Drink of the Week

For me, summertime means lazy afternoons lying on the dock or sailing the Great Lakes. So when my craving for liquid refreshment overflowed one recent evening, I gathered a few fellow Midwesterners and headed to the back patio at Hemingway's Key West Grille for some waterfront atmosphere and lots of cool drinks, including the Old Man and the Sea martini. Named for Papa's Pulitzer Prize-winning fish tale, this bright-yellow cocktail ($6.75) consists of Ketel One Vodka and a splash of Bauchant, an orange-flavored liqueur, served up with a lemon twist. It's strong enough to put hair on the chest of even the saltiest old mariner, so for ballast I'd recommend nibbling from a plate of iced peel-and-eat shrimp. Margaritas and draft beers are also hot commodities in this neighborhood bar, which may be located on South Gaylord Street but has a definite South Florida vibe, with giant marlins, water skis and nautical kitsch covering the weathered walls. And after a few drinks out on the patio, you might even mistake the gentle gurgling of the dolphin fountain for waves lapping against the shore. Anchors aweigh!