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Roofers Union
Roofers Union
Photo: R. Lopez

Where to Find Great Pitchers & Punch Bowls this Spring

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Roofers Union
| Photo: R. Lopez

Whether it's by the pitcher or by the punch bowl, bar programs in DC are loading up on cocktails this spring by offering booze in bulk.

Here are several bars and restaurants where cocktails are served for small groups. There are martinis by the pitcher, brandy-port flavored sangrias, and a tiki-themed rum bowl that comes served with a flaming sidecar of grain alcohol. It all adds up to festiveness.

Just be sure to follow the serving size suggestions, listed on the menu, and drinkers beware, these pitchers pack a punch and are meant for sharing.
—Tim Ebner

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Hank's Oyster Bar

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At the Dupont Circle outpost order up the Church Lady punch bowl. It’s a vodka, sparkling wine and juice concoction that’s kept cold by a floating chunk of rainbow sherbet. The bowl serves 4-6 people for $50 or 8-10 people for $90.

There’s a constant rotation of rum punch drinks at Hogo. But, the volcano bowl is a boozy, tiki-themed constant that can be split by a group of 3-4 people. The bowl comes served with a flaming shot of grain alcohol. And, there’s a good reason to share: the volcano bowl features three different kinds of rum with a mix of maple syrup, grapefruit and lime.

Roofers Union

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Revelers who want rooftop view can head to Roofer’s Union in Adams Morgan. Their roof serves punches that are priced by the person ($9 per person for two 5 oz drinks, served in either a small, medium, or large bowl). The “lei me down” punch, made with bourbon, dark rum, green tea, lemongrass, ginger, pineapple, mandarin and lemon was created by bar manager, Erin Goodman, who recently was deemed Cochon’s “punch queen.” Another early favorite, the “summer wind” mixes bitter flavors: Silver rum, Campari, lemon and mint.

Eat The Rich

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There are five different kinds of cocktail pitchers that can serve four people at Derek Brown’s Eat the Rich. For spring, two are new to the menu: “splice the mainbrace!” a rum pitcher with house-made lemongrass tonic and lemon ($36) and “wildflower,” a gin, grapefruit and chamomile syrup drink ($34). Another popular pitcher is the “drink the martini” with DC’s Green Hat gin, vermouth and orange bitters ($36).

Teddy & the Bully Bar

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The Roosevelt Island Punch ($48 per bowl) serves two to eight people and is a combination of Peruvian pisco, pineapple, and jasmine-lime tea, and Amargo bitters. Another exotic themed drink, the safari sangria ($32 per pitcher) mixes Vinho Verde (a Portuguese wine) and an Acai infused spirit with sage, apple, grapefruit, Chinese spice bitters, and sweet lime foam.

Lincoln

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Teddy and the Bully Bar’s sister restaurant, Lincoln, serves a similar pisco mixed punch at happy hour ($39 from 4-7 p.m. / $49 all other times). The punchbowl serves 2-8 people. It’s a pomegranate, pineapple and lime flavored punch mixed with La Diablada pisco.

Zaytinya

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Zaytinya’s take on sangria, Pol Fili, mixes white wine, vodka and pomegranate juice. It comes served by the carafe for $42.

Mothership

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At Petworth’s Mothership, guava daiquiris come served by the pitcher for $20. There’s also a peach liqueur-flavored white sangria and an orange liqueur-flavored red sangria. Both are $20 by the pitcher.

Osteria Morini

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Just in time for baseball season, Osteria Morini is rolling out a new happy hour menu that features white sangria by the pitcher. The restaurant serves it chilled with cucumbers for $30. It also coincides with the opening of their 111-seat outdoor patio at Yards Park.

Red Light

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Red Light, a racy dessert-themed bar, opens on 14th Street on Thursday in the former Bar di Bari space, and already the menu is calling for cocktails by the punchbowl. The “double down” uses rye whiskey, ginger and citrus fruits, plus organic rose bitters and brandied cherries.

GBD (Golden Brown Delicious)

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GBD offers several punches by the jar or the jug. Give the Bourbon County Blossom a try ($8/$28).

Vinoteca

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Vinoteca recently opened their patio and backyard bocce pits, and there’s a new cocktail menu, too. Bar manager Horus Alvarez combines port and brandy into a sangria cocktail. It’s served by the pitcher for $32 and mixes Torres 10 Brandy with Taylor Port, along with citrus, cinnamon and apple flavors.

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Hank's Oyster Bar

At the Dupont Circle outpost order up the Church Lady punch bowl. It’s a vodka, sparkling wine and juice concoction that’s kept cold by a floating chunk of rainbow sherbet. The bowl serves 4-6 people for $50 or 8-10 people for $90.

Hogo

There’s a constant rotation of rum punch drinks at Hogo. But, the volcano bowl is a boozy, tiki-themed constant that can be split by a group of 3-4 people. The bowl comes served with a flaming shot of grain alcohol. And, there’s a good reason to share: the volcano bowl features three different kinds of rum with a mix of maple syrup, grapefruit and lime.

Roofers Union

Revelers who want rooftop view can head to Roofer’s Union in Adams Morgan. Their roof serves punches that are priced by the person ($9 per person for two 5 oz drinks, served in either a small, medium, or large bowl). The “lei me down” punch, made with bourbon, dark rum, green tea, lemongrass, ginger, pineapple, mandarin and lemon was created by bar manager, Erin Goodman, who recently was deemed Cochon’s “punch queen.” Another early favorite, the “summer wind” mixes bitter flavors: Silver rum, Campari, lemon and mint.

Eat The Rich

There are five different kinds of cocktail pitchers that can serve four people at Derek Brown’s Eat the Rich. For spring, two are new to the menu: “splice the mainbrace!” a rum pitcher with house-made lemongrass tonic and lemon ($36) and “wildflower,” a gin, grapefruit and chamomile syrup drink ($34). Another popular pitcher is the “drink the martini” with DC’s Green Hat gin, vermouth and orange bitters ($36).

Teddy & the Bully Bar

The Roosevelt Island Punch ($48 per bowl) serves two to eight people and is a combination of Peruvian pisco, pineapple, and jasmine-lime tea, and Amargo bitters. Another exotic themed drink, the safari sangria ($32 per pitcher) mixes Vinho Verde (a Portuguese wine) and an Acai infused spirit with sage, apple, grapefruit, Chinese spice bitters, and sweet lime foam.

Lincoln

Teddy and the Bully Bar’s sister restaurant, Lincoln, serves a similar pisco mixed punch at happy hour ($39 from 4-7 p.m. / $49 all other times). The punchbowl serves 2-8 people. It’s a pomegranate, pineapple and lime flavored punch mixed with La Diablada pisco.

Zaytinya

Zaytinya’s take on sangria, Pol Fili, mixes white wine, vodka and pomegranate juice. It comes served by the carafe for $42.

Mothership

At Petworth’s Mothership, guava daiquiris come served by the pitcher for $20. There’s also a peach liqueur-flavored white sangria and an orange liqueur-flavored red sangria. Both are $20 by the pitcher.

Osteria Morini

Just in time for baseball season, Osteria Morini is rolling out a new happy hour menu that features white sangria by the pitcher. The restaurant serves it chilled with cucumbers for $30. It also coincides with the opening of their 111-seat outdoor patio at Yards Park.

Red Light

Red Light, a racy dessert-themed bar, opens on 14th Street on Thursday in the former Bar di Bari space, and already the menu is calling for cocktails by the punchbowl. The “double down” uses rye whiskey, ginger and citrus fruits, plus organic rose bitters and brandied cherries.

GBD (Golden Brown Delicious)

GBD offers several punches by the jar or the jug. Give the Bourbon County Blossom a try ($8/$28).

Vinoteca

Vinoteca recently opened their patio and backyard bocce pits, and there’s a new cocktail menu, too. Bar manager Horus Alvarez combines port and brandy into a sangria cocktail. It’s served by the pitcher for $32 and mixes Torres 10 Brandy with Taylor Port, along with citrus, cinnamon and apple flavors.

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