cherry blossom trees that will soon be blooming outside, Blossom is a sophisticated cocktail parlor inside the property’s 125,000 sq ft casino. Enjoy signature cocktails and fresh juices in the contemporary atmosphere after touring the national monuments or before trying your hand at poker.
For the most luxurious accommodations MGM National Harbor has to offer, we recommend the refined Chairman Suite for its stunning views of the capital city. The 3,210 sq ft suite features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the monuments with refined wood accents, columns and a warm color palette throughout. The suite includes two bedrooms, spacious living room, kitchen, bar, full-size dining room, library and master baths with standalone oval tubs.
For more information, please visit mgmnationalharbor.com
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