When Olives and Cherries Won't Do: Great Garnishes

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• The Golden One by Todd Thrasher.
• Mango ginger martini at Cuba Libre.
• The Cigar cocktail at Black Jack.
• Grasshopper-garnished cocktail at Oyamel.

As bartenders and mixologists get more creative with their concoctions, it's only natural that unique garnishes would come with the territory. Here are eight cocktail garnishes you'll find around town that range from the mildly unusual (savory herbs) to the downright wacky (insects, anyone?).

The garnish: candied ginger
Where to find it: Cuba Libre, P.O.V.
The drink: Mango and ginger martinis (Cuba Libre), Black Strap Snap (P.O.V.)

The garnish: tons of tarragon
Where to find it: Hank's on the Hill
The drink: Gnomes Water Rebellion

The garnish: fried grasshopper
Where to find it: Oyamel
The drink: Casa Oaxaca Sour

The garnish: fried apple
Where to find it: The new Trademark (Alexandria)
The drink: Devil's Revenge

The garnish: poached pears cooked in liquid nitrogen
Where to find it: PX
The drink: The Golden One

The garnish: prosciutto
Where to find it: Black Jack
The drink: Cigar

The garnish: half-smoke
Where to find it: The Source
The drink: Half-Smoke Bloody Mary

The garnish: shrimp and candied bacon
Where to find it: Woodberry Kitchen (Baltimore)
The drink: The Full Monty